Stenen lezen, a petrified portrait gallery
The placement of the artwork Stenen lezen (Reading stones) is the final gesture in the completion of a residential ensemble in Amsterdam Oostenburg. A poetic response to the urban planning challenge of the narrow, elongated plot, dominated by the high concrete wall of the adjacent parking building.
Artist Maarten Heijkamp regarded this concrete wall as a geological collection of rocks and made six portraits of characteristic pebbles. In an experimental making process, he placed these in front of his camera obscura and chiseled the enlarged projections with his ‘photographic hammer’ into wet clay. The realized ceramic portrait gallery is subtly present in the background and simultaneously dynamic. The reliefs are precisely positioned on the blind garage wall, in order to be experienced from different perspectives. In this way, the artwork becomes part of the architecture of the narrow courtyard, where three large gates provide views and access from the street. A composition of various (corner) windows in entrance and elevator halls, stairwells and apartments makes the artwork part of the residents’ daily routine. The changing raking light plays with the texture, creates refined shadows and shows the passing of the day.
Stenen lezen is an autonomous artwork that emerged from close collaboration between the artist, architects, client and municipality. A remarkable example of how art can play a role in the enrichment of urban space.
