Artists
In co-curation with the Embassy of the North Sea, Museum Panorama Mesdag invited 22 contemporary artists, researchers and makers to follow in the footsteps of the Mesdags. Their artworks depict and question our relationship with the North Sea and the coastal landscape. DRIFT. From Dune to Dogger Bank encourages visitors not only to look, but also to listen, feel, smell, and experience. From paintings and sculptures to digital installations and interactive works, each artwork offers a new perspective on our living environment.
Participating artists: Atelier NL (Nadine Sterk & Lonny van Ryswyck), Frank Bloem, Suzette Bousema, Linhuei Chen, Jonat Deelstra, Xandra van der Eijk, Annemieke Fierinck & Esther Hessing, Sami Hammana & Harpo ‘t Hart, Folkert de Jong, Tim Knol, Daan Koens, Valerie van Leersum, Hendrik Willem Mesdag, Sientje Mesdag-van Houten, MUST (Ziega van den Berk, Sebastian van Berkel, Tea Hadžizulfić & Veerle Simons), Anke Roder, Thijs de Zeeuw and Anne Jesuina (location STROOM).
Some artists explore the color or scent of the water, show the contrast between healthy and damaged reefs, or reveal the surprising versatility of beach sand. Others focus on the consequences of climate change and the vulnerability of coastal areas.
The contemporary artworks are interspersed with 19th-century seascapes and dune landscapes by Hendrik Willem Mesdag and Sientje Mesdag-van Houten. This creates a dialogue between then and now: between the Mesdags, who advocated for nature conservation with their panorama, and today's artists who reflect on today's ecological challenges.
Public Programme
Accompanying the exhibition the museum organizes a series of in-depth activities such as lectures, creative workshops and unique cultural walks through the Meijendel dune area, led by musician Tim Knol.
Feel like letting a fresh breeze clear your mind? Immersing yourself in a sea of knowledge? Experiencing a musical walk through the dunes? Or would you rather roll up your sleeves and get hands-on with an artist?
First artwork
Singer-songwriter Tim Knol sings "For Tomorrow's Sake" especially written for DRIFT, amidst the iconic Panorama of Scheveningen.
For Tomorrow’s Sake is the first artwork in the controversial DRIFT program, in which 22 leading artists reflect on the relationship between humanity and nature. With lines like "Let’s mend our ways before they break, for tomorrow’s sake," Knol strikes a chord.
The text is an ode to the dunes, the sea, and the future of our landscape – themes that resonate well with the ideas of the artist couple Hendrik Willem Mesdag and Sientje Mesdag-van Houten. They were already committed to nature conservation in the 19th century – artists with a mission that remains relevant today.
For Tomorrow's Sake
