Design Deal - Exhibition in Veenhuizen
Originally conceived as an Enlightenment experiment in social reform, the Colony of Benevolence Veenhuizen, now designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, aimed to embody an inventive model of pauper relief and settler colonialism.
Over time, evolving into a prison enclave, it underwent a significant transformation into the 20th century. DAE has partnered with the Province of Drenthe, Municipality of Noordenveld, Drents Archief, National Prison Museum, De Nieuwe Rentmeester, PI Veenhuizen, and KETTER&Co. The Social Justice Lab, led by Naomi Bueno de Mesquita, set up a research project with students from the focus module Cartographic Explorations. In this module the students were introduced to various qualitative research methods to engage with the landscape, its design and impact on people, as well as the interconnected narratives it encompasses. This research effort resulted in the creation of an exhibition.
The pop-up exhibition "Veenhuizen: Narrating Landscape, Design research on cultural heritage," held from January 25th to February 4th, 2024, showcases students' embedded approach, engaging with experts, residents, and archival data. Each student employs distinctive research methods to unveil hidden historical narratives, contributing to a visually compelling transmission of cultural heritage. As part of the fourth-year BA module "Cartographic Explorations," led by Dr. Naomi Bueno de Mesquita and Neeltje ten Westenend, students learn ethnographic research and storytelling techniques. Guest lecturers include Niene Boeijen, Karianne Rygh, and Hanneke Stuit. Exhibiting students include Aneeqa Martinson, Lee Ehrat, and Eglė Pundzevičiūtė.
The Projects
Excavating Narratives in the Landscape by Lee Ehrat This research explores Veenhuizen's intricate layers, combining topographic data, personal insights, and historical facts in a map. Through mediums like photography and drawing, I've translated these elements, emphasizing the concept of 'maintenance' as a pivotal theme. The landscape's order, once a tool of control, requires ongoing labor. Presently owned by diverse individuals, opinions on maintenance vary. My model visualizes the evolving landscape, emphasizing the impact of maintenance and proposing a forward-looking plan allowing certain areas to return to nature over time.
Sympathetic Regrowth: Flowers for the Third Asylum by Aneeqa Martinson Inspired by the overlooked orphans of Veenhuizen's third asylum, I've created a digital memorial. This self-explorable space, contrasting past dormitory life with the present flower-covered landscape, honors the forgotten children. By linking deaths to flowers, it humanizes them, restoring names and identities. Utilizing Society of Benevolence records, a webpage offers a virtual flower field where each bloom represents a deceased orphan, accompanied by spoken names—a poignant tribute reclaiming their existence.
The Social Qualities of a Potato: A Relational Tool by Eglė Pundzevičiūtė In a place distant in terms of location, culture, and time, a need to connect urges me to initiate conversation. Intending to relate to the past and the present of Veenhuizen, I needed a common topic to approach my surroundings. The potato, a shared staple of the table, became my necessary reference and lens. Engaging with locals, the potato became a catalyst for multi-layered interactions, blending history, love, and beliefs. Film documented my discoveries, capturing the essence of storytelling without a forced script. The potato serves as a window into Veenhuizen's domestic and emotional fabric.
