From 29 January to 26 February a laser art project will project quotations from the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. onto the buildings around the Spuiplein in The Hague’s city centre. The laser show can be seen every day from 17.30 to 00.30 hrs.
The municipality chose to feature famous quotations from the great American civil rights activist’s speeches and sermons because the European King Center will open in The Hague this spring. On 18 January the King Center in Atlanta and Deputy Mayor Frits Huffnagel (City Marketing and International Affairs) signed a joint declaration of intent in Atlanta to create the new Hague-based centre.
“I Have a Dream”
One of King’s most famous speeches, the “I Have a Dream” speech, will be among the quotations featured. (“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”)
Deputy Mayor Frits Huffnagel explained, “The laser project is one of the first things we are doing in The Hague in preparation for the new European King Centre. The new centre will spread Dr. King’s message of hope. His legacy as well as his words dovetail perfectly with The Hague as international city of peace and justice.”
Design by Reier Pos
Light designer Reier Pos designed the laser project, which was commissioned by Stichting Spuiplein and the Municipality of The Hague to light up the Spuiplein during the winter. The project is in follow-up to earlier laser projects in 2007/2008 and 2008/2009. Pos has been involved in various productions and theatre companies such as Het Nationaal Toneel, RO Theater and the Amsterdamse Bos.
The Stichting Spuiplein aims to liven up the Spuiplein by developing, stimulating and promoting cultural programs and other activities on the Spuiplein. The board is made up of the directors of surrounding cultural organisations as well as business and restaurant owners.