Tentstation

Fuel, candy, soft drinks, and meatball sandwiches all come together at a highway gas station through a vast global network of production and transport. The gas station is, in fact, one of humanity’s greatest logistical achievements — and stands in stark contrast to our idea of nature. These roadside stations became a major source of inspiration for artist Melle Smets, leading to the idea of building one in the middle of the sea. Thus, Tentstation was born: an artwork that invites us to reflect on our consumption habits in a unique way — the more we fuel up, the higher the sea level rises. Or perhaps Melle meant something else entirely?

During the 2007 Oerol Festival on Terschelling, Melle Smets built a replica of a Shell gas station in the Wadden Sea. The installation, made of vinyl fabric, tent poles, and guy lines, measured 12 meters wide, 6 meters long, and 4 meters high. Tentstation was presented by Mothership, commissioned by the Terschellings Oerol Foundation. Mothership curated, coordinated, and produced the project.