VisKringloop
In close collaboration with HOSPER (Hilke Floris) and ecologist Cor ten Haaf, I worked on the design of a fish spawning and growing area, intended for fish that migrate from salt to freshwater. The project was initiated by order of the Hoogheemraadschap Hollands Noorderkwartier (HHNK).
The area where the project is located, the Wieringermeer polder, was once sea. So it was obvious for me that there has to be a visual relation in the concept with water and land.
To make the land fluid again.
The name 'VisKringloop' (Fish Cycle) refers on the one hand to the cycle of life of the fish that can reproduce there. On the other hand, it refers to the water that flows in circles through the landscape, based on the ripples that are created when two stones are thrown into the water. One of the first sketches can be seen above, with the detailed planning map next to it.
As the shapes slowly unfolded in the landscape, I regularly flew a drone over the project to record the creation of the artwork. From the beginning of the first work, to the final completion, I made film recordings. The final edit shows how the project takes shape over time, how the vegetation slowly takes over the area over the seasons and how the design is perfected.
Watch the movie here.
Here you can find interesting movies from an underwater camera to see which fish is migrating.
VisKringloop - prices and in the media
We realized from the start that the project was special. But we were very surprised that it would generate so much interest and attention, like various articles and publications in newspapers and Guide for Land Art in the Netherlands.
Further, VisKringloop won the Arie Keppler prize; the North Holland prize for exemplary work in the broad field of spatial quality in architecture, urban planning, landscape, spatial planning and cultural history.
VisKringloop was nominated for the Dutch Design Awards in the 'Habitat' category.
The VisKringloop project originates from the concept 'Art out of Nature',
a collaboration with Cor ten Haaf.
SOIL
At first glance it looks like an abstract painting, but it concerns drone photos taken during the realization of the VisKringloop project.
As if they were painted with types of soil, according to a mysteriously maintained pattern.
Green grassland gives way to black soil and white mudflat sand appears underneath. The water turns rusty brown and reflects the blue sky. An unexpected color palette.
Click on the images for a larger view.