Artwork| Hooghalen

Toyism | Jaf’r | 2016 | Polyester/Acrylic | 200 x 300 x 50 cm | Hoofdstraat, Hooghalen

Swift Invasion
At the time when Wil Hartog won the Assen TT in the premier class, visitor numbers reached their peak. The visitors, who travelled to Assen in summer — mostly by motorcycle — from all directions, are symbolised in this artwork by the swift. This bird is a summer guest in the Netherlands and, like the racing motorcycles, is highly agile and fast.

The contrast between then and now is expressed through the division of black and white, and by the depiction of both a swift and a tortoise for the discerning viewer. After all, the motorcycles of the past were slow compared to modern machines. What remains unchanged is the passion with which the race is driven, reflected in the artwork’s tilted heart. Wil Hartog’s initials can also be found within the wheels, along with his distinctive number 30.