This work focuses on a young woman, seated on her luggage, surrounded by suitcases and empty nitrous oxide cartridges. Her pose is subdued, almost absent, while smoke from her cigarette curls gracefully through the air, where faint hemp leaves mingle with the foggy atmosphere of the city. Her skirt is printed with the iconic Amsterdam St Andrew's crosses, a playful reference to the city and her identity. The bright yellow clogs on her feet contrast with the modern surroundings and bring a nostalgic element to the image.
In the background, Amsterdam's typical canal houses rise in a monochrome interplay of lines, as if the city itself is just a backdrop to her experience. The suitcases around her symbolise movement and transition, a traveller between cultures and realities. The laughing gas cartridges on the ground hint at the contemporary, transient pleasures of the city, while a grenade subtly adds a deeper undertone of menace or disillusionment.
With a mix of realism and surrealism, A Visit to Amsterdam offers a contemplative view of modern city life, where tradition, tourism and excess fuse into an image that feels both recognisable and alienating.
This work was lovingly hand-drawn in proCreate. There are 20 layers in this work.
Birgit was born in Aruba, but began a nomadic existence with her expat family from the age of three. She grew up in countries such as Venezuela, Indonesia, Pakistan and the Middle East. She later continued her expat life as an adult, immersing herself in the.. Read more…