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

The light installation was realised during my artist-in-residence from December 2008 until February 2009 at exhibition space Makan House in Amman, and was made possible by generous support of Fonds BKVB.

During my 3-month residency a war took place in Gaza: from December 27, 2008 to January 18, 2009 Israel launched a military operation in response to rocket attacks from Gaza, and attacked dozens of targets throughout the Gaza Strip, such as warehouses, military posts, tunnels.
Since about 70% of Amman's inhabitants (at the time) had Palestinian roots, people in the capital were sad and tense. Lampposts had been given a black band, and I experienced 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 (the Arabic word for there), in the context of Amman, the word 'there' refers to Palestine: people call Palestine "hounek". With this work - and with my other works in the exhibition at Makan House - I aimed to depict the 'Palestinian Cause'. In this way a connection was also established with the local audiences.

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 being the color of Islam and green fluorescent tubes often adorn minarets of mosques. 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:
2009
Makan House, Amman, Jordan. Solo show Hounek. Made possible by Fonds BKVB. February 22 - March 5
2009
Petersburg Project Space, Amsterdam. Group show There, part 2, a follow-up of Hounek in Makan House. There contained works from artists from the so called Middle East whom I got to know during my residency in Amman - and myself. April 25 - May 16
2009
De Servicegarage, Amsterdam. Group show Quantumvis 5. June 27 - July 19
2009
Polderlicht, Amsterdam. Group show with sound and light art in public space, edition 5. Hounek and Houne on the roof of Stadsdeelkantoor Watergraafsmeer. October 23 - 25
2011
Burgemeester Janssen bekent kleur. Group show in the centre of my birthplace Beek, Limburg. Hounek and Houne in front of the R.C. church St. Martinus. July 4, 2011. Thanks: Carla Lemmens, Jo Peters, Shannon and Timo
2011
Double Work, Sandberg Revisited, Amsterdam. Group show of Sandberg alumni in KunstKapel / Virtueel Museum Zuidas. Hounek and Houne are placed opposite of each other. March 20 - April 10
2019
Aplomb, Kunstlijn, Haarlem. Group show in Sociƫteit Vereeniging. Hounek was attached to the facade of the building. November 1 - 3