The Artwork
Wishing to introduce a contrasting element to its geometric building Unilever asked Couzijn to design a dynamic freestanding monumental sculpture. Neither the architect nor the client gave Couzijn a brief, so that he was able to work in complete artistic freedom.
Corporate Entity is built up of three main segments placed alongside one another, overlapping at several points. The main forms are whimsical elements that fan out in all directions suggesting a fragmented whole. The overlaps strengthen the cohesion and the expressive character of the main figures and the colour contributes to the sculpture’s dramatic power. Couzijn asked the foundry to use a special bronze alloy with 96% copper so that the surface would quickly develop a green patina.
There has been much speculation about the sculpture’s title, which has been said to imply an ‘embodiment of the unity within a large corporation’ and ‘a criticism of the power of multinationals’.