Vechtende kalkoenen

Vechtende kalkoenen stands in Utrecht as a public sculpture by Theo Mulder, showing two turkeys confronting each other. Their tails fan outward while their chests press together in a tense, circling encounter. One bird stretches its wings wide, while the other keeps them folded against its body.

Theo Mulder created the original for the municipality of Utrecht in 1965, and this version is a cast. Rabobank gave the sculpture to the city, which unveiled it in 1989 alongside De Stier. Mulder studied at the Rijksakademie voor Beeldende Kunsten in Amsterdam with Mari Andriessen and Piet Esser, then helped establish Ateliers ’63 in Haarlem. His public art often draws on rural life, birds and other animals, reflecting his work as both a sculptor and birdwatcher.

The casting process allowed similar versions to appear in Haarlem, Den Helder and Uithoorn. Here, the contrast between open and closed wings gives the pair a clear rhythm of movement. The two birds seem ready to continue circling, even though the bronze holds them permanently in place.