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The ‘landscape’ of the plenary hall

"How the not-so-innocent landscape narrative became omnipresent in the Dutch political theatre of the Second Chamber"

In the temporary accommodation of the Second Chamber (“Tweede Kamer”) located in the former ministry of Foreign Affairs, next to The Hague Central station, we see the neatly dressed members of the parliament standing in tailored suits in front of a patch of earth. This art piece made from Dutch clay flaunts in the scenery and is inescapable for anyone concerned with daily news. From the TV to the newspaper, the artwork is prominent present, in the midst of farm protests, the new nitrogen policy and debates about European regulations concerning our land. Is there a larger vision regarding the use of the Dutch landscape within the political scenery? With this essay I explore the origins, and accuracy of the landscape narrative used in the second chambers interior.
(If you read this on a mobile device, please download the .pdf file to read the essay.)