Shore/Ship Interface – Jeroen Doorenweerd (2010)

The Municipality of Groningen is heavily committed to neighbourhood renewal, including in the Lewenborg district. In order to create a clear centre in the district, a canal has been dug to connect all kinds of facilities, such as 3 schools, a new ‘window house’ and the renovated community centre with library. The drastically refurbished shopping centre is now also on the waterfront. During this district renewal, the CBK provided an art commission.

For the CBK, it was an opportunity to connect with the iconic canal. The art committee, which included local residents Elze ter Harkel and Daan Wiers, chose artist Jeroen Doorenweerd during the selection process. For his artwork cum accommodation, Jeroen Doorenweerd was inspired by the work of garden architect Louis Le Roy, who designed a nature garden in Lewenborg, and by the principles of cradle to cradle, whereby end products serve as starting materials for new products. Doorenweerd took a bunker ship from 1926, which was used for fishing eels. Doorenweerd stripped the boat right back and then sprayed it all one colour and attached it to the side of the shore in an elegant manner. With his work of art, Doorenweerd wants to create a strong and unique place that local residents will enjoy looking at and spending time in.

Jeroen Doorenweerd
Jeroen Doorenweerd (1962) is a real boatman. He grew up in a shipping family, has a boat himself and regularly refers to ships in his work. His work is a cross between sculpture, design and architecture or landscape architecture. Since 1990, he has been creating works of art in locations as diverse as a container transhipment depot, a ministry, a prison, a meadow and a shelter for drug addicts. Doorenweerd makes use of both traditional craftsmanship and the latest technology in his work. He always directs attention to what is implicit in a specific place but not necessary in the eye. With his work, he intensifies the experience of the here and now.