Studio Job, Marcel Wanders, Studio Mieke Meijer, and Sigrid Calon have created temporary inflatable artworks for the BlowUp Art The Hague festival. This open-air exhibition, curated by Mary Hessing, features sculptures set on a pontoon in the Hofvijver lake, and the event will continue until 2nd June.
“We need to do something different every year to keep people surprised. And I wanted to make a real statement. I was dreaming about a floating garden on the Hofvijver, which is a challenge. But lucky enough, we started early enough in the year,” said Hessing.
Studio Mieke Meijer, composed of Mieke Meijer and Roy Letterlé, designed the Arboretum. For their installation, they created large inflatable trees that serve as powerful symbols, embodying diverse cultural perspectives and profound metaphors beyond their roles as sources of oxygen or manifestations of nature. They achieved a rich array of distinct shapes by crafting a parametric equation. Their creations evoke a sense of familiarity with nature.
“I think most people experience nature as something organic, where if you really dive deep into the strictness, it’s very geometric. I think it’s an interesting contrast,” stated Meijer.
Sigrid Calon designed the Gazebo, drawing inspiration from the Binnenhof, home to the Dutch Houses of Parliament. The designer said to STIR, “The location is truly impressive. Normally, my work leans towards abstraction, but I felt compelled to engage with the surroundings here. Everything here is impressive, but the prime minister’s tower stands out as a focal point.”
Studio Job was designed Like a Pan, as you can see, inspired by a pan and located opposite the Dutch Houses of Parliament. Also, Marcel Wanders designed the “Eggs,” a symbolic portrait of people in the heart of democracy. They stand upright again, symbolizing resolution.
