Kempers, Bram, Sjoukje van der Meulen, Stephan Schmidt-Wullfen — Stiff. Van Houwelingen vs. Public Art

Artimo, 2004 Hardcover, with dust jacket. 329 pages. Text in several languages. As new. This monograph (in Dutch and English) on Hans van Houwelingen (Harlingen, 1957) is as provocative in content as it is attractive in design. The well-written texts, including some by the artist himself, are supported by many illustrations, letters and newspaper articles. They offer different perspectives on the nature and meaning of his work, which focuses on art in public space, covering the last decade. Many books appear on this theme, but this one differs above all in its firm grounding in Dutch urban planning traditions and its pragmatic approach. Van Houwelingen, who besides sculptures also makes films and stained-glass windows, is not only critical but also offers compelling alternatives for problematic spaces such as the city centre of Lelystad. He does not shy away from social and political bottlenecks, which is why he provokes debate - exactly his intention, as he wants to place art at the heart of society.