VAN KASTJE NAAR CANVASJE
2024
CATHARIJNESINGEL
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BUUF BUUR
Buuf Buur is a Utrecht-based illustrator and artist whose work can be described as a “modern Escher.” Her illustrations feature disorienting landscapes and infrastructures, creating confusing and endless psychedelic worlds. Within these realms, many doorways lead to underlying environments, generating a sense of the never-ending while preserving the value of continuity.
Buuf Buur excludes the presence of characters in her artwork, inviting viewers to become the protagonists of the story. She encourages you to wander through the places waiting to be discovered.
The story behind the artwork
Moreelsepark is a park in a bustling area next to Hoogh Catharijne, Utrecht Central, and a busy intersection on the Catharijnesingel. The neighborhood story requested “a tribute to our city.” The submitted neighborhood story was: “This is one of the first boxes you see when you enter Utrecht. You often see groups gathering in the field. It’s somewhat of a forgotten park among Utrecht’s parks; it’s not as easy to settle in as Paardenveld or Lepelenburg. A tribute to our beautiful city, open to interpretation!”
I responded to this by choosing a theme that is both personal to me and iconic in Utrecht: the city’s alleys. Utrecht is full of beautiful alleys, which have been written about and featured in guided tours.
In my illustration, I incorporated elements of these Utrecht alleys, which we often recognize, and combined them with features from the Moreelsepark environment, such as a railway track, a crosswalk, and a bike path.
How did the painting go?
The painting process went very well. On the first day, I focused mainly on sketching the design onto the box. In the following days, I concentrated on mixing colors and filling in the drawn areas, with help from my girlfriend, as it was quite a lot of work.
The box is located in a relatively busy spot, with many people walking, biking, and driving by. Most interactions were positive, with people who passed by (both on bikes and in cars) frequently stopping to express their appreciation for what I was doing. I didn’t receive any negative comments. Many pedestrians also stopped to ask what I was doing and what the project was for, leading to numerous positive reactions.
A memorable moment was when two hobby photographers took photos of me working. One of them later sent me the photos via Instagram, which I shared on my own social media. I found it very kind of him to take these photos and allow me to use them for my own socials.
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