“LIGHT for people fleeing”

To portray the theme “LICHT voor mensen op de vlucht” (LIGHT for people fleeing), I used less than obvious materials to convey the seriousness and depth of the theme. The seriousness of the worldwide crisis is not something you can put aside. In the, for me, peaceful surroundings of the Veluwe I carry that with me in my thoughts, and that is how I find my materials. I work out visual concepts in a way that is sometimes unexpected and my own. In this case I combined a beautiful but damaged branch, a well cover that had been broken by traffic and an old brake disc from a car into a character. I was able to join these three parts in such a way that they refer to the situations refugees face. Fleeing, staying is no longer possible, hope, misery, stripped bare, light on the horizon, a long journey, rejection, homecoming, etc.

The theme “LICHT voor mensen op de vlucht” (LIGHT for people fleeing) comes from the programme of ZOA. From the beginning of 2021 a travelling exhibition was on tour, of which this sculpture was a part. Unfortunately, during transport from location to location the sculpture fell and was damaged to such an extent that it was taken out of the collection. In the meantime it has been repaired and is available for exhibitions or sale. ZOA works on emergency relief and reconstruction in various countries all over the world. For more information see http://www.ZOA.nl

My thoughts on these three parts:

• The damaged branch refers to the human being, a human life. Refugee or not, every person lives with ‘wounds’, physical as well as spiritual and emotional. When we have our wounds tended, there is a chance of healing. If we do not, that becomes the basis for infection and festering wounds. In the end this will overshadow our life and shorten it considerably.
• A broken well cover was once the closure of an underground oil tank. As long as you pay, you can fill up there without limit. The oil well is full of energy and can express itself in power and light. The story in the Bible of the wise and foolish virgins (Matt. 25:1-13) makes clear that you have to get your supply of oil in good time. Charging points are not everywhere… The broken well cover also refers to broken agreements, betrayal, empty promises, etc. Nothing is certain in this life. After falling you have to get up again.
• The brake disc of a car is an indispensable part when a vehicle, a metaphor for a person, is in motion. It must be able to brake! Standing still is sometimes preferable to the progress and speed with which some people try to achieve their goal. Thoughtfulness brings insight.

Title: Well Cover

Material: Beech wood, well cover (cast iron), brake disc (steel)
Size: 108 cm

Your word is the truth, a light on my path. Of the lost wells of Abraham and Isaac it is told: they had the well that quenches people’s thirst. Jesus speaks of this too when He says: “Come, I will open up the well of life in you. The Light will lighten suffering.” On my path I found well covers.

Heavy cast iron is lifted up and transformed; the raw earth receives angels’ wings. A well cover is now a halo; it gives you dirty hands. The right attitude when you bring help in devastated countries. That light will lighten suffering there too. Gen. 26:12-18