Van Alles Is Weer
Waardeloos (1997)
The neon sculpture Van Alles Is Weer Waardeloos is
an anagram of the well-known Rotterdam lightsculpture Alles
Van Waarde Is Weerloos. The original neon translates
in English: Everything of value is defenseless.
The translation of the new sentence: All sorts of things
are worthless.
All sorts of things are worthless.
The original is a line, part of a poem by the poet and artist
Lucebert. Since 1978 it can be seen as a neon text in Rotterdam,
the Netherlands, where it is one of the most prominent works
of art in the city. The original has become a regular expression
in the Dutch language.
Everything of value is defenseless
By mixing up the text, a commentary is made on the dogma of
originality of Modern Art. By giving the text a different
meaning whilst maintaning the letters (in a different sequence),
a traditional theme of the arts is simulated: the sequence
of styles, the parricide (the murder of the father) which
is necessary to be able to produce new works of art yet maintaining
the framework of tradition.
It is also a commentary on the change of character of what
once was poetic line in a collection of poems into a public
statement. The grand design of the original neon on a large
scale (it is situated on top of an insurrance company) provoques
by itself a response. What once originated in modesty has
been turned into an emblem of grave, social importance. It
is this transition that called out for an answer, which is
the new neon.
In addition, the neon can also be seen as an expression of
frustration about art in public spaces.
Finally it wants to provide a sanctuary of negativism as a
counterpart of a forced positvistic attitude. The neon affirms
that it is is okay to be down.
The neon sculpture is since 1997 located on a studio-complex
for artists on the south-side of town which is poorer and
socially more problematic. It thus forms a counter-image of
uptown Rotterdam.
Financial support:
CBK, Rotterdam (Center Visual Arts, Rotterdam)
The
desecration of an acknowledged, correct considered Brother
of the Arts
‘Was he right?’…… ‘Hell
no !!’
‘Was I?’……. ‘No !! Of course
not !!’
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