Amersfoort and Utrecht are connected by a cycle route past sculptures by Boris Tellegen.
The Stijl Cycle Route runs past De Bilt, Zeist and Soest, among others, and is about 20 kilometres long. It connects Utrecht and Amersfoort in a special way. Along the way, you cycle past ten sculptures by contemporary artist Boris Tellegen (1968) , whose striking street art symbolises an encounter between Utrecht's Gerrit Rietveld and Amersfoort's Piet Mondrian. The 6.5-metre-high sculptures give striking accents to De Stijl Cycle Route, which connects both cities with a rich creative history and future. It is the result of a special collaboration between Centraal Museum Utrecht, Stichting Amersfoort in C, the municipalities and the province.
Mondrian meets Rietveld
The Utrecht region is considered the breeding ground of De Stijl. Four of the most important Stijl artists were born here: Piet Mondrian, Bart van der Leck, Gerrit Rietveld and Theo van Doesburg. Piet Mondrian and Gerrit Rietveld were born within cycling distance of each other, but never met. Boris Tellegen created a symbolic meeting between Mondrian and Rietveld with his ten sculptures between Amersfoort and Utrecht. Boris Tellegen: 'I was not involved with De Stijl in my art, but I am honoured that the line from this movement to my current work is recognised in my work'.
Boris Tellegen broke through in the 1990s as a graffiti artist under the name Delta. His graffiti became world-famous for their unique compositions with a 3D effect. Tellegen cuts, slices and stacks his collages into reliefs and sculptures. Meanwhile, his art has become truly 3D. The sculptures between Amersfoort and Utrecht are made of different materials and all have their own character. Project leader Ella Derksen: 'Cycling from pillar to pillar works as a series of encounters that differentiate the connection between the two cities, fusing culture and nature and also bridging generations. Boris' work is idiosyncratic. In his monumental art, reminiscent of a congealed movement of computer pixels, there is an ode to De Stijl. Schoolchildren, commuters, cultural tourists, day trippers and other holidaymakers are already overwhelmingly enjoying the sculptures, while the final sculptures have yet to be installed. People step in front of them and take photos with them'.
Roadmap
Download The Style Cycle Route, including explanations of Boris Tellegen's ten works of art.
First Rietveld Day
The official opening of the art project on 24 June 2018 also marked the start of the first national Rietveld Day. Gerrit Rietveld was born in Utrecht 130 years ago (on Sunday 24 June 1888). This year also saw the first Mondrian Day organised on 7 March - Piet Mondrian's birthday in 1872. This will also become an annual event where the Mondrian House, birthplace of the painter, among others, will then organise various public activities.
Fast cycling route
De Stijl cycle route will become a cycle route or through-cycle route in the coming years due to various improvements to the cycling infrastructure. This will create an even faster bicycle connection between Utrecht and Amersfoort. This will make commuting by (electric) bike more attractive and reduce car traffic between the cities. Of course, the route can also be cycled as a recreational trip. Cyclists enticed by the works of art can continue on to the Centraal Museum in Utrecht or the Mondrian House in Amersfoort to delve further into De Stijl.