Rokin Plaza is a retail complex in Amsterdam that defines the Rokin area of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Located on the Rokin canal, this plaza would be just like another other in the city but the large Two Immovable Heads sculpture by Mark Manders has provided it with an identity that has been able to cultivate the attention of both residents and visitors.
The “Red Carpet” into Amsterdam
Mentioned as the ‘red carpet’ into the city, Rokin has been an important part of the history of Amsterdam going all the way back to the 16th century when ships ferried goods from merchant’s vessels on the canal. Numerous important buildings were constructed over the centuries which would house shops where the wealthy shopped in the 19th century.
New developments have been designed to ensure it remains a shopping destination in the modern era. Rokin Plaza was one of the largest office buildings in the heart of Amsterdam when it was completed in the 2010s and it houses numerous large and popular stores and brands. However, it was the installation of the Two Immovable Heads sculpture that provided it a true identity.
The large-scale sculpture was commissioned by the city of Amsterdam and the Rokin Fontein Fund from artist Mark Manders. The piece consists of a marble pedestal and two bronze figures connected to each other. Between the heads is a small flow of water that makes the piece a functional waterfall, providing audiences with a connection to the area on multiple levels.
Manger’s bronze figures often look like they’re melting pieces of clay and the Two Immmovable Heads are no different, providing the entire plaza with a strong visual identity. This identity is one that Rokin Plaza has been able to utilize on multiple levels, helping it to remain a 21st-century shopping destination for both residents and visitors.
The Power of Connection
Mentioning that he wants people passing by the piece to think it has been there for centuries, Manger has created something that is connected to the very origins of Amsterdam. This connection represents an identity that Rokin Plaza stakeholders have been able to benefit from in terms of the engagement that Two Immovable Heads has been able to enble in the present and will further cultivate in the future.
