Lawrence Weiner
Even boven de Waterlijn

On the façade of ‘The Oval’, to the left, above the entrance to THUAS, a textual art work has been installed which reads ‘EVEN BOVEN DE WATERLIJN (+ -) (GIVE OR TAKE)’.

Even from a considerable distance, Even boven de Waterlijn (Just above the Waterline) is already legible and having this art work on the façade draws attention to the architecture. The decision to place Weiner’s work on the gable was already taken at an early stage in the planning, and the distance between the floors played a part in determining the height of the letters, which are made from stainless steel and brass. Even boven de Waterlijn is comprised of, “language plus the materials referring to it”.

Even boven de Waterlijn is a text which is not easy to interpret. Some of Weiner’s statements have a tendency to be somewhat cryptic, others are so generalised that they could be taken to mean just about anything. Weiner himself has always said that it is up to the ‘recipient’ of his sculptures to interpret and explain them.

In this case, Even boven de Waterlijn could be taken as referring to the location of the college, on the former Laak Harbour, which was once an important station on the busy inland shipping canals. Weiner’s work is a reminder of the former function of this site which has now been swallowed up through urbanisation.