Artwork for the States Chamber, Provincial Government Building of Drenthe
The States Chamber, conceived as the heart of democracy, is a space where debate, justice, and human values converge. Its architecture refers to the circular form of the Balloërkuil — the oldest court of justice in Drenthe — and embodies the idea of collective deliberation. Within this context, the artwork From the Eye into the Heart forms a subtle yet compelling presence: a conscience at the center of the political space.
At the heart of the chamber, an “eye” opens — a point of light that allows the outside world to enter, much like the windows do. This eye represents not only seeing, but also insight, understanding, and justice; in Hebrew, ein means both “eye” and “source.”
Encircling this light shaft is the handwritten poetic line by Herwig Hensen: “Nothing is born without blood.” Like a pulsating artery, the text moves through the space — a visual translation of equality and interconnectedness, referring to Article 1 of the Dutch Constitution. This article is projected from the light shaft onto the floor, so that it quite literally enters the awareness of the elected representatives.
With minimal means but great symbolic force, From the Eye into the Heart underscores the essence of democracy: the recognition that all that lives and acts is equal — and bound together by the same beating heart.
Meer projecten
