Cut Through the Divide - 2026 

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Our Mural 'Cut Through the Devide' is officially part of the collection of the Museum van de Geest, not inside the museum, but outside, in the public space of Haarlem.

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Standing at an impressive height, Cut Through the Divide is currently the tallest mural in Haarlem. For us, this makes the work not only a significant addition to the city, but also a meaningful opportunity to bring a conversation about mental wellbeing into public space.

The mural was developed from conversations with young people and residents of Meerwijk. Through workshops, community gatherings and spontaneous encounters, we listened to their stories, experiences and perspectives. These encounters became the foundation for a work about mental wellbeing, stigma, nature and connection.

At the heart of the mural is the metaphor of rock, paper, scissors: an ancient game that remains popular among young people, but also a simple way of dealing with disagreement and conflict. Whether on the playground or during a game of football, the outcome is not always the one you hoped for. Yet there is an understanding that comes with the game, you accept the outcome and move on together.

In the mural, a pair of scissors cuts through a rough stone, revealing a brightly coloured interior.

 

The image reflects on the way we form perceptions of people and places. How often do our ideas become as hard and impenetrable as stone?

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Meerwijk, for example, can be viewed from the outside through labels such as disadvantaged neighbourhood or other forms of stigma just like graffiti. But when you look beyond that surface, a different picture emerges: young people expressing what is happening in their minds through creativity, a community full of resilience, and people constantly finding ways to live and grow together.

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With this mural, we wanted to make that contrast visible. It opens up the hard exterior to reveal something unexpected, colourful and alive underneath. A reminder that there is always more to a person or a place than the perception we initially have of it.

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This project is made possible by:

Museum van de Geest, Rosa van Ederen, Jessica Belles, Thomas Vos, Buurts

Marije Kool, Diana van Huis, Elan Wonen, Municipality of Haarlem, Stichting ELJA,  Claribel Rodriguez and Rebel Foundation.

 

Photography by: Sandro Angela and Rosa van Ederen

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Location: Albertschweitzerlaan 36 - Haarlem