’t Stuk - Warchild

Children in war situations

A poignant photograph of children waiting in line for food. Jack Schetters saw the image in a newspaper two years ago and brought it to the attention of his co-designers. The rubble and misery from war zones became the foundation of the monumental shape. Wrecked cars and shattered concrete with protruding pieces of rebar are the backdrop on which the everyday life of children in war zones is shown. “We provide the image of children in war situations, with threats, with despair, but is their world, after all”, says Joël. “Children adapt quickly. Until the threat returns. That’s the life of a child in a warzone, as sad as it is”, Johan adds.

In order to create a light concrete-like main colour, experiments will be conducted with dahlias. Light, fresh and dried dahlias surfaced with grit and dust to achieve a dusty base. The street with opened up, shattered concrete constructions initially appears to be a pile of rubble, but the cause of the devastation will become visible when the float passes by.

Children play in the streets, momentarily forgetting their misery and becoming engrossed in their play, until the bomb drops. Childlike innocence makes way for threat and fear. The young actors will portray the lives of children in war zones under the direction of Wendy Jongeneelen. Their performance is complemented by smoke effects and a soundscape by Ludwig Antonissen.

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After a career at the municipality of Zundert, Jack Schetters (64) has started his well-deserved retirement. This is his 23^rd design. Johan Raats (55) is a baker and pastry chef with a business of his own on Molenstraat. This is his 31^st design. This is Joël Sprenkels’s (51) 22^nd design. Joël is a solution architect. It is their tenth time designing together.

Original Dutch Text: Miranda Eiting
Translation: Bas Booij
Photo: Paul Ranft

Hamlet ‘t Stuk
www.tstuk.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.