Familie - Family

Analyzing the various influences on Visser's work during the mid 1950s, Carel Blotkamp states: 'But the most significant event during this period was his meeting with the artist Joost Baljeu and the architect Dick van Woerkom, which probably took place late in 1954. An extensive exchange of views and insights followed, which lasted some five years and which had a significant effect on the work of all three men. They were brought together by a competition to design a neighbourhood centre in North Amsterdam, which was organized in August 1954 by Architectura et Amicitia. One of the conditions for the entry was that the design should express the links between architecture, painting and sculpture. Van Woerkom and Baljeu, who had met a few months before, were in search of a like-minded sculptor, whom they found in Carel Visser.
In the design which the three of them submitted in the spring of 1955, and which received an honourable mention from the jury, the work of Visser occupies a place on its own. Baljeu had designed a number of murals featuring large rectangular forms, and the artist had taken great care to adapt his work to the architectural details of the building. Visser's contribution, by contrast, consisted of existing works: Airship and Family. (see Blotkamp, opcit p. 8)