The court is a place where everything is fixed in rules. When we were asked to contribute to the exhibition in the Rechtbank Zeeland-West-Brabant, we did research on location. We noticed the rigid way that things are structured in the lobby. The only objects showing a sign of playfulness seemed to be the magazines on the table. That and the security guards who allowed themselves a bit of laughter, although they had to remain professional in their role.
We formalized the playfulness. We put the magazines in official ‘magazine binders’ and we wrote official looking instructions for the guards for the behavior they already showed. We wrote instructions on how to keep their opinions and emotions private.
But shortly after the start of the exhibition, the magazine binders were removed from the lobby and the instructions removed from the reception desk. We wrote an official complaint in the style of a court memorandum.
Sadly, our request remained unanswered. The works caused too much confusion at the court according to the complaints secretariat. Multiple visitors addressed the ‘lost binders’ at the reception, because they looked liked they belonged to someone. The suggestion of adding something like ‘for your perusal’ seemed off the table because we hadn’t first asked for written permission.
The instructions weren’t welcome either, because the guards were afraid the instructions would become public.
