Hans De Pelsmacker

Point of departure for his project is the visualisation of the geographical distance between Adegem and the Mid-West in the United States and Manitoba in Canada, as well as the direction towards these places.

The distance between the American town Moline and Adegem is exactly 6385.82 km 290° 21' SW. This distance is visualized on the site in front of the Cultural Centre Hooge Pad in Adegem by one long bench and light line. The scale is correct: 5 millimetres represent one kilometre. East of this bench lie a few rough-hewn, unfinished, flat rocks, randomly scattered on the grass. Rough, barren and deserted. From this place a small bench of 31.92 metres crosses the site in the direction of 290.21 SW. The bench is made out of concrete, in which the course of life is expressed by means of vegetal motifs. Between the beams a light is integrated. At the end, west of the bench young Canadian maple-trees and American oaks are planted. During the day this monument serves as a functional site and monument. At night it is a light line and beacon.

The triptych rocks/bench/trees not only wishes to visualise the distance and the direction. It is the expression of three moments in the life of an emigrant: poverty, refuge and rebirth. The long and small horizontal bench is a 'balance beam' and also visualizes the uncompromising straightforward decision and the risky path of the immigrant.

Commissioned by: Comeet Eeklo together with the Province of East Flanders
Design selected after closed contest