Giant Grand Pianos Washed Ashore in the Netherlands

The Dutch have never been afraid of the sea with 20% of the country being below sea level. It doesn't seem to bring them any threat or destruction. Instead, the beaches of the Netherlands have a tendancy to bring surprises.

The latest "beach surprise" are three grand pianos that washed ashore in Schiermonnikoog, on one of the Western Frisian Islands. Those grand pianos are no ordinary pianos. They are GRAND with a big G! But where did they come from? How did they get there? Are they originated from the same island of giants as the lego figure that washed ashore in Zandvoort last year with the words "NO REAL THAN YOU ARE" written on it? Are they from Easter Island? Or are they just the creation of some crazy dutchman?

I have a hunch, that the grand pianos have got something to do with a classical music festival that is in October each year on that island. But I don't really know. They don't claim it. If it's theirs, it's a great way to create some attention and curiosity around the island and it's cultural life. It's a teaser that gets a lot of attention but doesn't cost very much (in advertising, that is).

It's actually very important, if this is to spread virally, that noone claims it. It has to remain a mystery so that people have a reason to speculate and wonder and talk about it. "How did it get there? - What do you think?" The one who did it can than claim it in the autobiography 40 years from now.

Hjörtur

ps. do you know of more similar examples? Share them with us...

Comments

[Happy Hotelier]

Hi Hjortur

As I commented on trendhunter:

This was not fake, but an object of art.

More pictures can be found here:

http://www.baraskit.se/random/archive/82/giant_piano.html
Another even at http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Vleugels_Florentijn_Hofman_2006.jpg
and on Florentijn Hofmans's site:
http://www.florentijnhofman.nl/
under Paal 5

Title: Signpost 5
Year: 2006
Location: Schiermonnikoog
Afmeting: 3 x 8 x 6 x 5 meters
Materials: wood
Assigned by: Internationaal Kamermuziek Festival Schiermonnikoog
In participation with: Jasper van der Made
With help from: Marco, Gunnar, Jochem, Wouter, Peter, Ed, Kim, Brechtje and the family Talsma
sponsored by: Ubbens Bouwstoffen b.v.

For the fifth anniversary of the Schiermonnikoog International Chamber Music Festival, I came up with a concept of grand pianos washed upon the shore. The refer to stranded cargo and ditto whales. To be salvaged or saved; in any case to be wondered and surprised about.

[Hjörtur]

Hi Guido

Thanks for dropping by.

So the grand pianos are your idea? Brilliant :)

I have been reading your blog on Trend Hunter for a long time but I first checked out your Happy Hotelier blog now and I love it. I should have done that earlier. Loads of good references that I have been looking for and asking about on LinkedIn.

I'll be sending you an email asking you more about the grand pianos :)

Cheers
Hjörtur