Utrecht University participates in the art route 'The Dom Tower Unraveled'
To celebrate the fact that the Dom Tower is taking off its "steel coat" of scaffolding, a free exhibition is now open in the courtyards of the Dom Quarter until the end of September: De Domtoren ontrafeld. Utrecht University is also participating; In the courtyard of the Johanna Hudig building there is a work of art by the Utrecht artist Arnout van der Heijden: The M bell of the Dom Tower. If you put your head into the bell you will hear a special recording of the carillon of the Dom Tower.
With his artwork, Van der Heijden wanted to tell something about the Dom Tower during the Second World War. A clearly visible 'M' for monument was then added to the bells with white paint. The German occupiers requisitioned many bells because of the necessary bronze for the war industry. But bells with an 'M' on them were spared. None of the bells of the Dom tower were taken. They've been up there for five centuries. I think that's really special and I wanted to highlight that in this work. That we should protect them.
Music in the bell
It is an interactive work of art, a polyester bell in a steel frame, 'the lantern'. Van der Heijden: As a visitor you can stand in the lantern and if you put your head in the bell you will hear a recording of the carillon of the Dom Tower played by the carillonneur, Malgosia Fiebig. It is the piece Questa Dolce Sirena by Jacob van Eyck. Van Eyck was the city carillonneur 400 years ago.
Take a walk
The exhibition De Dom Ontrrafeld is organized by entrepreneurs in the Utrecht City Domkwartier, in collaboration with Utrecht artists and students from the HKU (University of the Arts). Visible untill September 29, everyone can enjoy the works in the beautiful courtyard gardens. Works that all have de Utrecht Domtower as their subject, inspiration or starting point. Take a walk through the neighbourhoodd past these locations and enjoy the unpacking of the tower! View the flyer and route (in Dutch).
