WOERDEN – Suddenly it is standing there at the Woerdense Singel: a large, yellow sign with the letter ‘Z’. Below it is the word ‘gas’. It concerns a work of art that is part of the open-air exhibition Singelkunst. The maker wants to use the sign to warn about the dangers of gas, but residents of Woerden see the letter ‘Z’ as a statement of support for the Russian army.
“Singel pollution!” a resident shouts on social media about the artwork. Another thinks it is a “horrible sight”. A third warns his readers that the Russians are coming, because “the Z is already there”.
Expression of support for the Russians
Artist Theo van Meerendonk has been working on his artwork for a while when the war between Russia and Ukraine breaks out. In two weeks time, the letter ‘Z’ appeared more and more in the streets of Russia. On bus shelters, on politicians’ clothes and on car windows. Photos passed by of Russian residents who together, hand in hand, formed the letter ‘Z’. It became a symbol and statement of support for the Russian army.
Gas warning
The ‘Z’ in Woerden’s singel stands for ‘The sinker of Van Meerendonk’. As far as the artist is concerned, it has nothing to do with the war. The sign warns of gas. “Gas is invisible, volatile, explosive and apparently addictive. Our Western society can hardly live without it,” he wrote in a statement. “Meanwhile, the people of Groningen are begging us to stop mining because they are literally sinking into the ground with their house and all.”
The sign serves no political purpose and is not propaganda, says Van Meerendonk. The ‘Z’ stands for the ever sinking society.
‘Still inappropriate’
Whatever the message of the artwork, some people still find it inappropriate to post it at this time. The remark that people see the work as a pro-Russian message is followed by a resigned “that’s possible”. But Van Meerendonk (“I am also very much against the war”) has no intention of removing it. As far as he is concerned, it will remain until the end of April, when the exhibition will be over.
“I don’t know any better than that art always leads to misunderstanding”, he says about the negative reactions. “That’s not surprising in this case either.” He thinks it’s good that people talk about art. “Then we will think about it.”
Incidentally, Van Meerendonk can also count on statements of support. A handful of people believe that an artist should simply be able to do his or her work.