Exploring the city of Utrecht and naturally, I stumble upon a Miffy sculpture. The famous fictional character of a sweet white little rabbit created by Utrecht-born illustrator Dick Bruna (1927-2017) on 21 June 1955.
📍Mariaplaats, Utrecht.
I had to find out more.
So, the statue was part of the “Nijntje Art Parade / Miffy Art Parade” organized in 2015 to celebrate Miffy’s 60th birthday. 60 artists (local and international) from various disciplines were asked to decorate a 1.80m high Miffy statue. After the exhibition, all the statues were auctioned off for the benefit of UNICEF education projects.
One of which was bought by the collective entrepreneurs surrounding the Mariaplaats for the grand sum of €4500!
The statue is called ”Dick Pluis, een ijzeren formule“, painted by artist Jacques Tange. When translated, Dick Pluis – An Iron Formula.
Why here and this particular statue?
Apparently, Mariaplaats is located along the regular bicycle route that Dick Bruna took every day from his home to his studio. Well known fact by the locals.
This particular statue design is very special because the creator Dick Bruna is painted on it on one side and the other side is Miffy. Certainly a great choice to honor Bruna in his city.
As stated on the sculpture:
Hier staan ze dan,
Op sokkel van grind
Dick Bruna en nijntje,
Een vader en zijn kind.
Here they stand together,
On a pedestal of grit
Dick Bruna and miffy,
A father and his kit.
The inscription on the pedestal created quite a buzz. As “kind” in Dutch means child or kid.
However, it was “kit” when translated in the English.
Many thought it was a spelling mistake. But not!
This Miffy statue was unveiled on 5 September 2016.
