Foundation Art and Public Space
artist: Hester Oerlemans
located in: Verpleeghuis 't Laar,
client: Stichting Coloriet
The path glistens and, in the asphalt, lie familiar objects made of iron, copper, stainless steel and bronze. These include a windflower, a cell phone, a key, a pair of scissors, a safety pin and a ring but also words and poetry. They are ‘modern fossils’ that carry around the past in a playful manner. Together with the residents and staff of the nursing home, ’t Laar, Hester Oerlemans collected the fossils and applied them to the entire length of the approx. two hundred meter long walkway that is situated between the old and newly-built sections of the nursing home. Oerlemans also furnished the path with an illuminated strip of transparent fiber glass. This illuminated strip which can change color at any given moment, guides the pedestrian to the other end of the nursing home, even at night.
Hester Oerlemans
Modern Fossils in the Asphalt
photo: Agnes Booijink
Originally a painter, Hester Oerlemans has, in the past few years, dedicated herself to projects and installations that are placed in unlikely locations and public spaces. As with the Verpleeghuis ’t Laar, she turns the users of the space into work partners. In this way she playfully refers to and comments upon the history of the location. Oerlemans previously opened a children’s farm, SpookyZoo, where only white animals could be seen. She also converted an old Mercedes into a driving bar called Bar Slecht (‘Bad Bar’). (NW)
photo: Agnes Booijink
