The work was commissioned by the municipality of Rotterdam together with the Municipal Energy Company (GEB). Dozens of artists submitted proposals. In an open procedure, accompanied by much protest, the commission eventually went to Jacob and Verschuren. In a determined fashion, they worked on this massive environmental artwork, which also included work by other artists including Marinus Boezem and Carel Visser, until it was completed in 1979. Then the work entered into oblivion. Over the years, it increasingly suffered from a lack of maintenance and the power plant’s expansion.
A vitrine presentation displayed documents relating to the the work’s inception, public participation, and the numerous opinions and protests accompanying the process. Historic photos and drawings showed how the work’s intimate spaces were combined with expansive views.
Rotterdam Cultural Histories is a collaborative project between TENT and Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art, conceived by Defne Ayas (Witte de With) and Mariette Dölle (TENT) in 2014 to explore the common roots of both institutions in Rotterdam.
Sandra Smets was responsible for the concept and research for this edition. With thanks to: Kees Verschuren, Municipal Archives Rotterdam, Xandra Nibbeling, Cathy Jacob, Hein van den Assem, Marcel van de Wouw, CBK Rotterdam, Netherlands Institute for Art History.