A Liminal Space – A Green Oasis
Part of: What Makes West!?by Sarah Kaushik
Artist Sarah Kaushik wants to create a new place for connection at Westplein: the future Green Oasis of Lombokplein.
The Westplein, located between the Central Station, the city center, and Lombok, is currently mainly a transitional area. A place where something once was and something new will come. Sarah proposes to use this space, both literally by placing a temporary artwork on the site and figuratively by reflecting on the space during this transitional phase. Who will the square be for? What do we find important? And what do we have in common? Sarah's artwork will consist of walking paths where you will find texts and images that tell stories. These stories draw from the mythologies and folklore of the various cultures in the Lombok neighborhood.
Sarah is exploring whether these cultural mythologies and stories can also play a role in building a new relationship with this place. And whether nature can also play an active role in this process. Myths and legends have traditionally been a way to teach us how to navigate our environment. They help us find our way in life, reminding us of who we are and where we come from. And perhaps they also show us who we want to be. Some of these myths and legends appear in multiple cultures and are interconnected, such as the myth of the Tree of Life, a symbol found in many cultures representing growth and connection. In England, it is known as the Tree of Life, in Norway as Yggdrasil, and as Kalpavriksha in Hinduism. The Tree of Life can therefore serve as an inspiration for the Green Oasis. But there are more inspiring examples that Sarah, together with residents, will explore. The goal is to create an artwork that reflects the diverse cultures of Lombok, where people can find peace to connect with each other, even if only for a moment.