Cascoland Journal

Sunday 12 March

For many weeks the people of New Crossroads were probably wondering about the hole that was dug next to the Mayenzeke Centre. After a period of blood sweat and tears Dutch artist Teun Castelein revealed his artistic gift to the people of New Crossroads – a magnificent blue swimming pool.

If the children of New Crossroads know one artist very well it must be Teun Castelein. Since he mobilized the Crossroads children during the first presentation of Cascoland - to bring him as many golden beer doppies as possible - they have been knocking on his door on a daily basis. At the end the children had done the miraculous job of bringing him more ten thousand doppies.

The doppies were part of a bigger project. For the last five weeks Teun, together with three local workmen, have been digging a deep square hole of 5 by 2 metres. Knowing that New Crossroads was always promised a swimming pool but it never materialized, he made the choice to visualize this desire.
He says: ´In my work, be it here or in The Netherlands I always keep in mind what the Greek philosopher Plato told us about artists. He said: “The true artist is he/she who creates a new reality”. That is what I also try to do with my work. I get inspired knowing that I make a piece of art that has a clear function within a community.´

In his past works that is clearly visible. One of such projects was WORMM. Because The Netherlands made a rapid transformation away from an agricultural society there are more and more objects in the countryside that lost their meaning. He says: ´In my country people are discussing the role of the village in society at large. Before a village was a place where many people were actively involved in tilling the land and providing the city people with food. Everything has however become so efficient that just a small number of farmers are necessary to take care of the needs of the Dutch population at large. As a consequence many structures in the villages have lost their original function.´

Teun was asked to transform one of these objects so that it will get used again. He says: ´There were many small flower growers in The Netherlands. Now there are just a few big companies left. It was my task to turn a deserted glass house (in which flowers are grown) into a space where villagers can come and have meetings.´ Teun started looking for second hand chairs, made a floor, a bar and tables. In the end it was hardly recognizable as a glass house. It had become a vibrant community centre that is still in use.

Cascoland has been quite an experience for Teun. When collecting materials in Guguletu township for his swimming pool project he was robbed and threatened. He says: ´It was a scary moment. But I also realized that people in New Crossroads have to live with that threat day in day out. It hasn´t affected my work as such. It made me realize even more that us being here is a positive thing. Things like that, besides all the nice things that happen here, are part of life. Nobody is happy when such a thing happens.´

The doppies are also an important element in his project. Making a structure is not enough. Teun has a soft spot for the effect decorations can have on an audience. In his earlier work in The Netherlands that is clearly visible. He likes flickering circus lights, highly ornamented beds or literally using massive words to convey his artistic message to the people for whom he is making his art. He says: ´The doppies are used to form a big star around the swimming pool to make it look special.´ Knowing that the children of New Crossroads have gathered all these doppies they must feel accomplices to this very important piece of art that will benefit the people of New Crossroads.

Matzwai, helping at the pool

Mateyisi making concrete

Teun painting the pool