People of Amsterdam: Arden de Raaij (CFYE)
Published Date
We asked four questions to four Amsterdam based street art creatives, who we think have stand out in their own unique way in Amsterdam in 2011. Here is part four with Arden de Raaij from CFYE.
CFYE is Arden de Raaij and Kaymir Stark and have been running the website since 2008. We think CFYE is most definitely one of the best sites around to find great street art, but also photography and other subjects that inspire them. Did you know that CFYE is based in Amsterdam? Yup! We totally respect good things that come from Amsterdam. Respect to CFYE!
C215 & Alice Pasquini @ Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal. Photo: Nicole Blommers
1. (Personal) highlight of 2011
Our personal highlight was the re-release of cfye.com! It took three months of developing (known by our followers as 'the dark ages') but we're stoked with the result!
Other than that we did a CFYE light painting event in June, during Nuit Blanche Amsterdam. We had an amazing team of light painters who gave workshops to over 400 people in one night. In the end we only lost money on it, but it was so much fun!!
2. What makes Amsterdam attractive for street artists to live or visit?
Amsterdam is a great city for anyone, street artist or not! But for Street artists I'd like to say that Amsterdam is no London, Barcelona or Berlin. Amsterdam is a small town with a small inner city where everyone wants to live. That means there isn't a nice wall for you available around every corner. That being said I think Amsterdam has great opportunity for street artists to set themselves apart and be part of the cityscape. As long as you're consistent, persistent and do what you love you can find places to paint, paste, stencil or whatever you would like to do here.
3. If an artist of choice (or yourself) could paint at any location in Amsterdam, where would you want him/her to do so?
Hah that's a good question! We've all seen some huge walls getting painted during big street art festivals all around the world. But I don't think Amsterdam is that kind of town though! There are a few prime locations where this is possible, but other than that it's all about street level stuff!
So my favorite locations for more street art would be the obscure ones, the alleyways, the places where interaction with the public space is well possible. If I'd organize a street art festival I'd probably go for all the electricity boxes, post boxes and other ugly but necessary objects in the city, legal or illegal. The way artists like Sao, C215, Cyclops and of course EVOL use these everyday objects as a creative canvas is more inspiring to me than any 20 square meter wall.
4. Which street artist(s) are we gonna hear more about in 2012.
More hard questions! There are so many amazing individuals we have not heard the last of!
Alice Pasquini (see above photo) is the first name that pops into mind, I love her work! It's subtile, yet strong. It's street, but feminent. It's classy but playful. All in all she's a very complete artist with amazing drawing skills and I'm sure we haven't heard the last of here.
Not a street artist, but I think Graffiti artist LUSH is someone who we are going to hear more about. He's been doing shows in LA and Melbourne the past year, if he does a show in Europe in 2012, he'll get everyone talking for sure!!
Link: www.cfye.com