Spina
Drachtster Lyceum
Spina at the Drachtster Lyceum is a public art installation that structures movement and interaction in the school courtyard.
Inspired by the ancient Roman spina, it consists of ten composed seating elements that function as benches and pedestals, elevating students alongside bronze statues of Rembrandt and Newton by Erszebet Baerveld.
The installation blends art, science, and everyday functionality, integrating waste bins, flagpoles, lampposts, fencing and an apple tree.
Through subtle interventions, Spina encourages awareness of space and transforms the school entrance into a dynamic meeting place for reflection and engagement.
Project Details
Title Spina
Client Kunst & Bedrijf and Drachtster Lyceum
Execution Kamp en Van Gullik
Materials cast concrete, anti-graffiti coating, lampposts, flagpoles, waste bins, an apple tree, tree grate, poles and chain, fencing
Location Drachtster Lyceum
City Drachten
Date 2008
Tags
#publicart #sculpture #drachten #socialengagement #seatingelements #benches
Spina – Public Art
Full Story
Spina at the Drachtster Lyceum is a public art installation and architectural intervention that structures movement and evokes social interaction in the schoolyard. The design is inspired by the ancient Roman spina, the central barrier in chariot races that guided movement and was adorned with statues and symbols.
Like its historical counterpart, Spina subtly directs the flow of interaction, encouraging natural encounters among students.
The installation consists of ten composed seating elements that function both as benches and pedestals, elevating students—both literally and figuratively—alongside some of history’s greatest thinkers.
As a contemporary artwork, Spina bridges past and present. It hosts bronze statues of Rembrandt and Isaac Newton, created by Erszebet Baerveld, representing the twin pillars of art and science. Newton holds an apple, referencing his discovery of gravity, while a nearby apple tree reinforces this symbol of knowledge and curiosity.
Seated next to Rembrandt and Newton, students are invited to reflect on creativity, discovery, and their own place in the world.
Beyond its artistic and symbolic layers, Spina integrates waste bins, flagpoles, lampposts, fencing, and the apple tree, merging aesthetic intervention with everyday functionality.
A central theme in Van Diemen’s work is how we take our surroundings for granted—the self-evidence of how we experience the world. Through subtle interventions, she challenges users to become aware of their environment and question how they move through and interact with space.
By transforming the school entrance into a structured yet dynamic meeting place, Spina turns an ordinary pathway into a space of reflection and engagement, demonstrating the power of public art to shape perception and experience.
