Helmut Smits en Chris van Langen, het transparante plein

Helmut Smits en Chris van Langen, het transparante plein

Geweldig verhaal van Helmut Smits over zijn idee voor een leeg Photoshopplein en hoe dat er al sinds de jaren negentig bleek te liggen, gewoon bij hem in de stad.

“I had the idea to design a public square with grey and white checkered paving stones. So, when viewed from above via offices, flats, or in Google Maps the paving stone design would give the impression of the transparent background in Photoshop. Meaning people walking, trees, dogs, bicycles, benches, cars etc. would all appear as cut out Photoshop elements being positioned or dragged across the transparent square as they moved. […]

Van Langen told of how although he was the designer for much of the Wijnhaven developments in the mid 90s. The checkered pavement was actually not a design at all. At the time of its construction, Van Langen worked as an urban development planner for the city of Rotterdam. They we’re working on a plan for the Inner City, part of which focussed on the Wijnhaven area. Van Langen submitted his drawings for the district, which were largely complete, apart from one area where a design solution had not yet been decided. On his plans for this area Van Langen filled the unplanned space with a black and white check pattern so as to draw attention to the fact that nothing yet had been decided for this area, and would need to be resolved in the future. However, the entrepreneurs involved in the execution of the developments misinterpreted the checkered pattern as a design and had it incorporated into the plans to be constructed. Thus, this checkered space, not designed or even meant to exist, came to be. […]”

Helmutsmits.nl/work/transparent-square

About Niels Post 3647 Articles
Niels Post is beeldend kunstenaar en actief als mede-oprichter van Trendbeheer.com. Hij is opgeleid aan de AKI in Enschede en het San Francisco Art Institute. Zijn werk is wereldwijd te zien geweest op videofestivals, tentoonstellingen en als zelfinitiatief in de openbare ruimte. Spam, computer gegenereerde tekst die niemand wil maar die overal opduikt, vormt de laatste jaren het basismateriaal van zijn beroepspraktijk. Post gebruikt het voor interventies op leegstaande winkelramen, wandsculpturen en ruimtevullende installaties.

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