Hounek (There)
Jordan / 2009 / light installation in public space / metal, perspex, green LED / 218 x 74 x 15 cm

The installation was realised during my artist-in-residence at exhibition space Makan House in Amman and was made possible by generous support of Fonds BKVB.

During my residency of three months in Amman a war took place in Gaza. Since about 70% of Amman's inhabitants (at the time) had Palestinian roots, the situation was tense in the city. I saw how close Palestine is to people's daily lives, despite - or thanks to? - restrictions imposed by Israel on entering Palestine.
This writhing near-yet-far became the theme of my solo exhibition titled Hounek (Arabic for there), in the context of Amman, the word 'there' refers to Palestine. With this work - and with my other works in the exhibition at Makan House - I aimed to depict the so called 'Palestinian Cause'. In this way a connection was also established with the local public.

During the exhibition the light sculpture Hounek was on the roof of Makan House: inaccessible, far, untouchable. Green light is common in the public space of Arab countries; green fluorescent tubes often adorn the minarets of mosques. Green is the color of Islam. Inside Makan House, the word Houne (here) was mounted on wheels, standing in the middel of one of the exhibition rooms. More about the works in the solo show of the residence at Makan House, Amman.

After the residence in Jordan I exhibited Hounek and Houne at various places in the Netherlands.