On Monday October 26th The Hague Council of Children called on alderman of culture Robert van Asten to keep art accessible and affordable for everyone and to show more art in the city.
Of course i can’t agree more with the children, and i think it’s very moving.
In addition, the Children’s Council selected eleven favourite statues from the Sculpture Gallery in the city centre (the so-called Pedestal Project) and rearranged them in Grote Marktstraat in between Spui and Wagenstraat in cooperation with Stroom Den Haag.
The only conclusion can be that the kids did a good curatorial job.
It’s basic but sound, straight forward, lively and multicoloured.
When Stroom introduced Femmy Otten’s statue, it did so in a less crowded spot, anxious about the reactions of the public.
The children didn’t have such qualms and placed the sculpture right at the beginning of the commercial hub of Grote Marktstraat.
Ingrid Mol’s sculpture is in fact itself a concoction by children given to the artist and so it couldn’t be missed in a choice made by children, also as a comment on consumership.
Berry Holslag’s sculpture is placed so as that it will look at you if you leave the cinema.
Rob Birza’s sculpture was chosen because it combines Hindu and Dutch traditional cultures,
while Famke van Wijk’s work has a partly Christian content.
André van de Wijdeven’s elegant pink sculpture was chosen because if you’re looking at it from the restaurant on the second floor of the department store you will see the inscription with the title on top of it.
Jan Snoeck’s and Hans van Bentem’s works were chosen just for the fun of them.
David Bade’s Calimero sculpture was placed in front of a chic department store as, according to the children, you shouldn’t feel sorry for yourself, and make the best of it.
To many Atelier Van Lieshout’s sculpture feels a bit awkward and scary but the children thought it was interesting that it looks at you from all sides.
Tony van de Vorst’s Friends closes the sequence.
When it was added to the collection some years ago it caused a stir amongst narrow minded politicians who objected to the girls wearing head scarves, but for the children they are just what they are: friends.
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Contents of all photographs courtesy to (the estate of) the artists, Haagse Raad van Kinderen and Stroom, Den Haag.
Bertus Pieters
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