Liberation monument Bakel

Shape and material:
The liberation monument in Bakel (municipality of Gemert-Bakel) consists of three curved, highly polished stainless steel uprights on the inside that hold up a hard stone sphere weighing one and a half tons. In addition, there hangs a highly polished stainless steel ribbon from which a text has been cut and which is attached to three hard stone columns.

Text:
The text on the ribbon reads:

'FREEDOM GIVES SOMETHING TO DO'

Symbolism:
Artist Martien Hendriks has described the underlying idea of ​​the design as follows: 'Our freedom is based on democratic principles and universal values.
Well-known sayings and trinities in this context are: Freedom, Equality, Brotherhood and Faith, Hope and Love. Worldwide, freedom appears to be relative and that therefore requires an effort. The hard stone sphere symbolizes the globe, as a metaphor for the organic crowd or society. The three stainless steel uprights represent the trinities that support the organism and society; the democratic principles and universal values. The polished sides facing each other represent their mutual reflection or dialogue. The uprights, as it were, support society, they bend under oppression due to structural violence.'

The text FREEDOM GIVES WHAT TO DO is cut from a highly polished stainless steel ribbon. According to the artist, this can be seen as a demonstrative banner and a mirror held up to the reader.

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Source

• Text: TracesOfWar
• Photos: Martin Damen