After 14 years, the artwork Virtual Fountains by artist Femke Schaap finally found a location: on Europlein.
During daytime they’re three clusters with blocks of white marble, but between sunset and sunrise images of streaming water are projected onto it. In a comedic address, Jeroen Boomgaard, who is an advisor at Stadscuratorium Amsterdam, set out the various obstacles that were faced before this artwork could finally be placed in public space. First in West, and now in Zuid, neighbourhood residents protested against the nocturnal video images, but the objections committee declared the complaints to be groundless.
What is interesting about this placement is how it relates to what happens under ground. The low-lying Rivierenbuurt is often faced with heavy rains. That is why under Europaplein lies a reservoir for rain water, which can slowly sink into the soil without overwhelming the sewers.
This artwork is part of the Sunday Sculptures series that Stadscuratorium Amsterdam posts every Sunday on Instagram.
