Category / Art in public space

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The Statue of Connectivity Amsterdam

Dam square Amsterdam January 15 2025

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                       Amsterdam (NL), January 15 2025

An unusual outcome

After riots in Amsterdam between two groups, there was an unusual outcome. The provocateurs went free and those who were provoked received heavy prison sentences. The issue divided society. So it was time for connectivity.

I invited passersby to join me in creating The (Living) Statue of Connectivity. Together, using this staff and the presence of others, I expressed my wish for a colorful and connected society. People aged 17 to 96 stepped onto the pedestal. A week and a half later, I received this fanmail:

Hey Frank, My brothers and I were on holiday last week visiting Amsterdam where we crossed paths and took a photo with you. Your concept was so unique and different to us that we keep talking about it afterwards. I then thought, let me look up statue of connectivity Amsterdam and to my surprise your website showed up. Thank you for being kind and passing on the message of connectivity and diversity. Best, Jairo (brown jacket) 

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The Statue of Connectivity

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Wednesday, January 15, 2025 between 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. you can experience The Statue of Connectivity on Dam Square in Amsterdam. The colorful cubes are then assembled into staff #93. With this staff and with other people I express my wish for a colorful and connected society.

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Things fall apart

Staff # 96 and the artist @
Kapoenstraat Maastricht during the Covid-19 pandemic.
September 25 2020
Free after Balthus’ paintings: Passage du Commerce-Saint-André, 1952-1954 (Fondation Beyeler) & La Rue 1933, (Moma New York)

 

Staff #96 and the artist @ Kapoenstraat Maastricht during the Covid-19 pandemic. September 25, 2020 (Staff # 96 345 cm)

The decree of the mayor

On January 15, 2020, we read on a shop window the decree of the mayor of Prato, Italy, that Chinese New Year could not be celebrated this year. We were in Italy, but in this shopping street, only Chinese characters could be read. For the first time, I saw people walking down the street wearing face masks. What had initially been news about an event in far away Wuhan now suddenly seemed close to home.

Covid-19 virus

After a series of then still unexplained deaths, the fight against the Covid-19 virus began a few months later. With face masks, a lockdown, and eventually vaccinations.

Paintings become reality

The individualism that has dominated society for years is now becoming the norm. The gesture of social connection is prohibited; shaking hands has become too dangerous. People must keep a distance of 1.5 meters from each other. Two of Balthus’ paintings become reality:  Passage du Commerce-Saint-André, 1952-1954 (Fondation Beyeler) and  La Rue 1933, (Moma New York)

 

Things fall apart (Staff # 96, 28 parts)
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Raked Nothing

Rijen Noord-Brabant The Netherlands Commisioned by SBB

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Raked Nothing was constructed in 2008. Trees and vegetable mould were removed. And an open area with sand was the result. Fifty lorries loaded with used street concrete were the artist’s building materials. After three months of work a thirty-meter long wall was erected. On one side you can start walking up to four meters high.

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The Roman Mysterie

Tempellaan, Elst. The Netherlands. Commissioned by the community of Elst 2003

Two thousand years ago local Dutch inhabitants (Batavian tribes) cooperated with the Italian conquerors (the Romans). Today it’s policy in archeology to no longer discover settlements but preserve them for future generations. This is an example of such a site. The whole site has been packed with twenty inch of sand.

To add to the mystery of the unrevealed archeological site the artist developed a street enlightment that reacts at random on movements on the track .

Before entering the site the artist planted three sweet chestnut trees to remind people of the Roman past. In this way he links the introduction of the chestnut tree by the Romans with today’s food.

At night the random lights makes you speculate about the dark history of the Batavians.

In the day light you can experience (and taste) the sweet chestnut trees.

Robinson Thomasia and two friends at the access to the archeological site

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Cultural Walking Expedition 2007

From Aalsmeer to Vijfhuizen 2007

 

The artist organizes two times a nine-mile-long walking excursion inspired by the former railroad . The start is at the former Grand Station in Aalsmeer.

More than 300 people walk the track while listening to an open air, live broadcast. Listening to soundscapes of an audio artist and listening to stories and other information of
a writer , a historian, an ecologist and of course the artist himself about the landscape.

Due to safety rules Amsterdam Airport had to give permission for this walk across the runway of planes.

Most of the bridges were gone. Sometimes boats are needed.

Inspired on an old cabin for the bridgemaster, the artist built a new one.

For one watercourse the artist built a floating bridge of 40 feet.

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Green Flags

The ‘Tuinstraat’ (Gardenstreet) in Almelo (The Netherlands) offers no green, it is only bricks you see.

Frank Bezemer has found four spots of some square inches to plant a taxus tree.

Because of the limited space, the taxus tree will be trimmed on the left, in the front, and at the top. Within some years the silhouet of a flag will be the result of all this trimming.

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Ore Sign

Tubbergen The Netherlands 2003

The artist started a new sign in the landscape in Tubbergen (Eastern Netherlands).  It is made of iron ore which you can find here.

Every walker can make a contribution to the sign.

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