On April 21st a new, large scale mural was revealed on the exterior of Haardstee in the Bijlmermeer. The work is called ‘The Botanical Garden of the Bims’, artists Merete Richters and Charayda Andeloe worked on the piece since autumn of last year. The two artists live in Amsterdam South-East themselves, and gift their own neighbourhood a present with this new artwork. In this ‘garden’ are national flowers of the different cultures represented in South-East. The work was realised with help of CBK Zuidoost, and was curated by Shammah Brempong.
The parking garages in the Bijlmer have long been controversial. Most of them have been demolished, because of the bad state they were in, or after the supposed social unsafety they caused. For years, the garages were the semi-indoor public spaces that were used creatively by neighbourhood residents: for graffiti art, meetings, and even for church gatherings. It is unclear how long this particular garage will still exist, but for now you can enjoy the colourful artwork of Richters and Andeloe, just outside the shopping center Amsterdamse Poort.
This artwork is part of the Sunday Sculptures series that Stadscuratorium Amsterdam posts every Sunday on Instagram.
Image: Stadscuratorium Amsterdam
