“Borders can only be described as they are shifted”
June 4th till October 23th
Introscoop | Willem Harbers
The exhibition “Balancing on Borders’ shows work of five artists in the Botanical Garden of Delft at the invitation of director Bob Ursem. In fact, the exhibition is a reassessment of the relationship between the disciplines of art and science. Historically,they were always mentioned in one breath, but are for a longer period of time, they are considered separately from each other in the Netherlands. Something similar applies to art and engineering or technology. In recent years we see a turnaround. In arts subjects as research, innovation, experimentation, knowledge acquisition and transfer play a greater role in the discourse. Developments in the field of ‘bio-based’ applications in society is also found in art. “Balancing on Borders” is an outcome of the renewed curiosity about each other’s individuality and togetherness. The Botanical Garden laying concrete links between nature and technology with regard to, among other industrial product such as wood, rubber, gums, resins, oils, greases and the like. Many business developments have also started in Delft. In 2017, the Botanical Garden is 100 years old and with this exhibition that specific achievements of innovations from Delft are also considered in more detail from the visual arts. Technology, art and nature come together in a representation of that history.
Willem Harbers
Willem Harbers makes images that resolve the estrangement between natural materials and industrial equipment in an artistic tension. His sculptures give the impression to function in factories where they contribute to the production of consumer goods. On closer inspection it becomes clear that they can thus be useless and functionless. The improper combination of materials such as steel and marble that fit together like a prosthesis in a disabled body will mostly bring ideasto mind. The work raises questions you can not answer rationally, but for which you have to set up an argument that does not follow the known logic. Because of the imaginative power of the work you have to make out the statement you seek ouside your mental abilities. The images show that something that has no use or function, can indeed make sense. The work shown by Harbers makes the impression of being a generator, an energy supplier we can count on when the power is down. The rock contained in the work is home to a centuries-old accumulation of natural data that give notions of timelessness and transience. Where equipment and machines break down over time, the value of sculpturality increases.
Opening June 4 at 16.00 hrs. by Jeroen Damen.
participating sculptors: Wim Bakker, Ike van Cleeff, Karin Dekker, Willem Harbers, Ellen Klijzing
Address:
Botanical garden TU Delft
Poortlandplein 6, Delft.
open:
mo to Fr 08.30 – 17.00 hrs
Sa 10.00 – 17.00 uur
Su 12.00 – 17.00 uur (till oktober)
Entree:
adults € 4
children from 5 till 14 years € 2
65-plussers € 2
free:
children till 5 jaar, owners Museumkaart, Rotterdampas, Delftpas, friends of the Botanical garden Delft
Information:
botanischetuin.tudelft.nl
