The Foundation Dijken van Wijven is an art collective from Zeeland, founded in 2005, that allows female artists to work together in varying combinations on projects in the public space. They always look for locations, bearing in mind that Zeeland has enough dikes/waterfronts to realise art. Accessible, with a different theme each time.
In the summer of 2021, the collective realised a project along the northern side of Noord Beveland, between Kamperland and Colijnsplaat. This year, 16 artists worked on the project, which was given the theme ‘Endless’, and the results were worth it.
“We want to surprise visitors with sculptures and installations that fit into the landscape, that make art coincide with culture and nature, and that introduce visitors to the theme through the work of the artists. The aim is to emphasise the endless vastness and beauty of water and polders in this part of Zeeland, and to evoke admiration, wonder and appreciation.”
It was the sixth project organised by Dijken van Wijven since its inception, and this year the project attracted a record number of visitors. Including the Dijken van Wijven network and the friends and acquaintances of the 15 artists, at least 200 people a day admired the sculpture route for over 9 weeks (an estimated 10,000 visitors). A very strong point this year was the bicycle route along the Oosterschelde estuary outside the dikes in combination with the sculptures.
Content
The name ‘Endless’ was chosen for this project because on one side of the route is the Oosterschelde and on the other side is an agricultural area rich in cultural and natural history. Both offer a fascinating view, to which the artists could give their imagination an ‘endless’ boost, resulting in surprisingly different sculptures.
Musical accompaniment during the opening and closing weekends has attracted people who come for the atmosphere of Dijken van Wijven. The art, peace and quiet, the open air, the food and drink made those afternoons a success. Very welcome were the contributions by dance school Petrella Lion and Sien from Zeeland as the wacky toilet mistress, the fado duo Broazinha, French chansons/poetry by Willem Ploum and Marianne Blankenburgh, Scottish and English songs by the group Strings and Ducktape. So many pictures have been taken!
Objective
The objective to involve young people in the project was successful. Pupils from group 7/8 of primary schools De Vliete in Wissenkerke and Het Stellenplankier in Colijnsplaat on Noord Beveland decorated some 15 hectometre posts on the dike with their creations under the heading ‘post watchers’. With the help of some of the artists and by supplying material, some nice images were created. The cooperation with the relevant primary schools was very pleasant.
This project received financial support from the Hurgronje Family Fund. In the digital brochure you will find photographs of the works of art.
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