Amsterdam
and public sculpture
Amsterdam has been applying the open application procedure
since the seventies. This means that Building projects are
publicized in BK informatie, a magazine made available to
artists. The artist can send documentation to the advisory
committee who commissions a small number of the applicants
to make a paid proposal. The most interesting one is chosen
and this artist gets to make a final proposal which is put
before the committee which advises the city council to give
the green light. During the eighties Lucien den Arend applied
for a number of projects and the result can be seen on these
pages.
Since the end of the nineties however the Amsterdam's
Fonds voor de Kunst, which became independent in 1995. has
a small number of advisors who base their selection on their
personal knowledge of the art scene. They were given the
freedom to make their own choices often make contact with
internationally successful artists. Smaller projects are
available for the local artists to compete for. During the
closing years of the second millennium Lucien den Arend
was a member of the advisory committee which preceded the
select group of advisors. His pleas for the more democratic
selection system were to no avail. The choices had been
made.
to view click the pictures

Brenda - 1988 bronze and concrete - 3000x3000x1900cm
- Police Station Waddenweg - Amsterdam NL

Primum Movens Ultimum Moriens - a memorial for Professor
D. Durrer - 1985-86 stainless steel - 850x450x400cm - Minervaplein
- Amsterdam NL

perpendicular cylinders - 1982-85 stainless steel -
500x500x50cm - entrance of the Flierbosdreef fire station
- Amsterdam-Bijlmer NL
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