Still-life Attic

Spatial design

For a primary school in Hoogeveen, Atelier Remy & Veenhuizen have a created a public artwork drawing on the memories and fantasies of a well-loved cluttered attic.

By Editor Design.nl / 08-07-2010

In the Netherlands, 1% of the budget of all public buildings must to be dedicated to public art. It's rather hit and miss, as the artworks are sometimes splendid, other times, downright hideous.

Luckily for the primary school Zuiderbreedte in Hoogeveen, Atelier Remy & Veenhuizen - Tejo Remy and René Veenhuizen - were commissioned to create an artwork for the open public space at the main entry. The still life is inspired by the everyday stories of the children: the duo asked kids from different classes of the school to make drawings of exciting places in the area, their hobbies and memories.

From a selection of drawings, Remy & Veenhuizen assembled a collage of objects that brings to mind a lovingly cluttered attic, full of forgotten memories. Made of steel, the artwork consists of a still life of everyday objects that seemingly melt into each other: a table with bottle, a bucket, a ladder, an old tub, a chair. The lamp post of the school walkway has become integrated into this still life, illuminating the artwork in the night as a spotlight in an outdoor museum. The artwork is intended as an island for sitting or playing, as a meeting spot or perhaps as a picture point for a class photo.