NEWSLETTER

© krijn giezen

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In Hoogeveen’s prison courtyard, Krijn Giezen juxtaposed a greenhouse to the prison facilities. Transparent and fragile, this glass structure makes a stunning contrast to its hostile concrete environment. The artist plays with the interaction between the outside and the inside. Inside the glass house, and protected from the elements by the prison wall itself, the plants grow and bloom. (The artist was inspired by the walls erected along windy areas of the Atlantic coast to protect the vegetation.) Poetically, the prison wall becomes a shelter protecting the fragility of those living inside. The word “greenhouse” includes both the concept of interior: “house” while “green” means exterior and nature.
The greenhouse in Hoogeven’s prison is typical to those found in certain regions of Holland. A basic and familiar structure, here it is mostly important because of the transparency of the glass that creates a dramatic contrast to the opaque prison walls, and suggests the world “outside”.
This work is not static but constantly grows and evolves. Winter/summer, hot/cold, interior/exterior. As in many of his works, the artist plays with opposites and contrasts, which he juxtaposes, striving for balance.
In the middle of the courtyard, a straight line “the promenade”, leads to the “Orangerie”. Next to the greenhouse, there is a vegetable garden and an orchard, all surrounded by the prison’s walls. The artist suggests that the garden can be cared for by the prisoners themselves as a beneficial activity, and also a way of extending the artistic concept.
Seen from above, the work appears as a relief with colors and structures that change as the plantings grow and die. Human activity around the garden is an important part of the work. Fruit and vegetables are grown and eaten by the prisoners and the staff, or are sold outside the facility. What grows inside finds its way to the outside, as cultivation, consumption, and digestion are all part of the biological circle.