THE FLAX SQUARE
Flax, Vlas, Lin Linum usitatissimum “the most useful”
Sluisbuurt, Amsterdam, 27.05.26. Photo: Sander van Wettum
9XF6+9G Amsterdam, Netherlands
Vlas Plein (flax square)
In a neighbourhood imagined from scratch, where growth is considered in 1’s and 0’s and the only way is up, an inverted crop circle, an alian, a glitch in the system, is brushed out of the sand silently wishing, you woul look down
instead of up.
The Flax Square (the most useful — artefact) is an in situ artwork that propose growth, care and the growth of a material to take the center stage.
on Wednesday, May 27, we invited curious neighbours, collaborators, colleagues, friends and family for a Sowing Symposium in the public space of Sluisbuurt on Zeeburgereiland.
It was a moment to celebrate the sowing of a large circle of flax, to listen to people involved in various aspects circling the work such as the landscape arhictecture of Sluisbuurt, natural materials, art education, public space and agriculture. Exchanges took place on how art, ecology, and urban development can meet and inspire one another in a new city district. The Sluisbuurt is an area that is rapidly developing, making this a particularly interesting time to collectively explore what can emerge here.
All photos are taken by Sander van Wettum
Flax is one of the oldest cultivated plants and has been used as food for animals and to improve soil quality. Its fibers are used to make linen for painting canvases, and its seeds to produce linseed oil, traditionally used as a base for paint.
When the flax in the Sluisbuurt has fully grown, it will be pressed into linseed oil and applied—using a traditional painting technique that imitates wood and other materials—to benches, street lamps, and trash bins in the public space, giving these everyday objects a distinctive appearance.
During the SOWING SYMPOSIUM the temporary sculpture “Bird’s Eye” - a lantern,
was revealed together with a reveal cloth “Een Ode Aan De Tuin”, an ode to the former community garden “Blijkmeer Tuinvereniging” that was there until 2008 when the municipality of Amsterdam began to develop the site.
this work would not be the same without everyone that contributed, that came and took part, that shared their insights, performed, prepared the ground, cooked, organised, transported and cared without you there would never be a
circle nor a lantern, neither such a good day
a special thank you to
Ellen van der Vlugt, Emma Diehl, Esper. ‘t Hof, Héloïse Floc’h and Theo Colin, Jules van den Langenberg, Lenneke Langenhuijsen, Leon
Teunissen, Lucas, Marjo van Baar, Nina Kopp, Oscar le Merle, Rianne Makkink, Ruby Hoette and Sara Janssen
and last but not least, thank you to Sander van Wettum for capturing it all
flax cooking by co formations (Héloïse Floc’h and Theo Colin) on a bbq made by artist Bin Koh. Photos by Sander van Wettum
Oscar le Merle. Photo by Sander van Wettum
reveal of lantern “Bird’s Eye” together with Sara Janssen and Rianne Makkink.
Photo by Sander van Wettum
Like the neighborhood, the flax will need time to grow. Until the harvest in autumn later this year, you will be able to watch it grow and bloom, and you are welcome to come by for a picnic.
