Studio Dries Verhoeven

As darkness takes over in Venice, the light seems to be slowly dying in Utrecht too…

𝘋𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘨𝘰 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 on view on 23 May, 14:00–20:30, during SPRING Performing Arts Festival.

It rages from the roof of Stadsschouwburg Utrecht.

For a long time, we, the Dutch, had the idea that we were the good guys in a complicated world.
We knew everything about peace and human rights.
The Dutch would be the ones patching things up, if only the world would follow our example.
Russia was the enemy, and Israel was our friend.

It was a convenient self-image.
A pleasant self-image.

Especially after the genocide in Gaza and the deafening silence of our government, it has become harder to keep that self-image intact.

The Mondriaan Fund, a state organization, gave us the chance to critique the state. That is, first of all, brave. It shows courage.

But of course, this gesture needs a footnote—and I’m not the first to mention it.

If a state organizes its own critique, there is always the risk that this very critique helps sustain the status quo.
Critique can become a ritual, while power stays in power.

We, art lovers, can give ourselves a pat on the back for staying with the trouble for a little while; we have another Aperol spritz, and continue our convenient lives.

What is protected, is this idea that outside are the barbarians, and we are the civilized ones.
We remain the innocent bystanders, just like the Netherlands pretended to be for so many years.
Art can protect us. At your service.

I invite you all to leave our safe spaces.

I invite you to open the gates. The gates around the ideas that we have about ourselves.

And to let the darkness flow inward, directly into our veins.