The center of The Hague was filled with inflatable artworks

Steve Messam: Tunnel

The Hague – The Center of The Hague has, thanks to the jubilee edition of the exhibition BlowUp, once again been filled with inflatable art, allowing visitors to view abstract installations as well as a seven-meter pot with a lid. According to the AP agency, there are 24 inflatable works this year in parks, on buildings, and even at the train station in this Dutch city. The exhibition runs until June 21.

The inflatable pot is located in a small lake in front of the prestigious Mauritshuis museum, which houses the famous painting Girl with a Pearl Earring among others. In 2021, the Dutch government launched an extensive renovation project for the Binnenhof complex, which includes the museum and the parliament building. The historic site, with origins dating back to the 13th century, was closed to the public, and the city decided to organize art events during its inaccessibility.

At the first BlowUp Art exhibition in 2022, the organizers installed works by six artists near the Binnenhof, and inflatable art returned to The Hague in subsequent years. For this jubilee edition, all installations from previous years have returned, along with new additions. The project is spearheaded by curator Mary Hessing, whose goal is primarily to highlight this area of the city and bring art closer to everyone.

"For me, it was important to show the real Curaçao, like our parties, food, and lifestyle," commented artist Eugenie Boon. The artist hails from the former Dutch colony in the Caribbean, and her work Koncha pa dilanti, referring to a board game popular on the island, captures scenes from local life.

British artist Steve Messam is known for his large-scale inflatable works, which he has exhibited in various locations in Britain, China, and The Hague. His piece Crested, made up of a pile of red spikes, was placed above the entrance to a parking garage situated between century-old buildings on a tree-lined boulevard. "My idea was to make this work stand out among the magnificent architecture we see around us,” said Messam.