Work in progress: studio visit Olphaert den Otter

The site specific artwork for the Berlage Lyceum is coming along nicely! Over the past few months, artist Olphaert den Otter has continued to work on his series of site specific murals for a secondary school renovation in Amsterdam  – delivery of the first phase of the project is expected at the end of this year. Last week, Den Otter gave us another sneak peak in his studio, and we were again impressed with the results.

For those who missed the earlier blog posts, here is more information about the artwork as well as the project:

About Olphaert den Otter

As an artist, Olphaert den Otter is known for his technical skills, but above all for his social engagement - both when it comes to societal issues and to the climate crisis. He has been working on a series about the human impact on the world, using the four elements as a guideline, from as early as 2009. At the same time, his paintings also often focus on natural phenomena we do not (yet) seem to have any influence on - cloudscapes, day and night.

With his work for the Berlage Lyceum, ‘An Unforgettable Day’, he responds to two existing frescos, but also reflects on our present situation. A frieze of cloudy skies will extend over the four walls of the entrance hall, following the course of the day, containing a number of tondos. In these tondos, Den Otter looks at the natural world, from the smallest to the largest scale, from insect life to ocean currents. At the same time, he also takes a look at the downside of our activities - with burning zeppelins, blast furnaces, Amsterdam seen form above - and thus takes a closer look at our lives.

Two of the tondos address the future, focusing on both the dreams of the students as well as those of the artist himself.  The result is a layered artwork that encourages the students to think, without passing judgement. At the same time, the work can also play a role in the schools educational program, for instance in art, geography or biology lessons.

About the Berlage Lyceum

Since 2020, atelier PRO has been working on the renovation and redevelopment of the Berlage Lyceum, a secondary school in Amsterdam which is housed in a monumental complex from the 1920s. The complex, which is part of Berlage's famous Plan Zuid, consists of two mirrored symmetrical buildings in the style of the ‘Amsterdamse School.

One of the guiding principles of the ‘Amsterdamse School’ was the relationship between architecture and art - which is also reflected here, for example in the use of façade sculptures and stained-glass windows. In addition, two artists were asked to create a mural: in 1929 Sjoerd Sjollema painted a trio of frescoes for what was then the three-year HBS, and in 1932 Peter Alma painted a four-panelled mural for the adjacent five-year HBS. Both chose themes that corresponded to the type of school: for the more practical-oriented three-year course, Sjollema worked on the 'Cycle of the Seasons: an ode to labour', for the five-year trade school Alma chose ‘Trade and her means of Transport: an ode to transportation'.

Both these murals are and will remain in their original locations, in the halls on the first floor. But a modernized, contemporary school - with completely different teaching methods and principles than in 1924 - calls for a contemporary artwork, and Den Otter's site-specific mural is just that.

Filmmaker Jeanne van der Horst is currently working on a documentary about Den Otter and this art project.