Democratizing Royalty
Transparent Thrones
Client
Paleis Soestdijk (for BAL! exhibition, curated by Anne van der Zwaag / Artifex)
Design
Tjep. (Frank Tjepkema)
Production
Tjep.
Location
Paleis Soestdijk gardens, Baarn, Netherlands
Materials:
Transparent acrylic (ghost chair/throne forms)
Date 2016
Collections/Exhibitions:
Temporary installation for BAL! at Paleis Soestdijk (June–September 2016); group exhibition celebrating contemporary Dutch design in a historic royal setting.
ghostly seats inviting everyone to claim the throne
In the summer of 2016, as Paleis Soestdijk stood on the cusp of a new future after decades as a private royal residence, Tjep. contributed to BAL!—a grand, exuberant exhibition curated by Anne van der Zwaag that transformed the former home of Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard into a vibrant celebration of contemporary Dutch creativity. Over 40 leading designers, artists, and architects were invited to intervene in the palace interiors and gardens, turning the historic estate into a playful, provocative "ball" of innovation before its redevelopment.
Ethereal Thrones in the Royal Gardens
Frank Tjepkema (Tjep.) created a series of Transparent Thrones—elegant, full-scale seats crafted from crystal-clear acrylic that appeared almost invisible against the lush greenery and neoclassical backdrop of Paleis Soestdijk's expansive gardens. Symbolically "dragged" from the opulent palace interiors into the open air, these ghostly chairs dissolved into the landscape from afar, only revealing their sleek, modern forms upon approach. Visitors were invited to sit upon them—to momentarily occupy the symbolic seat of monarchy in a democratic, tongue-in-cheek gesture that blurred the lines between royalty and the everyday public.
Power, Accessibility, and Playful Commentary
With his signature blend of humor and conceptual depth, Tjepkema's installation commented on authority, transparency, and the transition of power: in a palace once reserved for the House of Orange, anyone could now "claim the throne." The thrones' immaterial quality contrasted sharply with the palace's solid history, evoking fragility, openness, and the democratization of heritage—allowing ordinary visitors to experience a fleeting coronation amid the gardens where queens once strolled.
A Grand Finale for a Royal Era
Part of the hugely popular BAL! exhibition (25 June – 25 September 2016), which drew thousands to explore site-specific works by peers including Studio Job, Richard Hutten, Pieke Bergmans, and Studio Drift, Tjep.'s Transparent Thrones symbolized Paleis Soestdijk's shift from private residence to public cultural space—bold yet ephemeral, invisible yet unforgettable.
From Tjep.'s visionary Amsterdam studio, these ghostly thrones offered a cheeky moment of majesty for all—a democratic twist on Dutch royal legacy.