"an
artistic approach
In 1984 the ''Praktijkbureau Beeldende Kunstopdrachten'' and the Provincial
department of Construction of the province of Zuid-Holland NL (Office for Public
Art Commissions) commissioned me to make a study of the provincial plans to
project a ring-road, the S47 - now the N215 - bypassing the towns of
Middelharnis, Sommelsdijk and Dirksland in the province, South Holland. I was to
explore the possibilities for implementing innovations resulting from an
artistic perception of the plans. The Praktijkbureau was founded to explore new
possibilities for art in the public space. My involvement started out as an
experiment. After presenting my report, most of my proposals were accepted and I
was asked to join the team of the construction phase.
The area to be studied was the former island Goeree-Overflakkee, in the
south-west of The Netherlands. It is a typical Dutch polder-land - everything
made by man. For many centuries this part of Holland has been enlarged by
recapturing land from the sea and cultivated. This was a gradual change.
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