The Siege of Tilburg: "One of the main functions of art is that it prese...

The Siege of Tilburg: "One of the main functions of art is that it prese...: "'Dzevad Karahasan educated this to his students during the siege of Sarajevo. I’m telling you this as well. People are willing to forget thi..."

"One of the main functions of art is that it preserves the people of indifference, a person lives as long as he is not indifferent. " - Dzevad Karahasan -

"Dzevad Karahasan educated this to his students during the siege of Sarajevo. I’m telling you this as well. People are willing to forget this now and then or just don’t even realize. Make sure you keep this in mind. Especially in situations like this!"

The above is what the Surinamese artist 'Building' told to his students at the Art Academy of Fontys. The students, eager to get back to work, under the supervision of Building and other teachers, the students learned to work with whatever was forehand. Rachel had already been working on a memorial for a deceased student of the Rock Academy was initially very much effort to get going, "We could not wait to get back to work at the academy. It was hard in the beginning because of the grenades nearby. The first week we lost our concentration, but we wanted to get back to work. So then we went looking for methods to return our focus."

For the graduation-exposition, students worked together with other students from the art-cluster to make a large theater of the Katterug. Maarten and Jesper who specialize in visual communication designer, took the initiative. "That it took place in public space, was one thing. Because in public space you let it out to the viewer what it think about a work. We took the initiative to approach more students when we saw in Katterug a giant billboard."With other students they worked on a synchronization of the lights of the apartment to form words, shapes, signs and symbols. Students of the dance academy, the conservatory and the rock academy worked on a theater experience that would be performed three times.

Sandra, third year student of dance, did the choreography with two fellow students. "It felt really good to be working on such a big project all together. Art can make you off balance and makes you yourself wonder about the world around you. "During the rehearsals it was hard for the players to totally concentrate on their work. But over time, most were so used to the shells that they simply forgot to respond, while the bravest among them looked for a way to use the grenades as a 'theatrical effect' or a way of expression in their play.

At the time of the show it turned out exactly that way. At first the spectators were shocked by grenades and gunshots, but they gave themselves completely to the show, with more pleasure than ever before in peacetime the Tilburgers were allowed to enjoy culture and art. It were not only the performances that were amazing, every show was different, but all three performances fed the people and protected them from fear as a warm womb or a house of pray that had not yet been destroyed.
Today, every week a new word, sign or symbol appears on the Katterug, as long as the building keeps standing.

I will soon post the interview I had with the Surinamese artist; 'Building'.

The Siege of Tilburg: The Demolition

The Siege of Tilburg: The Demolition: "Cees Becht was his name, but in the vernacular, he will forever live as Cees de Sloper (Cees the Destructor). In 1957 he became mayor, preci..."

The Demolition

Cees Becht was his name, but in the vernacular, he will forever live as Cees de Sloper (Cees the Destructor). In 1957 he became mayor, precisely the period when the textile industry in Tilburg collapsed. Sixty textile factories that offered work to 18,000 men, disappeared within ten years by competition from countries with lower wages. The low-skilled factory workers were unemployed.
Becht knew a solution to revive the patient. He demolished the old Town Hall and Koningswei, an authentic working-class district in the center. In their place came wide roads and tall buildings, such as the Katterug on the east side of the current town hall.
"He wanted to make a real city, a metropolis like Rotterdam, architect George Bedaux shivers reflecting on that period. "That was his biggest mistake. He broke down the most beautiful city centers. What the Germans had left standing, destroyed Becht anyway. The stupid flat on the Katterug is a remnant of that policy. And actually, they should destroy the entire Koningsplein again and start rebuilding, again. "

http://www.bastimmers.nl/nie-maawe-mar-staawe/

Now they have destroyed it again! The first insane and devastating attack on the center was somewhere in mid-September (can’t remember what day exactly. There were also short bombings before). The center was shelled with rockets and artillery. During the first months of the war the bombings were especially during night, so people would feel groggy from lack of sleep throughout the next day, and walk around like zombies.

The devastating result of rockets and artillery shells is clearly visible on the Piusplein

The walls of the Heuvelpoort had collapsed or some parts had completely disappeared. The Mac was almost unrecognizable. The yellow M, should be laying around a few meters from the scene. Some trees had been untouched, others were felled as if by an axe.

South-side of the Heuvelpoort in ruins.

As I walk through the rubble, talk to people, make pictures, I sometimes stare at my hands. As if I would try to convince myself that they were really mine. Those are the devastating effects of a war waged on those who know how to drag themselves through, on those that who are not slain or injured, they slowly lose faith in reality or the ability to experience reality.
And then I suddenly realize how the ugliest building in Tilburg (That’s just indestructible!), just looks magnificent during the night.
This city is lucky. It still has;

 'Hope'

Soon an interview with students from the Academy of Fine Arts (FontysABV) and the story of the picture above

The Siege of Tilburg: War in other countries

The Siege of Tilburg: War in other countries: "Words that go there, come back here. They sound familiar, but are different. They make a difference here. (From: Cel, Charles den Tex, Chap..."

War in other countries

Words that go there, come back here.
They sound familiar, but are different.
They make a difference here.

(From: Cel, Charles den Tex, Chapter 63 Bellilog August 6, 2006)

The Siege of Tilburg: It was like yesterday

The Siege of Tilburg: It was like yesterday: "The Dutch citizens remember only too well the beginning of the unrest. Smoke develops just moments after t..."