The Lustwarande Draws Attention with Wooden Phalluses: ‘Vandalism and Outraged Reactions’

Wooden phalluses, hanging balls, and vandalism: the Lustwarande once again stirs controversy this year. Is the exhibition truly that provocative? Univers joins the guided tour through the Warandebos.

Whether the forest itself is pleased with the Lustwarande exhibition is debatable, as most sculptures are entirely made of wood. This aligns well with the theme of the fourteenth edition: ‘Arbos,’ the Latin word for trees. Fortunately, the Warandebos need not worry; the artists are prohibited from using any trees from the Oude Warande.

As true Nederlanders, people flock to the reception point for the free tour, the ‘selfiespot’ at the campus edge. The Dutch tours are fully booked, though the exhibition has an international flair. Ten artists from seven different countries present their interpretation of Arbos.

Lustwarande

The tour, organized by Studium Generale, begins with a local artist. Maria Roosen’s three graces, originally from Oisterwijk, immediately attract attention. ‘What do you see in it?’ Van der Loo asks the visitors.

‘Mushrooms!’ shouts one visitor, followed by a cheeky ‘acorns!’ The guide clarifies, ‘No, they are three phalluses. We’re not beating around the bush.’ The visitors are relieved; they have sharp eyes, not dirty minds. This year, the Lustwarande lives up to its name.

In her feminist art, Roosen highlights the distinction between male and female nudity. The three graces symbolize beauty, fertility, creativity, and charm—traits often associated with women, typically depicted as three intertwined females.

Roosen’s graces take on a more masculine appearance. Perhaps this is why her piece ‘Three Graces’ features names like Louise, Jeanne, and Simone, each hiding a male name.

Vandalism

Not everyone appreciates phalluses or other art in the Oude Warande, as the Lustwarande sculptures have been vandalized one day before opening for three consecutive years, the guide reveals. This year, 8 out of 10 artworks were damaged.

The phalluses, for example, were sprayed with graffiti. Fortunately, the organization managed to save Roosen’s artwork. Both the vandalism and the exhibition sparked many angry, outraged, and somewhat prudish reactions: ‘What a ridiculous leftist affair; is this where our tax money is going?’

Brazilian Balls

Whether it’s coincidence remains unclear, but from phalluses, we move to hanging balls. The ‘Pau-Caroço’ by Henrique Oliveira arrived specifically from Brazil.

When the package arrived, there was panic among the exhibition’s organizers. A piece weighing less than six kilograms seemed off. However, it turned out the wooden balls are incredibly light due to Oliveira’s use of veneer from plywood scraps.

The artwork contains small stones, designed to make piñata sounds, but visitors barely notice; it hardly winds in the Warande.

Climbing Structure

After the lightweight balls, you arrive at ‘Momentary Constellation in Becoming,’ designed by Dutch artist Gerbrand Burger. While you might accidentally overlook Pau-Caroço, Burger’s piece is impossible to miss. At first glance, it resembles a gigantic climbing structure, but upon closer inspection, it reveals a different story.

‘No climbing,’ is written on the ground. The artwork is assembled without a single screw, nail, or even glue, so climbing is indeed a daring act. However, a massive granite stone on the right keeps the structure stable, proving Burger knows how to build.

On a Chain

German artist Gesine Grundmann loves physical challenges in her work. She has previously created large wooden chains, but scaling her work to twice the size proved more difficult than expected.

The difficulty increases exponentially with larger pieces, Van der Loo explains. During the hollowing of an entire log for her piece ‘Contingence,’ Grundmann certainly encountered these challenges.

Van der Loo attempts to explain the work’s meaning further, but he notes, ‘That’s not really the point; artists prefer to keep the meaning open-ended.’

All good in the Grotto

A long walk concludes with a drink. Visitors who have absorbed information like sponges and feel they have transformed into true art connoisseurs can enjoy refreshments at the ‘Grotto.’

In fact, the tour continues there, as the establishment has more connections to the Lustwarande than one might think. The dark glass cube encasing the grotto in the center of the Oude Warande is art in itself. Established as a permanent artwork during the Lustwarande in 2009, just like the it’s Eiffel Tower, but a bit different.

The Arbos exhibition is on display until October 6. Studium Generale, in collaboration with Lustwarande, offers free tours for students and staff of Tilburg University.

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