BlowUp Art The Hague 2023
This second edition of BlowUp Art The Hague is again full of spectacular, giga-coloured creations designed specifically for a location by national and international artists. Walking past the six temporary blow-up artworks will make you relive the beauty of the city centre.
The six temporary works of inflatable art have been specially designed for the Berlage Kiosk, the Hofvijver, the side wall of the Koninklijke Schouwburg, the exit of the parking garage at Tournooiveld, The Passage and the shell path along the Lange Vijverberg. In addition, Pulchri Studio hosts a small expo of sketches and proposals. The inflatables are made by a selection of international artists, designers and architects: Yamuna Forzani (IT/UK/NL), Steve Messam (UK), Lambert Kamps (NL), Raw Color (D/NL), Paul Cournet (FR/NL) and Theo Botschuijver (NL).
Yamuna Forzani – A big heart
On the side wall along Schouwburgstraat, two small facades heave under the bulk of a modern annex of the Koninklijke Schouwburg. This surreal borderland is the ideal backdrop for Yamuna Forzani, an Italian-English artist connecting opposites. ‘The LGBTQIA+ is a globetrotters’ new utopia.’ Growing out of the globe, like spheres encircling a planet, are gender symbols. Our world needs equality and optimism. Forzani studied Textiles and Fashion at KABK Forzani and ventures out into the world from The Hague. instagram.com/yamunaforzani
Steven Messam – Crested
Bigger than a house, light as a feather. The latter is quite essential because Steve Messam’s inflatable textile artworks are often applied to monumental buildings all over the world. Precision precedes the playfulness. Once inflated, the impact is gigantic! The red spikes are constantly moving in the wind, turning an everyday place into a cheerful situation. stevemessam.co.uk
Lambert Kamps – Submarine
‘Space is too precious to be used carelessly’, says designer and artist Lambert Kamps. The world is filled with cars and buildings that we only use for a small part of the day. There’s art that makes you wonder ‘if only it wasn’t there’. ‘Submarine’ in the Hofvijver is very visible most of the time, but sometimes sinks down underneath the water surface. Seemingly playing on the eternal question: ‘to be or not to be’. lambertkamps.com
Raw Color – Compressed Cylinders
‘Compressed Cylinders’ is a game of lanky tubes that are inflated against the walls of an empty shop window. The space fills with color. When they deflate, a new composition of cheerful shapes is created. This artwork was made by Raw Color from Eindhoven. Since 2007, the design duo (Daniera ter Haar (NL) and Christoph Brach (D)) have been developing a pure approach to color, which can take shape in graphic design, photography or products. Their work has been purchased by the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam and the Textile Museum. rawcolor.nl
Paul Cournet – Solar Cloud
‘Solar Cloud’ floats like a cushion above the free-standing pavilion that the great Dutch master Hendrik Pieter Berlage designed a hundred years ago. Cournet’s new intervention seems to be connected to this precious jewel of the Hague’ building history by an umbilical cord. It is not surprising that Cournet’s eye fell on the Berlage Kiosk, as the favorite location for his blowup artwork at the Buitenhof. After studying architecture in Bordeaux and Paris, Paul Cournet worked as a senior architect at Rem Koolhaas’ renowned OMA in Rotterdam. In 2021 he started his own studio ‘Cloud’. cloud-ism.com
Theo Botschuijver – Ode to the Light Bulb
Pitch dark doesn’t exist here. A century ago, electricity drove the darkness out of our homes and streets. Artist Theo Botschuijver thinks it’s a bit of a shame that the light bulb has been forgotten. Energy-saving lamps and LED are more economical of course, but they would never have existed without this glowing icon. You can see Theo Botschuijver ‘Ode to the Light Bulb‘ in the dome of The Passage. Botschuijver has been working in inflatable art since 1967. Music lovers will recognize the giant inflatable pig from Pink Floyd’s Animals from 1977. Sean Connery in a large silver ball that walks on water in James Bond’s ‘Diamonds are Forever’ is also his work. spatialeffects.nl
BinnenhofBuiten
BlowUpArt The Hague is a project by BinnenhofBuiten, endorsed by The Hague & Partners. BinnenhofBuiten produces events, exhibitions and promotions during the closure of the Binnenhof. BlowUp Art The Hague is curated by Mary Hessing, who we know from WOTH Wonderful Things Magazine and WOTH Studio.
Festival ‘BlowUp Art The Hague 2023’
Museumkwartier, The Hague
5 —28 May, 2023
denhaag.com/blowup-art-the-hague
Photography: Ronald Smits, Jw Kaldenbach (portraits)