De Berk - Odoodem

Totems on wheels, a hamlet on the move

If you google the word ‘Odoodem’, it turns out to be from the Ojibwe language: the language of a people of indigenous Americans. The term ‘totem’ was later derived from the word ‘Odoodem’. This is apparent if you look at the design. It consists of five large totems: symbols to which special mythical, sacred or social meanings are attributed. Thomas, Thomas and Mike came up with the design while enjoying a cold beer around the kitchen table. But what is it that makes a design a good design? Thomas Hense: “De Berk truly is our neighbourhood, so we wanted to create a design that really fits the neighbourhood.”

At first sight the totem poles might appear a bit static, but unknown magical forces are about to change this. The poles will come to life when they pass through the streets of Zundert. The eyes will turn, the figures will move, everywhere you look on the float something is happening. Where wood comes to life and myths move: Odoodem turns silence into spectacle.

Odoodem should be a first step in a new direction for De Berk. The design offers a big challenge for a relatively small neighbourhood. It’s a big float: nineteen meters long and nine meters high. Combined with the different movements (big and small) and the alternative ways of finishing (tip: get your hazmat suits now!), the float will ask a lot of the neighbourhood.

The result must be overwhelming. “People should be curious of what’s to come. The whole float is one giant experience,” according to Mike. The experience for the neighbourhood is just as important. Thomas Leeuw: “We really want to take a new path as a neighbourhood. We want to show that a small neighbourhood like ours can still build a large float with plenty of movement. Our hope in the end is that we can get a lot of people excited to come and help out.”

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Thomas Hense (33) has been active at De Berk for over fifteen years, just like the other two designers. Mike Daemen (26) is self-employed and works in electrical engineering. Thomas Leeuw (23) is a carpenter. It is the first design for all of these three men from De Berk.

Original Dutch Text: Jetske Bon
Translation: Bas Booij
Photo: José van Trijp Fotografie

Hamlet De Berk
www.buurtschap-deberk.nl

This article is brought to you by Corsief. An independent magazine about corsos in general and the Zundert flower parade in particular. The magazine is produced entirely by volunteers, who are all more or less active in the Zundert flower parade world. Corsief is entirely full-colour and appears four times a year.