Saddam Hussein's body floating in a tank, an oil-stained Statue of Liberty and a world map showing the countries with nuclear weapons. Some of the disturbing works of art to be shown May 22 during the Twente Biennale 2011 in Hengelo in the east of the Netherlands.

The Biennale focuses on the period after 9/11, together with great attention to the mass media which, according to the organisers, dominate everything.

The attacks on September 11, 2001 constituted an important starting point, says Kees de Groot, creative director of the Biennale. "The global war on terror has led to polarisation between large groups. Many artists have a relationship with 9/11. Artists are the mirrors of society, which is shown very clearly in the Twente Biennale."

David Cerny
As mentioned above, Saddam Hussein's body can be seen at the Biennale floating on his belly in a liquid container, handcuffed and with the noose still around his neck. The creator is the Czech artist David Cerny, who always seeks out confrontation. And that goes for many of the more than 50 exhibiting artists, mostly from the Netherlands. They vary from new artists to eminent foreigners such as Damien Hirst.

Offender's viewpoint
The visitor to Hengelo essentially appears to get a disturbing picture of reality. Artist Ronald Ophuis says he achieved that effect by portraying things from the perspective of the perpetrator. "In the Western tradition, it is normal that you depict your victims. In some of my work I see the world through the eyes of the perpetrator and that is much more confusing. "

Twente Biennale 2011
Creative Factory,
Tuindorpstraat 61
7555 CS Hengelo
Daily from 12 to 18 hours
Admission is free

(as/imm)