• Initiative Cintha van Heeswijck-Veeger
• Curator Ralph Keuning

Art historian Ralph Keuning is curating the Amsterdam Sculpture Biennial ARTZUID 2025, which will take place from May 21 to September 21 along the Apollolaan, Minervalaan and Zuidas in Amsterdam South. This ninth edition of ARTZUID, titled Enlightenment / Verlichting, celebrates the freedom and tolerance of the city of Amsterdam, which marks its 750th anniversary this year.

Internationally renowned artists and emerging Dutch talent will present sculptures and installations that transform the Apollolaan, Minervalaan and Zuidas into a surreal urban landscape this summer. Figurative works will be juxtaposed with architecturally inspired abstract sculptures, displaying a wide variety of scale and material. What unites them is their focus on the mystery of human existence: wonder, emotion, and visions of being; the ambitions and fears surrounding our place in the world. Artists such as Leiko Ikemura, Alicja Kwade and Neo Rauch invite visitors to engage in a dialogue, a sensual conversation with the works on display.

The turmoil of occupation, the fear of war, and the spirit of resistance are poignantly expressed in the contributions of artists such as Magdalena Abakanowicz, Shinkichi Tajiri and Armando. Atelier Van Lieshout reflects on power and powerlessness, conflict and victimhood, through a group of figures surrounding a mounted rider. Within the ARTZUID route, this work is placed in dialogue with the Monument Indië-Nederland on the Apollolaan.

These are just a few examples of the more than 60 works that populate ARTZUID. The architectural sculptures and installations, often by younger artists, carry a sense of engagement and idealism reminiscent of architect H.P. Berlage and city sculptor Hildo Krop. They challenge visitors to reflect on the future of the urban community and to seek answers to the question of which strategies are needed to create a sustainable and peaceful society.