It is a special sight: Marie-José Schoenmakers stands next to a lifelike mural of herself. A work of art measuring 240 meters long, which she will now drive past every day. “I was shocked for a moment, but it’s really me,” she laughs. The prize-winning artists of Studio Giftig tried to give color to the gray Veldhoven along the A2 and that was a big challenge.
The 240 meter long mural contains eleven portraits of people who have something to do with Veldhoven. “Those eleven people represent the eleven different neighborhoods,” artist Kasper van Leek explains. “We have chosen a person for each district who is appropriate in terms of age. So for the old centers a senior citizen and for the newest district a three-year-old girl.”
Shocked, but proud
One of them is Marie-José Schoenmakers. “It’s fantastic, I think it’s a great honor to be immortalized on a wall,” she says with a big smile. “I saw a message on Facebook saying that they were looking for people who have something to do with Veldhoven.”
Yet she does not live in Veldhoven. “I live in Bergeijk, but I belong in Veldhoven. I have been a volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House here in Veldhoven for fourteen years, so I thought: let me respond.”
On Thursday morning she walks by herself. “I was shocked at first, it is very big. But it really is me, everything is correct. I think my eyes turned out well and my prominent nose is also well done,” she laughs.
Three-year-old Ietje is also on the wall, together with her father. “That’s me and daddy,” says Ietje. Mother Marjorie is proud. “I think she looks good. First it was an empty wall and now they are on it.”
Difficult assignment for artist duo
Kasper van Leek and Niels Swaemen from Studio Giftig worked on the mural in Veldhoven for eight weeks. The two have been a duo for almost twenty years and have won several awards, including the world’s best mural in Eindhoven. Yet this latest project was quite a challenge.
The artist duo is used to painting large walls, from several floors to fifty meters high. But now they had to increase their length: 240 meters long and about one and a half meters high. “That was a challenge,” Niels sighs. “Normally we make paintings on high flats, so you can capture one image. But this is so long and drawn out.”
More color in Veldhoven?
The councilor wants to give Veldhoven more color, but is this main road along the A2 suitable for that? According to Kasper, yes. “It is located next to a fast cycle path, where thousands of cyclists pass by every day. Traditionally there were museums, but they pose a significant barrier. We want to show our work to everyone, people of all cultures and ages. And this place is very suitable for that.”
Yet, according to Niels, ‘his Veldhoven’ could use more color. “We don’t have many high-rise buildings here, but I do know some places that could use some color.” He will often admire the work on Peter Zuidlaan. “I live nearby, so I see this mural every week.” Will he also clean his own work every now and then? “No, are you crazy.”
Meaning of the mural
“You see a connection of people that brings the whole of Veldhoven together,” says Niels Swaemen. Eleven people symbolize the eleven neighborhoods of Veldhoven. Everyone is connected through hands, shoes, hair or laces. The artist duo also chose lime leaves. “The lime tree represents connection, because it traditionally stood on the village square. People gathered there, people got married there and village meetings were held there.”
