TravelswithCharie

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,...

When I need to relax after traveling for a bit, I make a stopover in Amsterdam and visit with good friends. There is no itinerary to follow, no places to go, just days spent relaxing and enjoying the view of trees lining the entrance to Vondel Park. I love the new spring foliage, so fresh and delicate. But fall foliage is just as enchanting with its golden hues. While summer’s green is a welcome backdrop, winter’s naked branches give me a view of my neighbors’ 17th century homes across the park. All the seasons have a magic of its own and I’m just here to soak it all in. My friends and I often go out to dinner. This is usually the only item on my agenda. On this particular evening, we decided to eat at the Café Amsterdam in Watertorenplein. We like this place because apart from the good food, there is an outdoor terrace that borders a canal, perfect for long summer evenings. The indoor seating area is just as atmospheric with its high ceiling. This evening’s added attraction is the lig...

Fat Convertible. Erwin Wurm. 2019 ARTZUID, the Amsterdam Sculpture Biennale is my favorite art exposition in the world. It’s a free outdoor exhibition in the park surrounding Apollolaan and Minervalaan neighborhoods of Amsterdam with 50 sculptural works by established international artists as well as young upcoming artists. This year’s edition includes works by Jean Dubuffet, David Hockney and Robert Indiana. The sculptural pieces are fun, whimsical, playful, colorful and often leaves one to contemplate on the intent of the artist in the creation process. These works are meant to draw and engage young visitors to the exhibition. According to Jasper Krabbé, curator of Artzuid 2023, “Art connects. We would like to involve young people in the plan. Many are struggling and art can be an antidote to the current polarisation, extreme individualisation and the uncertainty fuelled by social media. I hope that at ARTZUID we can reach young people through the influences of street art, neo-pop ar...