Saturday, July 5, Mayor Jan van Zanen, together with Marion Beaujean, district director Leidschenveen-Ypenburg, among others, unveiled the work Be longing by artist Michael Rakowitz during a festive event in the Molenvlietpark. It is a special art commission on the themes of Archaeology and Migration, near the Rotterdamsebaan: a place where past and present come together.For Rakowitz, each new work of art is preceded by an intensive research process in which he actively involves local and international communities in his work. For the commission in The Hague, during his visits to the city, he spoke to many contacts within migrant communities with whom he plans to collaborate. Central to this is the collaboration with the Participation Kitchen; an initiative that propagates that every person wants to feel seen, heard and appreciated. Eating together and sharing stories as the way to work together for a livable society.
Be longing starts from the idea that migrants bring home objects and recipes from their homeland in order to feel at home in the new place. For example, a wonderful participation project was realized in The Hague in cooperation with numerous local organizations and with residents of The Hague, Rijswijk and Voorburg. They shared stories and brought ceramics. Be longing consists of seven objects that refer to archaeological finds in and around the Molenvliet Park and are composed of the shards of the contributed ceramics.
Be longing by Michael Rakowitz was commissioned by the municipality of The Hague, in collaboration with Stroom Den Haag, the municipality's longtime partner for art in public space. The artwork is a new, meaningful addition to The Hague's international public art collection, which also includes works such as Ling Zhi Helicopters by Huang Yong Ping, Heavenly Vault by James Turrell and Park in the Water by Vito Acconci & Studio.