Molecular
Molecular reflects on humanity as part of larger natural and social systems. The sculpture consists of bronze spheres inspired by schematic models of atoms and molecules: tiny particles that form the building blocks of life. These elements move through different states of being, sometimes part of a plant, at other times an animal, a human, or even material objects. The work symbolizes the interconnectedness of all things and human are also part of this continuous cycle: of families, of generations, of ecosystems.

The design grew out of a participatory process. Van den Berg gathered inspiration from conversations with local residents, neighborhood magazines, and publications about the history of the ProfBurgwijk. Stories of community life, family bonds, and pride in the neighborhood merged with references to science — from the molecular models of Nobel Prize winner Jacobus van ’t Hoff to the theories of Hendrik Lorentz. These encounters and sources became the foundation for the work’s visual language.

The sculpture was commissioned by the neighborhood association of the ProfBurgwijk in Leiden on the occasion of its 25th anniversary.