The Storyteller’s Bench ((F)luisterbank)

About this artwork.

The Storyteller’s Bench is located in the playground at de Lindenhof, in the middle of the Blue Village, a neighbourhood in the Oosterpark area. It is a steel bench with two opposing yet mirroring parts. And punched out of the steel in the two backrests are the following sentences: “My house is more than just this / My house is the Oosterpark.”

This bench brings together stories of the people who make the Oosterpark area what it is. To make this installation “start talking”, place your hand over the image of the hand on the bench. 

Jacqueline Pieters, an active local resident and member of the Oosterpark working group (ONS), came up with the idea of creating a “story bench” together with Buro LOEKS and Loes Heebink. Residents who were willing to be photographed were sought out to pose as a storyteller on the bench, sharing their tales about the neighbourhood, past and present. These stories form the aural part of this installation. 

The design of the bench is the result of a collaboration between Loes Heebink, local residents and furniture designer Bart Kempinga. Peter Groen installed the technology for the sound bites."

Facts & Figures.

• Design
  Loes Heebink

• District
  Oosterparkwijk

• Year of creation
  2013

• Art type
  New media

• Material
  Metal, Paint, Speaker, Audio equipment

• Dimensions
  h 1,00 x b 4,00 x d 0,70 m