The Monet mural project in Zaandam is taking shape. The fifth mural, ‘Molen het Kattegat’, will be completed this weekend in the Jonge Arnoldusstraat. Resident Marye Bouter is incredibly happy with the result. Her neighbor Arie Kool (87) also thinks it is an asset to the neighbourhood. “It was a dead wall and look at how it turned out now! It’s just beautiful and that with a spray tube! I don’t understand how they do that.”
Polish street art artists Maciej Gadek and Piotr Bazynski are crazy about Monet and want to apply all 25 paintings he made in 1871 in the Zaan region to blank walls. The Monet foundation in Zaandam has since embraced the project and supports the search for new blank walls and money. Because the artists work for free, but the paint is expensive. And once all 25 paintings have found a place, there must be a walking route.
Simone Rochetti of the Monet Foundation has addressed a request to residents and businesses in the Russian neighborhood and Oud-West. “It would be fantastic for the spread if blank walls became available for a Monet there.”
‘So wonderful!’
While Piotr is working on his fifth wall, a young woman passes by and looks at the painting in amazement. “Oh, so beautiful. I want that too,” she says, “I have a huge, big wall. Right around the corner.” She takes the whole party to her residence and the side wall is indeed perfect for a Monet. Maciej explains to her how the procedure works and how she can finance it through crowdfunding.
Piort now has most of the 25 Monets in mind. “But it’s a continuous process, it’s constantly evolving and I’m also adding details,” he says with a big grin. He clearly enjoys his work. “For me, this is actually a hobby.”
The financing of the 6th mural has also been completed. Because it is a large wall and a lot of paint is needed, no less than 6000 euros was needed. “We succeeded,” says Marene Kok, “in Halstraat. It is the painting De Voetbrug.” Marene can’t wait for all 25 wall paintings to be finished. Because now she is already a guide about Monet in Zaanstad and would soon love to guide the tourists along this Polish street art.