Duna, Jaume Plensa, 2014, Cast Iron

When Rudi Fuchs was sought out by the director of ArtZuid, Cintha van Heeswijk, to guest curate an open air sculpture park in the southern part of Amsterdam he told her that the quality level had to be raised. The former director of Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam and organiser of Documenta in 1982, is a resident of Amsterdam Zuid. With his familiarity of the neighbourhood and foremost his in-depth knowledge of art and innumerable collaborations with artists he can envision how the sculptures will work in terms of space, scale and presence in the park.

Together with exhibition creator Maarten Bertheux, Fuchs gloriously succeeded in raising the quality level and made a captivating selection of more than 66 works by 21 contemporary artists.

A celebrated group of artists including Georg Baselitz, Thomas Houseago, Georg Herold, Rebecca Warren, Markus Lüpertz and Tony Cragg were invited to submit three monumental sculptures of their work. In previous editions, only one sculpture by one artist was exhibited which made the overall selection sometimes somewhat random and a bit of a mishmash. By showing three sculptures, the artists are given a podium and the visitors can gain some insight into the practice of the artists. Overall, there is more focus and cohesion throughout the park.

Duna, Jaume Plensa, 2014, Cast Iron

Some of the artists selected by Fuchs and Bertheux, such as Jaume Plensa and KAWS, were also selected by Clare Lilley for editions of Frieze Sculpture Park, Regent’s Park in London. In 2013 the eye catcher of the park was ‘Chloe’ by Jaume Plensa, a cast iron head of seven metres tall.

‘Duna’ is one of Plensa’s series of portrait sculptures where he depicted young women aged 7 to 14. As they have their eyes closed it looks like they are dreaming. The sculpture emanates a sense of contemplation. ‘Duna’ is half the size of ‘Chloe’ and it is a fascinating experience to walk a full 360 degrees around the sculpture. Standing in front of her, it looks like Plensa depicted Duna en profil but when you walk around her head, it thins out, showing us that her head is flat.

KAWS, At This Time, 2013, Afromosia Wood

The eye catcher of last year’s edition, Frieze Sculpture Park was positioned in the same spot as ‘Chloe’. ‘Small Lie’ by KAWS, is a 32ft wooden figure, a hybrid between a Disney character and a Paul McCarthy sculpture.

KAWS belongs to Brian Donnelly, a fomer graffiti artist from New Jersey, who started to make oversized sculptures of cartoon figures based on Mickey Mouse, The Simpsons and The Smurfs. Although the sculptures appeal to children, there is a shadow of sadness over them: they look down or cover their face with both hands. Two figures are positioned in close proximity of the Hilton Hotel and one in front of the Rijks Museum.

Nudepearls, John Chamberlain, 2009, Aluminium foil, Stainless steel

The sculptures are carefully placed. Some are standing in the open field, so when there is a clear blue sky, the sun dramatically lights the sculptures. For instance, ‘Nudepearls’ by John Chamberlain, is made of aluminium foil and reflects the light.

Or the next one, ‘Heyday’ by Georg Herold, slim figures with elongated limbs made of lacquered bronze that shine brightly.

Georg Herold, Heyday, 2013, lacquered bronze

Georg Herold, Heyday, 2013, lacquered bronze

Bundesbank by Hubert Kiecol, 2015, concrete

These piled white storage boxes are carefully placed in the landscape. The rectangular forms interact well with the children’s corner, where children can build shapes from pink foam rubber cubes and the archictecture of the Hilton hotel that has a box shape on top of the roof.

Untitled by Mimmo Paladino, 2014, Aluminium, Iron.

The Italian artist makes sculptures in which figures and animals appear to be connected to stories and myths. This Trojan horse is positioned in front of the Delphi Hotel.

Untitled, Mimmo Paladino, 2000, Aluminium Casting

Thomas Houseago, Crouching Figure, 2008, bronze

The artist attended the opening of the sculpture park. On his Instagram page he commented on his own sculpture: “Kind of disturbing for me to see this early piece. The intense energy and helplessness of the sculpture feels so raw and vulnerable. It gave me a perspective that I was so young and so far from any sense of home or direction and the sculpture shows that so intensely”.

Thomas Houseago, Crouching Figure, 2008, bronze

Thomas Houseago, Large Owl (for B), 2011, bronze

This sculpture is positioned nearby a tree, the natural habitat of the owl. Standing in the shade of the tree, the sculpture is a bit hidden which makes reference to the owl’s incredible capabilities to camouflage itself from predators.

Rebecca Warren, There Is Another Way, 2011, Hand Painted Bronze

Rebecca Warren, There Is Another Way, 2011, Hand Painted Bronze

Tony Cragg, Ever After, 2006, Bronze

Tony Cragg, Ever After, 2006, Bronze

A.R. Penck, Der Geist von L., 1961, Iron

Georg Baselitz, BDM Gruppe, 2012, Painted Bronze