This is why a few women’s legs stick out of the water along the Van Leeuwenhoeklaan

You must have seen them: a pair of silver-coloured female legs protruding from the ditch along Van Leeuwenhoeklaan. The woman’s body floats on a kind of lily leaves and it turns with the wind. We find out what this work of art means.

The staff, who work in the opposite office spaces, will be used to seeing those big feet by now. But many passers-by regularly stop to take a picture of this special object.

water nymph

The art object represents a female figure diving into the water. From the waterline, the body changes into a flower shape. It was made by sculptor Richard van der Koppel (1968) and represents water nymph Melite. Richard got his inspiration from the book “Metamorphoses” by the Roman poet Ovid. The stories are about metamorphoses, for example to water nymphs, tree nymphs and spring nymphs. In the book, water nymph Melite is an unattainable beauty. “You can look at her, but you can’t get to her. She is like water in your hands. The image shows the moment she dives into the water and changes shape.”

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Extra effect through material

The inaccessibility of Melite is further emphasized by the artist. He did this by placing the female body in the water and by giving it the color silver-grey. This makes it seem as if the female body is even further away from you.

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