The Wall #8
In The Wall, artists experiment with large-scale art in a semi-public space. For The Wall #8, artist Helia Rafie worked on the large interior wall of Kunstpunt. Covering nearly 200 m², this impressive wall offers ample space for research, experimentation, and the development of new ideas.
During the working period from 5 March to 18 April, visitors were able to follow the process up close — watching Helia at work, asking questions, and seeing the project take shape step by step. Her installation can be seen at Kunstpunt until 2 May.
THE PLAN
From March 5 to April 18, 2026, Helia will be working on The Wall #8 at Kunstpunt. You are welcome to follow the working process from Wednesday to Saturday between 12:00 and 17:00. You can see her at work, ask questions, and watch the project develop step by step.
About The Wall #8
Walls can protect, divide, or make things visible. In this project, the wall is not a fixed boundary but a stage: a surface that changes and responds to what happens in the space.
Helia sees the wall as a three-dimensional workspace. In dialogue with the architecture of Kunstpunt and the daily activity in the space, different elements appear on the wall. These include sculptural forms, moving components, and media images. Together, they create a constantly changing landscape.
In her work, Helia often explores how physical and digital environments influence each other. Technology, infrastructure, and everyday routines often shape how we move through and experience a space.
On the wall, shapes and fragments can shift, change, or disappear. This creates an environment that is always in motion. The meaning of the work is not fixed but develops over time, through use and interaction with the audience.
Art Talk
On Monday, April 20, we will conclude the working period of The Wall #8 with a conversation betweenartist Helia Rafie and researcher, curator, and podcast maker Rosa Wevers. During the Art Talk, they will discuss Helia’s work, her working methods, and the materials she uses. There will also be space for questions and responses from the audience.
Program
15:30 – Doors open
16:00 – Start Art Talk
17:00 – Drinks
Admission is free and the event will be held in English.
About Helia Rafie
Helia Rafie (1994, Tehran) is an interdisciplinary artist who lives and works in the Netherlands. In her work, she explores how technological, industrial, and social systems influence the way we experience space. She does not see space as fixed, but as something that is constantly changing, shaped by materials, technology, and cultural influences.
Her projects develop through hands-on experiments with industrial materials, repurposed elements, media, and interactive components. A do-it-yourself and open-source approach is an important guiding principle in her practice.
Helia was born in Tehran, a city full of contrasts and complex structures. This background has influenced her work, encouraging her to improvise and find creative solutions. At the same time, her work reflects critically on the power structures that shape how spaces are designed, used, and experienced.
The Wall: work in progress
The Wall is Kunstpunt’s research program in which artists can experiment with large-scale, monumental art in a semi-public space. Working at this scale requires specific knowledge and experience. That is why Kunstpunt offers artists the opportunity to explore ideas without the immediate pressure of producing a finished work.
On an interior wall of nearly 200 m², together with the adjacent floor, artists are given the space to test their plans and develop new ways of working. The Wall encourages experimentation, material research, and working on a large scale. The project can serve as a stepping stone to public commissions and provides artists with time and space for research.
Previous editions of The Wall
- The Wall #1 – Christos Mavrodis
The Greek artist created a monumental charcoal drawing directly on the wall. - The Wall #2 – Marnix Sixma
Marnix explored the large surface with a poetic ‘snail trail’ of words drawn in pencil. - The Wall #3 – Alexandra Subota
Using materials such as polyurethane foam and textiles, Alexandra created a dystopian landscape with a playful appearance. - The Wall #4 – Beth Wong
Beth transformed her idea for a mural into a three-dimensional installation that extended from floor to ceiling. - The Wall #5 – Jop Luberti
Graphic designer Jop Luberti created a graphic wall using risograph prints. He later adapted this work into a series of calendars. - The Wall #6 – David Sciarone
David explored how a digital urban world can be translated into an analog artwork. - The Wall #7 – Jens Buis
Jens investigated how to create an environment where visitors can experience a sense of space and connectedness with each other.