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European RoyalsThe Netherlands

Princess Beatrix opens exhibition “The Garden of Earthly Worries”

Princess Beatrix officially opened a new exhibition at the Paleis Het Loo on Tuesday, The Garden of Earthly Worries.

Designed by Daniel Libeskind, a Polish-American artist, architect and designer, the exhibition consists of four sculptures.

“Conceived as a sculptural and conceptual counterpoint to the ordered beauty of the palace garden,” per the Paleis Het Loo website, “the gardens of the 17th century present a perceived paradise, man’s perfection of nature.

“But, due to technology and human intervention, our current planet is rapidly changing.”

The four sculptures, measuring three-metres tall, represent chemical compounds that contribute to climate change: tropospheric ozone (represented by a yellow statue); carbon dioxide (represented by a green sculpture); nitrous oxide (represented by a blue sculpture); and methane (represented by a red sculpture).

Together, each piece forms part of a globe. Separately, they represent the imbalance of humankind.

Paleis Het Loo is currently closed for renovations and is due to open in mid-2021. The Garden of Earthly Worries will be on display for the duration of the repairs and marks the first time that contemporary art is showcased at the Paleis.

Libeskind has owned his own architecture firm and studio, Studio Libeskind, since 1989. According to his biography, he has the ability to “evoke cultural memory in buildings” and is “informed by a deep commitment to music, philosophy, literature and poetry” to create architecture that is “resonant, unique and sustainable.”

Paleis Het Loo will be closed for renovations until 2021, with the main building already closed. The Gardens and Stables are open until the fall.

According to its website, the Paleis Het Loo will undergo renovations to replace “technical installations, climate control systems and removing asbestos” and will also include an underground expansion to allow for space to house more exhibitions and facilities for museum visitors. The work began in 2018.

About author

Jess Ilse is the Assistant Editor at Royal Central. She specialises in the British, Danish, Norwegian and Swedish Royal Families and has been following royalty since Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee. Jess has provided commentary for media outlets in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Jess works in communications and her debut novel THE MAJESTIC SISTERS will publish in Fall 2024.