'Starting Point' is a gift from the people of Apeldoorn at the farewell of their former mayor Harm Bruins Slot. The location for the work, on the east side of the canal, was a given that Metzel took as a starting point. The image had to draw this side of the city closer to the centre.
About the artwork:
When you first look at it, Starting Point is a number of coloured concrete blocks on top of each other, with a bit of paint here and there. If you look more closely, you will see that it has a pattern as a basis. Artist Olaf Metzel built a kind of tower in a hexagon that is reminiscent of loading and unloading on the quay. On top of the structure is a green stone, a kind of rough diamond.
Meeting place
The location, on the east side of the canal, was important for the artwork. Metzel was commissioned to draw that side of the city closer to the centre with his artwork. Metzel himself wanted people not only to look at the artwork, they also had to actually use it. Starting point is a meeting place for people from the area, where you can sit and climb.