Toby Paterson, 'Resetting', 2013

Location: Zuiderpark, corner Loevesteinlaan / Melis Stokelaan, The Hague
Unveiling: 2013
Commissioned by: Haag Wonen
Advice: Stroom The Hague

What to do with the beautiful sculpture relief by Jacques van Rhijn that was part of the post-war reconstruction of The Hague Southwest but threatened to perish under the sledgehammer? That question became topical when the municipality of The Hague (Monumentenzorg department) commissioned an inventory of the monumental wall art in The Hague Southwest and made a subsidy available for the relocation and renovation of the artworks. The housing corporation Haag Wonen made use of this opportunity when a block of houses on Loevesteinlaan had to make way for new construction in 2007.

In consultation with Monumentenzorg and Stroom Den Haag, Van Rhijn's artwork will be given a new location in Zuiderpark. Toby Paterson designed a contemporary setting for the ceramic ornaments, preserving the work as a recognizable beacon for the neighborhood.

For a long time there were large gaps at the end of the block of houses on Loevesteinlaan, but residents of The Hague Southwest know the work all too well; the 1955 ceramic sculpture relief by sculptor Jacques van Rhijn (b. 1921, Venlo). Together with a similar series on a block on Hengelolaan and St. Anthony's Church on Leyweg, it forms a trinity.

The work refers to reconstruction and is a typical example of monumental wall art as applied in the Netherlands after the war.Housing corporation Haag Wonen recognized the art-historical importance of the ornaments and included them in the area's restructuring plans for relocation.However, the recession brought the new construction project to a halt and another option was sought to preserve the work for the neighborhood.

Housing corporation Haag Wonen recognized the art historical importance of the ornaments and included them in the area's restructuring plans for relocation. However, the recession brought the new construction project to a halt and another option was sought to preserve the work for the neighborhood.

On the advice of Stroom Den Haag, British artist Toby Paterson (b. 1974, Glasgow), was involved in the project since he had previously done extensive research on the art and architecture in The Hague Southwest for the Generosity (2007) exhibition at Stroom.Paterson, winner of the prestigious Beck's Futures Award, has a strong fascination with the postwar ideology about a socially engineered society that translated into social housing.

In his work Resetting, the ornaments are “supported” by a triangular metal structure, you can actually walk between the ornaments and, for the first time, you can also see the back. A small meadow in the Zuiderpark opposite the demolished residential block was chosen as the most suitable location. This keeps the relationship with Van Rhijn's other ornaments intact, and will preserve a characteristic work of art for the neighborhood and its residents.

PRESS
Haag Wonen, July 2, 2013
AD Haagsche Courant, June 24, 2013
Haagse Allerlei.nl, June 17, 2013
Den Haag FM.nl, June 17, 2013