In the future, the Hondsrugweg in Amstel III, Amsterdam will make way for a new park – Hondsrug Park. This green space will become a vibrant gathering place within the mixed-use neighborhood of Amstel III. While some small, existing measures have already hinted at the park’s future, the municipality’s placemaking program ‘HOBU’ aims to further enhance the livability of the area for residents and visitors. One key initiative is to transform the temporary concrete traffic barriers by painting them with an artwork that anticipates the future park design.

The core of this art project ‘Stories in Stone’ revolves around the personal, handwritten stories of new and existing residents of Amsterdam South-East. They shared their stories and experiences about the neighborhood on paper, in their own handwriting. For example, one of these texts, written by a young adult in a distinctive handwriting with a beautiful combination of round and sharp forms, has been translated into one of the designs on the concrete blocks. These unique texts form the basis for this artwork.

I translated the words into visual compositions, giving each text its own abstract form on the concrete traffic barriers. Each block has its own character and tells a unique story of a resident in a varying color palette that matches the colors of nature in a creative way. The arrangement of the artwork symbolizes connection and unity among the residents, with stories literally and figuratively linked together. With a life-sized 200 meter long painted artwork, these stories enliven the traffic barriers along the Hondsrugweg.