Flora in the neighbourhood

Facade artwork for De Catamaran Primary School

In the little square in front of the school, there are 8 mulberry trees, each with as many as three different leaf shapes! How many more leaf shapes can be found near the school?

Pupils from Years 4, 5, 6 and 7 went in search of them in the small gardens on the GWL site and around their school garden, De Roos. There, they drew these plants, flowers, leaves and tiny details, which they then screen-printed onto the wooden panels themselves.

Note: If you look closely, you can also spot a few mulberry leaves in the artwork!

Thanks to: Jorie Wieriks (‘Juf op straat’) for introducing me to the school; Jaqcueline, Morag and Natasha from the GWL gardens; De Roos school garden; and intern Carolina

DETAILS

Commission: De Catamaran Primary School
Location: Bentinckstraat 78, Amsterdam
Facade artwork: 24 panels, joined with tongue-and-groove joints and arranged across 5 frames
Dimensions: total approx. 2500 x 70 cm
Entrance artwork: 2 panels in frames to the left and right of the front door
Dimensions: 102 x 255 cm
Material: screen print on wood (ocoumé), mounted in hardwood frames (meranti), varnished and sealed all round.
Installation: Karprojecten, Stefan van de Kar
Completion: August 2026