projects1

Colours of Osdorp

Community installation: weaving conversations, 2018 NL

Do you feel at home here? 

Photo's by Kester Scholten
Photo's by Kester Scholten
Photo's by Kester Scholten
Photo's by Kester Scholten
Photo's by Kester Scholten
Photo's by Kester Scholten
Photo's by Kester Scholten
Photo's by Kester Scholten
Photo's by Kester Scholten
Photo's by Kester Scholten
Photo's by Kester Scholten
Photo's by Kester Scholten
Photo's by Kester Scholten
Photo's by Kester Scholten
Photo's by Kester Scholten
Photo's by Kester Scholten

In the spring of 2018 I moved to Osdorp, Amsterdam. In an attempt to make this place my home I explored the neighbourhood by extracting its colours. I dyed 50 various strings of yarn with plants and other organic material sourced in Osdorp. 

52.356830, 4.791503 - pomegranate
52.356830, 4.791503 - pomegranate
52.358947, 4.791263 - rhubarb
52.358947, 4.791263 - rhubarb
52.362525, 4.801481 - sumac, hibiscus, turmeric
52.362525, 4.801481 - sumac, hibiscus, turmeric
52.362859, 4.790323 - pterocarya fraxinifolie
52.362859, 4.790323 - pterocarya fraxinifolie
52.358327, 4.792289 - catchweed
52.358327, 4.792289 - catchweed
52.356830, 4.793459 - yellow onion
52.356830, 4.793459 - yellow onion
52.358842, 4.790337 - beetroot
52.358842, 4.790337 - beetroot
52.356974, 4.794665 - avocado
52.356974, 4.794665 - avocado
52.359319, 4.789146 - nettle
52.359319, 4.789146 - nettle
52.356092, 4.786449 - red onion
52.356092, 4.786449 - red onion
52.357323, 4.789403 - mallow
52.357323, 4.789403 - mallow
52.348699, 4.795658 - purple leave plum
52.348699, 4.795658 - purple leave plum
52.359017, 4.803446 - carrot greens
52.359017, 4.803446 - carrot greens
52.356384, 4.791505 - henna
52.356384, 4.791505 - henna
52.352632, 4.815459 - conifer, privet
52.352632, 4.815459 - conifer, privet
52.360472, 4.788030 - dandelion
52.360472, 4.788030 - dandelion

I presented the result in a local park. Where it became a conversation piece. Many people came up to me asking what I was doing. In return I asked them to pick a color and answer the following question: ‘Do you feel at home here? If you would rate that home-feeling with a number between 1 and 10, how much would you give it?’ While I listened to their stories I wove the collected data on a back-strap loom. 

'I like it here, so much green and quiet. But I do miss the mountains.'
'I like it here, so much green and quiet. But I do miss the mountains.'
'When I was 8, we moved to the Netherlands. Before I lived in Turkey. At home we also had a lot of woolen yarn hanging from the ceiling. My grandmother used to make big carpets. And as a small boy I always had to hold the yarn. Like this. She also dyed her wool, but her colours were brighter. Maybe next time you can bring better colours.'
'When I was 8, we moved to the Netherlands. Before I lived in Turkey. At home we also had a lot of woolen yarn hanging from the ceiling. My grandmother used to make big carpets. And as a small boy I always had to hold the yarn. Like this. She also dyed her wool, but her colours were brighter. Maybe next time you can bring better colours.'
'Yes, it has changed a lot over the last years. Did you know, that in the 60ties there were only civil servants living here?'
'Yes, it has changed a lot over the last years. Did you know, that in the 60ties there were only civil servants living here?'
'Don't think I am going to tell you my real name miss!'
'Don't think I am going to tell you my real name miss!'
'This is so beautiful. It makes me think of my family in Morocco. My mother and aunties used to make big carpets. May I smell them?'
'This is so beautiful. It makes me think of my family in Morocco. My mother and aunties used to make big carpets. May I smell them?'
'Osdorp has changed a lot over the years. There used to be less rubbish on the streets. These days the city furniture pick up comes and the next day the pavements are filled with stuff again. Such a waste.'
'Osdorp has changed a lot over the years. There used to be less rubbish on the streets. These days the city furniture pick up comes and the next day the pavements are filled with stuff again. Such a waste.'
'Can you teach me how to do this?'
'Can you teach me how to do this?'
'Do you really give this place a 10? Don't you think you're exaggerating? I like living here, it's a beautiful mix of cultures, but the last years the atmosphere has changed. Before there was a lot more intermixing. I think people feel threatened in their identity. We ourselves, are a mixed race couple. I'm Christian and my husband is Muslim. These days at the schoolyard the mothers form cliques; the Turkish, the Moroccan, the Dutch. And when I enter the Moroccan group for example they keep speaking Arabic.'
'Do you really give this place a 10? Don't you think you're exaggerating? I like living here, it's a beautiful mix of cultures, but the last years the atmosphere has changed. Before there was a lot more intermixing. I think people feel threatened in their identity. We ourselves, are a mixed race couple. I'm Christian and my husband is Muslim. These days at the schoolyard the mothers form cliques; the Turkish, the Moroccan, the Dutch. And when I enter the Moroccan group for example they keep speaking Arabic.'
'The nicest thing about Osdorp is that everything you need is close by, I mean store-wise. Car in front of the door and it's nice and quiet. Beside when there is a fair at the park.'
'The nicest thing about Osdorp is that everything you need is close by, I mean store-wise. Car in front of the door and it's nice and quiet. Beside when there is a fair at the park.'
'Which colour did the person before me picked? Because I would like it to fit in with the rest.'
'Which colour did the person before me picked? Because I would like it to fit in with the rest.'
'I moved here today with my girlfriend. It's such a nice place, I rather live here then in the center. I'm originally from Iceland. My friends weave too, because we do Viking reenactment.'
'I moved here today with my girlfriend. It's such a nice place, I rather live here then in the center. I'm originally from Iceland. My friends weave too, because we do Viking reenactment.'
'This is the first time I'm in Osdorp. Last night I went to a concert at the Melkweg, and ended up here. Hihi. And now I'm really in need of a shower. Do you know where I can find tram 17?'
'This is the first time I'm in Osdorp. Last night I went to a concert at the Melkweg, and ended up here. Hihi. And now I'm really in need of a shower. Do you know where I can find tram 17?'
'I just came back from the city farm. It was a lot of fun. Every Saturday I do weeding. Yes, I can't walk well, but I just scoot on the ground. And all the things you can do with weeds. Last week I made nettle soup. I love Osdorp. There so much to do here.'
'I just came back from the city farm. It was a lot of fun. Every Saturday I do weeding. Yes, I can't walk well, but I just scoot on the ground. And all the things you can do with weeds. Last week I made nettle soup. I love Osdorp. There so much to do here.'
'Can I also give it a twenty?'
'Can I also give it a twenty?'
'So, those yarns grow on the trees?'
'So, those yarns grow on the trees?'
'Wow, this is so beautiful. In India after the independence weaving was obligatory for all children. I wish I had learned it.'
'Wow, this is so beautiful. In India after the independence weaving was obligatory for all children. I wish I had learned it.'
'Why are you doing this?'
'Why are you doing this?'

All works, text and photographs are reserved rights by Nina van Hartskamp © 2020