Did you know that Schiphol has a sizeable art collection? From striking sculptures to inspiring photographs, all kinds of artworks can be found throughout the airport. Eight of these pieces have been included in the upcoming art moments Schiphol podcast in which the artists themselves share the stories behind their creations. In this blog, we tell you a little bit about them. Curious to learn more? Keep reading and make sure to listen to the podcast!
It’s hard to miss the man inside the clock in Lounge 2. This iconic piece, called Real Time by Maarten Baas, not only helps travellers get to their gate on time, it also provides an intriguing experience. You may at first wonder if there’s a real man in there painting the time, wiping it away, and then painting it again. It’s actually a video performance that took twelve hours to film and takes twelve hours to watch in its entirety! The man in overalls was inspired by workers at the airport, and the red, yellow and blue colour scheme is a nod to Dutch artist Piet Mondriaan and designer Gerrit Rietveld.
What do you see when you picture a typical Dutch landscape? The image in your mind may look a lot like the landscape in Samira Boon’s 10.800 Horizons – a huge textile artwork on Holland Boulevard, between Lounges 2 and 3. This weaved design, created in collaboration with NEXT architects, was inspired by a photo of the wide and flat Dutch polder landscape. Make sure to view the piece from a distance and close up; you’ll have two very different experiences!
On the H/M Pier, you can find another imposing work of art: Tom Claassen’s Two Incredible Sitting Black Snowmen. What may at first look like two giant beanbags are actually bronze sculptures. But that doesn’t stop curious travellers from sitting on them to take a short break from moving through the airport. In fact, the two snowmen even seem to invite you to relax with them for a while. The contrast between the stationary snowmen and the dynamic environment certainly give us pause for thought.
Suzanne de Graaf draws a lot of inspiration from the human body and the theme of sensuality. And this is certainly evident in her ethereal photography piece Jantje, which you can find on the ground floor of Pier B. Taken while on holiday in Menorca, these photos of de Graaf’s friend Jantje capture the special moment in time when the two collaborated to create this underwater art. Swimming, twisting and turning in the water, Jantje is like a mermaid – mysterious and exuding an air of freedom. And what better place to display a work like this than at an airport that lies 4 metres below sea level?
This big, bright blue steel sculpture by Marijke de Goey resembles two people on a journey. And indeed, the name of this striking work of art on Pier E is Travellers. Despite its large size and rigid material, the amount of so-called negative space in this piece makes it look graceful. It almost seems as though the sculpture is moving. This is yet another example of art at Schiphol that evokes in us a sense of freedom – precisely the feeling we get when flying to other parts of the world.
You can listen to art moments Schiphol on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Podimo, YouTube Music and Deezer. If you’re at the airport, you can find QR codes next to the artworks. Scan the code and you’ll be taken to the podcast. Click here to visit the podcast page on our website.