The second artwork for the Art Route in Schuytgraaf has been unveiled: Echo from the Past by Keiko Sato is now in the neighborhood!

Keiko Sato (1957, Iwaki) finds inspiration in the idea of lingering traces and responds through her work to the rich history of Schuytgraaf. Archaeological findings show that Schuytgraaf was already inhabited seven thousand years ago. Evidence of habitation dates from the Middle and Late Iron Ages, the Roman period, and the early Middle Ages. In addition, heavy fighting took place in and around Schuytgraaf during the Second World War. In the final six months before liberation, the front line even ran straight through the area.

Keiko says: “Sometimes, residents aren’t aware of what once happened right in their surroundings. With this work, I want to make Schuytgraaf’s past visible and tangible.”

The artwork Keiko created for the art route is a ‘shelter’ in the form of a broken egg, reminiscent of a bunker. In addition to the enclosed nature of the piece, visitors experience a sense of freedom when looking up at the sky through the open roof. When you direct your gaze downward, you see traces of the past—Keiko incorporated metal archaeological objects from Schuytgraaf into a floor installation, using finds from the Arnhem archaeological depot.

The work is located at the foot of a hill in an ecological zone near a piece by Rob Voerman. This no-man’s-land in the middle of the neighborhood, where nature is allowed to take its course, forms an essential part of the experience. To reach it, visitors walk through a rugged, seemingly untamed area. In summer, the artwork is sheltered by tall grasses and wild herbs; in winter, by shrubs that partly conceal it.

The Art Route Schuytgraaf is supported by the Mondriaan Fund, the BPD Culture Fund, and the Municipality of Arnhem.

For more information, follow us on Instagram: @Kunstroute_schuytgraaf