Giovanni Abath – History in Motion

July 2nd is Flag day in Curaçao. The ceremonies begin on July 1st, at the end of the day when following protocol the national flag at the Brionplein is taken down, folded and brought to Fort Amsterdam. On the 2nd of July the flag is ceremonially brought back and is raised, according to protocol.

His Majesty King Willem Alexander and Her Majesty Queen Máxima attended the ceremony on the 2nd of July 2018. This year it was Curaçao’s 34th consecutive celebration of Flag day.

Local starting artist Giovanni Abath was approached by the Government to create a ‘crown’ for the flag which would be part of the ceremony on July 1st and 2nd. Although Giovanni Abath is an upcoming artist, he was well aware of the prestigious task that befell him. The work is titled ‘History in motion’.

Giovanni Abath created a fairly simple structure consisting of 8 parts, surrounding the flag pole at the base, as a kind of protection. Each part carries a ‘shield’ with a reference to the history of the island, which are the actual art-pieces. During the ceremony on July 1st, the artist himself, together with his wife placed the ‘shields’ on the ‘crown-structure’.

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Posted by Josée Thissen-Rojer.