The Platform
2021 - 2022
ZALTBOMMEL - 'The Platform' drew attention to the stories we tell and the architecture that serves these stories.
We worked on 'The Platform' in collaboration with Project Ruimte Publiek and Museum Stadskasteel Zaltbommel. This artistic concept was initially designed to be shown July 2022 in the Sint Maartenskerk. Due to circumstances, unfortunately, it could not take place in the church.
In 2021 I visited this municipality several times. I became fascinated by the stately stairs of the platform in front of the old town hall. In the regional archive of Museum Stadskasteel Zaltbommel I saw this platform in photos at various historical events. At this elevation, power presented itself to the people. Today we pass by without giving it much thought.
When I visited the monumental Saint Martin's Church, the pulpit caught my eye. Both the platform on the market and this pulpit in the church formed the backdrop on which political and religious leaders gave direction to the people. Today they are important as a national monument and waiting for a new destination.
This is how 'The Platform' came about. The title is inspired by the painting 'The Balcony' by Édouard Manet. Manet married the Dutch Suzanne Leenhoff in the St. Martin's Church. Their marriage was most probably recorded in the old town hall of Zaltbommel.
On the platform are two lions each carrying a coat of arms. The lion is a popular heraldry animal. The lion represents courage and the animal is usually depicted climbing. In the book 'De zetel der vroede vaderen', published under the editorship of M. Witteveen-Jansen, I read the following about a restoration of the platform in 1982.
"The two sandstone lions each carrying a coat of arms, which were in poor condition, were replaced by the current bluestone lions, made by the sculptor A.A.H. Geerlings."
"The old lions are still in the possession of the municipality. It is recommended to preserve them carefully, because with recent methods (e.g. the Ibach method) these lions can be well restored and possibly exchanged again, although that is very expensive. For budgetary reasons this was not possible now."
Since two other but similar lions were placed on the original platform in 1982, I propose to show the original lions on a replica of the platform. The original statues are today at the entrance of the new municipality office. With this thought experiment I want to make the meaning of this reversal tangible.
With 'The Platform' I wanted to focus on our relationship with this elevated architecture. 'The Platform' thus drew attention to the stories we tell and the architecture that serves these stories.
In January 2022, nothing seemed to stand in the way of realizing 'The Platform' in the Sint Maartenskerk. Unfortunately it turned out differently.
Best regards, Edwin Stolk.
'The Platform' was an initiative by: Project Ruimte Publiek, Museum Stadskasteel Zaltbommel, Saint Martin's Church, Marco Beetstra.
'The Platform' was mentioned in the following press:
'The Platform' followed the concept behind #theorganisation.
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