Het Wapen van Lochem

A façade artwork by Martijn Sandberg graces the Lochem Town Hall. A visitor to the Town Hall sees a concrete façade relief, built into the very frontage. The emblem describes the Lochem coat of arms. It arouses an association with centuries-old banderoles and modern banners. When sunbeams illuminate it, it resembles a digital display. Legible from some positions, it encourages continued perusal from other positions.

Martijn Sandberg: “While viewing and reading the artwork, everyone literally forms his own picture of the town coat of arms based on the façade relief. The text I used and transformed into an artwork is the standard description of the Lochem arms, originating in heraldry. Anyone certain of this is invited to speak up, but it is probably unique to the artwork, and for the first time ever, that not the image but the description of the town coat of arms is on the front of a town hall.”

Click here to see a full description in English, as PDF.
Click here to see a full description in Dutch, as PDF.

Title: ‘Het Wapen van Lochem’ (‘The Lochem Arms’)
Artist: Martijn Sandberg
Location: Gemeentehuis (Town Hall), Lochem/ NL
Material: façade relief in concrete
Measurements: (lxh) 3.10m x 6.20m
Concept and design: 2010
Realisation and installation: 2011-2012
Completion: 2013
Commissioned by: Municipality Lochem/ NL
Architect: RAU Architecten, Amsterdam

Photos by: Martijn Sandberg