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Art adds something extra to the architecture and to the environment. With this in mind, architect Mieke Bosse (Scala Architects) invited artist José den Hartog to provide the building for the Yunus Emre primary school with special details. In the design for the new building of this Islamic school, Den Hartog was allowed to fill fifteen blind niches with her ceramic tile pictures. She painted a unique image on each tile. In this way, the school is easily distinguished from the adjoining houses.

The Hague artist Den Hartog is fascinated by utilitarian ceramics. She is also convinced that art should be present in all daily aspects of life. Art can retain memories, reflect dreams or stop time. And give them back when you need them.

After completing the Royal Academy of Art, Den Hartog started drawing on ceramics and never stopped. She paints entire walls of tiles with a variety of images and patterns. But she also draws on crockery and individual tiles, on commission or as free work. A constant in her oeuvre is a white background with lines in cobalt blue. Sometimes she adds a few extra colours. With Yunus Emre it is yellow.

Because, according to the current rules of Islam, it is not allowed to depict people and animals, there is no human or animal to be seen in the tile panels at the school. There is a beautiful garden with a pond and a hanging bridge under a clear starry sky on the left. On the right-hand side of the building, Den Hartog drew flowers and trees and, at the entrance, a depiction that is strongly reminiscent of both a height map with parallel contour lines and the fingerprints and annual rings of trees. In all cases, appropriate symbolism. The primary school is the place where children grow.