Project ASA - Amsterdam Street Art

We asked four questions to four Amsterdam based street art creatives, who we think have stand out in their own unique way in Amsterdam in 2011. Here is part four with Arden de Raaij from CFYE.

CFYE is Arden de Raaij and Kaymir Stark and have been running the website since 2008. We think CFYE is most definitely one of the best sites around to find great street art, but also photography and other subjects that inspire them. Did you know that CFYE is based in Amsterdam? Yup! We totally respect good things that come from Amsterdam. Respect to CFYE!


C215 & Alice Pasquini @ Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal.  Photo: Nicole Blommers

1. (Personal) highlight of 2011

Our personal highlight was the re-release of cfye.com! It took three months of developing (known by our followers as 'the dark ages') but we're stoked with the result!

Other than that we did a CFYE light painting event in June, during Nuit Blanche Amsterdam. We had an amazing team of light painters who gave workshops to over 400 people in one night. In the end we only lost money on it, but it was so much fun!!

2. What makes Amsterdam attractive for street artists to live or visit?

Amsterdam is a great city for anyone, street artist or not! But for Street artists I'd like to say that Amsterdam is no London, Barcelona or Berlin. Amsterdam is a small town with a small inner city where everyone wants to live. That means there isn't a nice wall for you available around every corner. That being said I think Amsterdam has great opportunity for street artists to set themselves apart and be part of the cityscape. As long as you're consistent, persistent and do what you love you can find places to paint, paste, stencil or whatever you would like to do here.

3. If an artist of choice (or yourself)  could paint at any location in Amsterdam, where would you want him/her to do so?

Hah that's a good question! We've all seen some huge walls getting painted during big street art festivals all around the world. But I don't think Amsterdam is that kind of town though! There are a few prime locations where this is possible, but other than that it's all about street level stuff!

So my favorite locations for more street art would be the obscure ones, the alleyways, the places where interaction with the public space is well possible. If I'd organize a street art festival I'd probably go for all the electricity boxes, post boxes and other ugly but necessary objects in the city, legal or illegal. The way artists like Sao, C215, Cyclops and of course EVOL use these everyday objects as a creative canvas is more inspiring to me than any 20 square meter wall.

4. Which street artist(s) are we gonna hear more about in 2012.

More hard questions! There are so many amazing individuals we have not heard the last of!
Alice Pasquini (see above photo) is the first name that pops into mind, I love her work! It's subtile, yet strong. It's street, but feminent. It's classy but playful. All in all she's a very complete artist with amazing drawing skills and I'm sure we haven't heard the last of here.

Not a street artist, but I think Graffiti artist LUSH is someone who we are going to hear more about. He's been doing shows in LA and Melbourne the past year, if he does a show in Europe in 2012, he'll get everyone talking for sure!!

Link: www.cfye.com

We asked four questions to four Amsterdam based street art creatives, who we think have stand out in their own unique way in Amsterdam in 2011. Here is part three with Bustart.

Ever since Bustart moved away from Switzerland and settled himself in Amsterdam, the city hasn't been this colour since.....  Is he a busy man or what? Bustart is exactly the kind of artist that Amsterdam needs. Very creative, is out and about a lot to paint and amazes us each time we spot a new piece of art. We are looking forward seeing what he has in store for Amsterdam next year.


Bustart & Zaira @ Haarlemmerstraat.  Photo: Bustart

1. (Personal) highlight of 2011

Moving to Amsterdam.

2. What makes Amsterdam attractive for street artists to live or visit?

Amsterdam has a special flair and what you can find just here. Of course. you can't find big grey walls, but there is always a space for your work. There are galleries like the GO Gallery or organisations such as ASA, who push the urban art and invite artists all over the world to leave their mark in the city.

Sadly there is a law in Amsterdam, which says you are not aloud to paint your house or even the door without permission of the city. This means you still have to deal with the small fat people on their white scooters, even when you have permission of the owner.

3. If an artist of choice (or yourself)  could paint at any location in Amsterdam, where would you want him/her to do so?

I would like to see local artist to paint big walls in town and not invite artists from all over the world. Nothing against them, but I think local artists create the touch of the city and deserve of getting part of it. I want to see big walls, that stay, with art from from Laser 3.14, Ottograph, DHM, Ives, Zaira and that dude Bustart.

4. Which street artist(s) are we gonna hear more about in 2012.

We will see...

Link: www.art-of-bust.com

We asked four questions to four Amsterdam based street art creatives, who we think have stand out in their own unique way in Amsterdam in 2011. Here is part two with Wojofoto.

Who doesn't know Wojofoto? He is out and about every day with his camera to capture Amsterdam's daily life and also the street art and graffiti. We check out his Flickr page on a regular basis to see what is new in Amsterdam and if we have missed a cool street art piece. He sometimes exhibits his photo's as well. You might have seen some of his street art photography at our Project ASA Street Art Photography exhibition at De Duivel last June. Respect to Wojofoto!


Ethos at Work.  Photo: Wojofoto

1. (Personal) highlight of 2011

My highlight was Project ASA 2011, because I met some great international street artists. Besides that, I was very happy to see Ethos painting the mural in the Foeliedwarsstraat

2. What makes Amsterdam attractive for street artists to live or visit?

I don't think Amsterdam is a street art friendly city, compared to other great cities.

3. If an artist of choice  could paint at any location in Amsterdam, where would you want him/her to do so?

I would invite ROA to paint the two walls at the playground in Tuinstraat. (photo)

4. Which street artist(s) are we gonna hear more about in 2012.

I think Bustart and Zaira are doing a great job lately. I hope to see more from them next year!

Link: www.flickr.com/photos/wolfgangjosten/

We asked four questions to four Amsterdam based street art creatives, who we think have stand out in their own unique way in Amsterdam in 2011. Here is part one with Mark Chalmers.

In 2011 we got to know Mark Chalmers, who lives in Amsterdam and has an honest love and passion for street art. He is the one behind all those 'secret' garage artshows that we can not tell you about, but sometimes we did. Artists such as Laser 3.14, Pure Evil and recently Ludo did shows in his garage gallery this year. If you know the address, you might call yourself lucky. We are sure that he will treat us with more amazing shows in 2012.

Mark Chalmers & Gaia.  Photo: Geoff Hargadon

1. (Personal) highlight of 2011

2011 has been a year of highlights. MOCA's Art in the Streets set the tone and built solid international recognition for the genre and i've been honoured to work with the best - EINE, Shoe, ROA, Gaia, C215, Pure Evil, Cash For Your Warhol, Ludo and our very own Laser 3.14. In October I was with Cash For Your Warhol for London's Moniker Art Fair. Geoff Hargadon the artist always entertains. We also hit Miami. Key events include Steve Lazarides Minotaur exhibition which was spectacular and Jordan Seiler's Underbelly project was a show stealer at this years Miami Basel.

2. What makes Amsterdam attractive for street artists to live or visit?

It's a great city who ever you are. Artists get their hand's dirty every day. They define themselves by what they do and make and Amsterdam is a very real city. It's hands on.

3. If an artist of choice  could paint at any location in Amsterdam, where would you want him/her to do so?

Has to be NDSM, the ship builder warehouses. Have you seen the big blue doors? They are enormous. They are incredible and also a monument, but if a wall could be hit regularly, the warehouse buildings viewable from the A4 on the way to Schiphol would be great.

4. Which street artist(s) are we gonna hear more about in 2012.

Retna. For the West coast of the States it's going to be Retna, He's hitting big and hard right now. For Europe keep an eye on Ludo. He's really finding some scale. Laser 3.14 has developed some great studio work and will show stateside While Roa kicks off the year with a show in Stockholm. As the financial markets find turmoil, next year is the year for the artists.

Link: thegarageamsterdam.com

Setup is a platform for creativity and innovation in Utrecht. On Thursday 15th December their evening is all about street art and the digital world. Amsterdam Street Art is one of the guests and will tell about how Amsterdam Street Art uses the online world to promote herself and a few other surprises.

More info: http://setup.nl/streetart

Our next vernissage at Aalborg Hotel (Sarphatipark 106 - Amsterdam) is happening on Friday 2nd December. We are pleased to welcome Spanish artist Skount to the 25th Hour Lounge of Aalborg Hotel with his 'Hope Sunsets' exhibition.

Skount develops a line of work characterized by a mixture of influences and multiple forms of expression. It deals with the creation of a wide range of possibilities: from mural painting to music, canvas based work, performances, video art, sculpture and installations. Skount was part of ASA 2011 earlier this year at Pand 14 and Thought Gallery groupshow.

VERNISSAGE: Friday 2nd December - 17:00-23:00 hrs
Drinks will be served! Jameson Whiskey that is.

Facebook invite: www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=273739146002010

His mural painting at Pand 14 (for Project ASA 2011) can be seen here.

Op initiatief van Imagine IC komen vanaf oktober de meest talentvolle vrouwelijke graffiti/streetart artiesten van Amsterdam en omstreken bij elkaar om onder begeleiding van Diana Ozon, Mickey La Rock en Martijn Haas van elkaar te leren en hun skills te ontwikkelen. Het eindresultaat wordt uitgevoerd en gepresenteerd op diverse podia.

Female Hiphop: Masterclass From Graffiti to Street Art
Wie: vrouwelijke graffiti talenten van 15 tot 30 jaar
Duur: oktober tot december 2011 - 3 dagen
Waar: wordt nog bekend gemaakt
Meer info: Nicole Blommers - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Of ga naar: www.imagineic.nl/project/female-hip-hop

Our next vernissage at Aalborg Hotel (Sarphatipark 106) is happening on Friday 30th September. We are pleased to welcome street artist Iamdoom/Dirtnail to the 25th Hour Lounge of Aalborg Hotel

We won’t make it that difficult for you, Iamdoom and Dirtnail is the same person from Eindhoven, but with two different styles. Iamdoom is mainly street art and Dirtnail more illustrative with a dark undertone.

VERNISSAGE: Friday 30th September- 17:00-23:00 hrs
Drinks will be served! Jameson Whiskey that is.

Facebook invite: www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=129750033788909

On Friday 9th September Café Belgique will host an evening with music and live painting at Magneet Festival in Amsterdam. Our artists Ives.One and Sjem Bakkus are representing Amsterdam Street Art for the live painting and might even let you join them. After the event the canvas will be visible outside Café Belgique. Nice!

Details: www.magneetfestival.nl/belgique#more-11462