I amsterdam

Amsterdam is the city I was born and raised for 12 twelve years to be exact before I moved to Abu Dhabi. Since I left, Amsterdam has encountered a huge increase in international interest. The typical Dutch archetypes carry a significant importance for tourists to explore, as the small city is yearly visited by 16 million individuals. The canals are a daily spectacle along with the canal houses and museums. In those few years I've been gone it is easy for me to indicate the increase in international interest. This summer beats it all; the city with its fairly small pathways and public spaces was packed by large crowds of holidaymakers walking uncoordinatedly in smaller devisions around the streets of Amsterdam. Many languages vibrated on the drums of my ears however the city moved as a whole; we were all celebrating summer and enjoying the freedom which Amsterdam offers. Would I have noticed the cultural diversity and flow of international people if I still lived here? Or would I simply be annoyed by the many unexperienced bikers? Back in time I considered this my home but now I slightly feel more connected to the ones who encounter Amsterdam for the first time; with love for its culture and admiration for its appearance. The feeling of returning to Amsterdam arouses excitement, more than before when I would return from a holiday. It is a special place to me and I share this feeling with many others who come from far. This city offers so much inspiration and life aspirations that the thought of Amsterdam as my home has now changed into the city which will open up a new chapter in my life. Next year when I move back for my studies, I will start experiencing Amsterdam in a different light. One which I would not have known if I had still lived there. The small details of the city are much more visible and my observations of the way my local friends move around the city contrast to how I silently await till the next tram arrives. For them it is a daily burden but for me a daily realization how enormously handy public transportation is to easily make your way through the secular streets of Amsterdam. 

I truly believe that value of a home country or city is intensified at least twice as much once you step away from it for a few years and revisit it with a broadened mindset. 

Japanese Prints

'A summer long in Abu Dhabi' was my initial thought at the start of summer break 2016. The heat had already begun to make it impossible to enjoy myself outdoors so an everlasting indoor summer threatened to arrive accompanied by the words of wisdom by Alice Munro. Nevertheless, my parents surprised me with a trip to my home country, The Netherlands, which I entirely spent walking around the streets of Amsterdam. The 'Rijksmuseum' was one of my visits that left an impressive and inspirational memory to cherish forever. A dear friend of my family and myself exposed a broad collection of rare Japanese prints from the modernist time period (19th and 20th century) portraying the female human figure in a liberal and defiant manner fighting old Japanese customs. This subject, unintentionally, brought to my attention our gender stereotype unit. Japanese advertising posters projected the Japanese woman as independent and free often shown through Western clothing and the exposure of naked skin. Besides the fact that my mind connected this collection to the content of our English classes, I gained some great ideas for woodblock cuttings for future artworks. The fine lines and precision the Japanese control in their work is brilliant to observe and learn from.

The 'Rijksmuseum' also revealed the two very important artworks 'Marten en Oopjen'. Dutch art historians have recently highlighted the special features of the two portrait paintings created by the Dutch master Rembrandt van Rijn. The couple painted on two separate canvases showcases the a beautiful contrast of light and dark, as most of Rembrandt's work tends to embrace. Both figures are dressed in black and positioned against a black background. The way Rembrandt has differentiated them is fantastic. Through a light source coming from the left the black in the background is slightly more intense than the clothing and contrasts beautifully with the white lace circling the ends of the sleeves. Depth is an important factor in his works and requires thorough observation to create the wanted affect.

Visiting such collections and pieces of art has made me realize in greater certainty that my direction of study after Raha is the arts industry.
- Coco