Welcome! Please come in and look around

400 apping glow in the dark garden gnomes, easel, painting

The two installations Relax, you are surrounded and Welcome! Please come in and look around are both dealing with the often clear disconnect between what people say (as in the words that come out of their mouths), and what they actually want to say (which can often be identified in their body language). They are the fourth and fifth installation of the apping glow in the dark garden gnome series.

Welcome! Please come in and look around shows a room where a painting on an easel is ready to be viewed by the audience. However the entrance is fully blocked by a flock of apping glow in the dark garden gnomes making it impossible to enter the building. The work is inspired by the current refugee situation (and the numurous refugee situations in the past), where the brand of Holland for centuries has been one of openness and inclusivity which we are very proud of, yet our actions nowadays clearly show a disconnect with that brand.

The installation clearly states this disconnect, showing the paradox between the welcoming public message (in this case the welcoming title) and the hostile silent message that is displayed by the installation itself.