“Whispers” is a new public art installation by Belgian artist Arne Quinze that consists of a series of 20 vibrant steel shapes that seem to whisper in the wind mimicking the texture and movement of nature. On one side they are painted with a mix of color, and on the other side the metal is left untouched, and the texture resembles a tree bark. “Whispers” draws attention to the link between a city and nature, which is becoming weaker by the day causing our cities to develop in a monotone way. The installation serves as a symbol and reminder to welcome mother nature into our urban landscapes.
“Cities like open-air museums – it sounds like an idealistic dream, but I am striving to realize this dream. Confronting a public surrounded by art every day. Art has a positive influence on people and their personal development: it broadens their horizons and renders them more tolerant towards differences in society.” – Arne Quinze
“Whispers” is the artist’s first permanent and public installation in the Netherlands. It is part of the renovation of the Koningsplein as a car-less city square as well as part of the ideal of Arne Quinze to change cities into open-air museums. With his concept Cities Like Open Air Museums the artist already successfully started the conversation in cities like Shanghai, São Paulo, New York, Seoul, Munich, Brussels, etc., by placing art in public areas, kicking off the dialogue regarding our current urban planning.
Born in 1971, Arne Quinze is a conceptual artist renowned for his unconventional architectural sculptures. What drives Quinze is the belief in the possible realization of an idealistic society where all individuals communicate and interact, aiming to bring people together and push them into a vigorous dialogue. In his urban vision, communal activities flourish and social cohesion is the norm. His installations are built to provoke reaction and to intervene in the daily life of a passerby confronted with his sculptures.
December 2015
