Der Vogel (bird), Armando, 2012, bronze ARTZUID, the Amsterdam Sculpture Biennale is celebrating its 9th season. I’ve been lucky to have attended the last three outdoor exhibitions in 2021, 2023 and now, 2025. The sculptures are on display in Amsterdam Zuid particularly in the neighborhoods of Apollolaan and Minervalaan where towering trees form the backdrop for the seventy sculptural pieces by established international artists as well as Dutch artists. This year’s edition includes works by Jaume Plensa, Nelson Carrilho and Jean Marie Appriou. The sculptural pieces in the free outdoor exhibition are thought provoking, engaging and fun as you’ll see from the images I’ve posted here. Artzuid 2025 runs through September 21, 2025. Yolandita, Jaume Plensa, 2024, bronze Inhebantu from the Kuchu Eastern Busoga Kingdom, Leilah Babirye, 2023-2024 glazed ceramic, wire, bicycle tire inner tubes and found objects The Ones XI, Mickey Hoogendijk, 2024, bronze Horizons, Jean Marie Appriou, 2023,...
Ruins of the Temple of Zvartnots Zvartnots Temple was a three-storey circular structure built in the 7th century. Its beauty captivated the Byzantine Emperor, Constantine III, who brought the builder with him to Constantinople to build a similar structure. Unfortunately, the builder died along the way. Zvartnots Temple stood for around 300 years. By the 10th century, it was in ruins. It is not certain how it was destroyed. A strong earthquake may have caused its collapse or it may also have been due to continued Arab raids. The Zvartnots Archaelogical Site also includes the Catholicos Palace ruins which together with Etchmiadzin Cathedral became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. Etchmiadzin (Echmiatsin) Cathedral Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as the state religion in 301 AD. Etchmiadzin was built under the reign of King Tiridates III and Saint Gregory the Illuminator who introduced Christianity to Armenia. Etchmiadzin is the main church of the Arme...