Those who walk in the forests near Norg this weekend should not be surprised if it suddenly encounters a special and perhaps inexplicable structure. From next Sunday, twenty follies will show off in nature during the seventh edition of Folly Art Norg. “You are very serious about something nonsense and temporary.”
Martin Siegers and Regine Pijning are two of the artists who participate in the cultural event this year. They are working on the final preparations for their artwork. A structure that is actually not about anything. “A folly is foolish construction, a structure that actually does nothing and has no meaning. It comes from the English word fool (that means fool or crazy in Dutch, ed.), “Siegers says.
Various worlds come together at Folly Art Norg. “It is a combination of architecture, nature, design. Every builder has a concept or idea that he wants something with. But of course it is fantastic if a visitor sees something in it and fills in the structure himself,” explains Siegers.
The idea behind this folly originated from the work of pain. “As a coach and confidant, I often come into conflict situations between two people who both think they are right. When I hear the story from both sides, you also see that they are both right. There is no truth. You experience things from your own upbringing, your own conviction, your own culture. I wanted to do something with that.”
Siegers adds. “I am happy that our folly is on a T-junction, so the artwork actually has four sides. On the one hand you see something other than when you come from the other side. Then I am very curious what people will see in it.”
What makes building follies, also called foolish construction, so attractive? “There are twenty follies, so you are around forty makers,” explains Siegers. “That week you pull together in advance and you are in exactly the same boat. Sometimes you also have to work in the rain, then it is a bit of a struggle. But it is very fun, funny, artistic and inspiring. And the visitors really like it, you see that they are very surprised.”
This Sunday, Folly Art Norg will start and the route can be walked up to and including 24 August. At the information point in Norg, visitors can get a map and an information route.