| Can they who see me | |
| never know more about me -- | |
| than I about them? | |
| Kan wie mij ziet nooit | Kann jemand, der mich |
| meer van mij weten dan ik -- | sieht, mehr über mich wissen -- |
| van hen zie en weet? | als ich über ihn? |
Amsterdam, 2026-06-20
Being there (Jerzy Kosinski) - 1970
Novel "Wystarczy by?" (1970, "It's enough to be", translation "Being there", 1971), chapter 3
The novel was beautifully adapted into a film by Hal Ashby (1979, "Being there"), starring Peter Sellers
Collection: Thinkles Lusionless
Tribute to: Kosinski, Jerzy
| I sing, I exist, | |
| hear me, see me, answer me -- | |
| my window's open. | |
| Ik zing, ik besta, | Ich singe, hört mich, |
| hoor mij, zie mij, antwoord mij -- | seht mich, antwortet mir, mein -- |
| mijn raam staat open. | Fenster steht offen. |
Amsterdam, 2026-05-17
Open Windows I (Lavinia Meijer) - 2026
Composition, performed on May 17th, 2026 at the Organpark, by Lavinia Meijer (harp), and Johan Luijmes (organ)
Collection: org anp ARK
Composer: Meijer, Lavinia
|
Can I cross social boundaries |
Amsterdam, 2026-04-15
My struggle 6. The End (Karl Ove Knausgård) - 2011
Autobiographical novel "Min Kamp. Sjette bok" (translated 2018), part 8 - June 12th, 2011, Malmö
Collections: Writing, Whirligig Scribbler
Tribute to: Knausgård, Karl Ove
| I need to think of | |
| a speech, otherwise I'll be -- | |
| like everyone else. | |
| Ik moet een toespraak | Ich muss mir eine |
| bedenken, anders ben ik -- | Rede ausdenken, sonst bin -- |
| net als iedereen. | ich wie andere. |
Amsterdam, 2025-12-24
If I don't give my speech, thought the mouse, I'll be just like everyone else (Toon Tellegen) - 2017
Short story "Als ik mijn toespraak niet houd, dacht de muis, ben ik net als iedereen", published in the collections "Het voornemen van de muis" (2017), and "Ze wisten er meer van" (2020)
Collection: Perhaps / Some day / Occasionally / Almost
Tribute to: Tellegen, Toon
|
In the university cafeteria, I listened |
Amsterdam, 2025-12-17
Five poems by Frida Vogels
November 7th, 1955 - Many strangers walked along the path. I
October 15th, 1957 - Approaching a decision
August 15th, 1968 - The question isn't
February 13th, 1970 - Expose oneself
April 1st, 1970 - Waiting. Preparing
Collection: Between us
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida
|
Alone, alone, one is alone |
Amsterdam, 2025-10-09
Inspired by the first line "Alleen, alleen, men is te veel alleen" ("Alone, alone, one is alone too much") of a poem by Frida Vogels, published 1994 in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3" [part II, Paris]), written on October 17th, 1952 in Paris
Collection: Pending rain
| Having run away | |
| and been found by some strangers -- | |
| the child stops crying. | |
| Thuis weggelopen | Durchgebrannt und von |
| en door vreemden gevonden -- | Fremden gefunden worden -- |
| huilt het kind niet meer. | weint das Kind nicht mehr. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-21
A little child (Frida Vogels) - 1994
Poem "Een klein kind", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part X [Father]), and in "Diary 1970-1971" (2011) - January 9th, 1970, Bologna
Collection: Lookout
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida
| I am orphaned, dead | |
| are the two crown witnesses -- | |
| of my childhood years. | |
| Ik ben verweesd, dood | Ich bin verwaist, tot |
| zijn de twee kroongetuigen -- | sind die beiden Kronzeugen -- |
| van mijn kindertijd. | meiner Kinderzeit. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-21
Now there is no one left to testify (Frida Vogels) - 2011
Verse "Nu is er niemand meer om te getuigen", published in "Diary 1970-1971" - September 1st, 1971, Bologna
Collection: Lookout
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida
| From deep sockets, eyes | |
| look to the left, to the right -- | |
| very far past me. | |
| Uit diepe kassen | Aus tiefen Höhlen |
| kijken ogen links en rechts -- | blicken Augen links und rechts -- |
| heel ver langs mij heen. | weit an mir vorbei. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-14
With a painting of Victor Vasarely, a piece of 'Optic Illusion Art' (1968, a double 'Oerveng')
Collection: Local inconveniences
Tribute to: Vasarely, Victor
Dedicated to: Martha S
| I show you all of | |
| me, you look around and you -- | |
| see nothing special. | |
| Ik laat jou alles | Ich zeige alles |
| van mij zien, je kijkt rond en -- | von mir, du schaust dich um, siehst -- |
| ziet niets bijzonders. | nichts Besonderes. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-10
I let you in, showed you everything I had (Frida Vogels) - 1994
Verse "Ik liet je bij me toe, liet je alles zien wat ik had", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part IX [Marriage]) and in "Diary 1968-1969" (2010) - December 9th, 1968, Bologna
Collection: Between us
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida
|
Mother can continue to see me |
Amsterdam, 2025-07-15
Frida Vogels
Autobiographical books by Frida Vogels, initially written for her brother and her husband
Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them
Collection: Helices
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida
| I disguise myself | |
| in the dress in which a girl, | |
| a slave, will be sold. | |
| Ik vermom me in | Ich vermumme mich |
| de jurk waarin een slavin -- | mit dem Kleid, in dem eine -- |
| zal worden verkocht. | Sklavin verkauft wird. |
Amsterdam, 2025-06-26
The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge (Rainer Maria Rilke) - 1910
Novel "Die Aufzeichnungen des Malte Laurids Brigge", chapter #32, Mich das jetzt überdenke, kann ich mich wundern (Now that I think about it, I wonder)
Collection: Held True
Tribute to: Rilke, Rainer Maria
| Taking a quick look | |
| back and know that I am seen -- | |
| that I am alive. | |
| Even omkijken, | Umsehen, wissen, |
| weten dat ik gezien word -- | dass ich gesehen werde -- |
| weten dat ik leef. | ja, dass ich lebe. |
Terborg, 2025-04-15
With the photo of Lotte and Michi W on the 'Lookout'-swing of the A'DAM Tower
Collection: I am
Dedicated to: Lotte W
| When someone likes me, | |
| it always feels to me like -- | |
| a virtue of his. | |
| Wanneer iemand mij | Wenn mich jemand mag, |
| aardig vindt, dan voelt dat aan -- | fühlt sich das meist wie eine -- |
| als een deugd van hem. | Tugend von ihm an. |
Amsterdam, 2025-02-03
She came to stay (Simone de Beauvoir) - 1943
Novel (roman à clef) "L'invitée" (1943, "She came to stay" / "The Invitee", 1949), part 2, chapter 5
Collection: Glimpsed
Tribute to: De Beauvoir, Simone
| Who and what am I? | |
| In my own eyes, in your eyes? | |
| And in spider eyes? | |
| Wie en wat ben ik? | Wer und was bin ich? |
| In mijn ogen, de jouwe? | In meinen Augen, deinen? |
| In spinnenogen? | In Spinnenaugen? |
Amsterdam, 2025-01-08
a word child (Iris Murdoch) - 1975
Novel, chapter Saturday [1]
Collection: Longing and Loss
Tribute to: Murdoch, Iris
| Also in photos: | |
| people who are radiant -- | |
| Lovely! To be seen! | |
| Tevens op foto's: | Und auch auf Fotos: |
| mensen die stralen. Heerlijk! -- | Menschen, die strahlen. Herrlich! -- |
| Gezien te worden! | Gesehen werden! |
Amsterdam, 2024-12-25
For Koen K, Zusanne and Scott
Collection: Longing and Loss
Dedicated to: Koen K
| So much he enjoys | |
| her bathing his figure in -- | |
| her longing regard. | |
| Hij geniet ervan | Er genießt es, dass |
| dat hij gebaad wordt in haar -- | sie ihn badet in ihren -- |
| verlangende blik. | sehnsüchtigen Blick. |
Amsterdam, 2024-10-15
the ground beneath her feet (Salman Rushdie) - 1999
Novel, chapter 4 The Invention of Music
Collection: Sludge
Tribute to: Rushdie, Salman
| I walk the city, | |
| a mysterious woman -- | |
| for the passers-by. | |
| Ik loop door de stad, | Ich geh durch die Stadt, |
| een mysterieuze vrouw -- | eine mysteriöse -- |
| voor de passanten. | Frau für Passanten. |
Amsterdam, 2024-08-29
The Message to the Planet (Iris Murdoch) - 1989
Novel, part Three
Collection: Longing and Loss
Tribute to: Murdoch, Iris
| I don't give in, but | |
| no one notices, in fact -- | |
| it does make no sense. | |
| Ik geef niet toe, maar | Ich gebe nicht nach, |
| niemand merkt dat, eigenlijk -- | niemand merkt es, eigentlich -- |
| heeft het dus geen zin. | macht es keinen Sinn. |
Amsterdam, 2024-03-22
The Mission (Wessel te Gussinklo) - 1995
Novel "De opdracht", chapter (4-) 43
Collection: Actively Passive
Tribute to: Te Gussinklo, Wessel
| I don't write for or | |
| about you, I mention you -- | |
| and that's it, that's all. | |
| Ik schrijf niet voor jou, | Nein, ich schreibe nicht |
| noch over jou, ik noem je -- | über dich, ich nenne dich -- |
| en dat is alles. | und das ist alles. |
Amsterdam, 2024-02-06
Penguins - 1 / A green linen closet - 1 (Ed Leeflang) - 1979
Poem "Pinguïns" - 1 / "Een groene linnenkast" - 1 (published in Tirade (volume 23, number 251, December 1979) and in the collection "Bewoond als ik ben")
Not objectifying people
Collection: WriteWiser signage
Tribute to: Leeflang, Ed
| My prettiest dress, | |
| and little jingles ringing -- | |
| in everyone's ears. | |
| Mijn mooiste jurk aan, | Mein schönstes Kleid an, |
| de schelringen rinkelen -- | und kleinen Schellen klingeln -- |
| in ieders oren. | in allen Ohren. |
Amsterdam, 2023-08-03
The Queen of the Tambourine (Jane Gardam) - 1991
Earrings
Novel, chapter Evening of evenings; see also the chapters Nov ?, Saturday; January ?; 4 February 1990
Collection: SoulSenseSun
Tribute to: Gardam, Jane
| So I'm a poet, | |
| which was once just a pose, but -- | |
| I conformed to it. | |
| Ik ben dus dichter, | Dichter zu sein, war |
| wat ooit een pose was, maar -- | eine Pose, dann hab ich -- |
| ik paste me aan. | mich dran angepasst. |
Amsterdam, 2023-07-04
The last chance - The history of a love (Simon Vestdijk) - 1960
Novel "De laatste kans - De geschiedenis van een liefde", chapter 1-5 (AD 1923)
Collection: Inmost [1]
Tribute to: Vestdijk, Simon
| Even if it hurts, | |
| you must know this about me -- | |
| Without evidence. | |
| Ook als het pijn doet | Auch wenn es wehtut, |
| moet jij dit van mij weten -- | musst du hören, wer ich bin -- |
| Zonder een bewijs. | Ohne Beweise. |
Amsterdam, 2023-07-02
The wrinkles of Esther Ornstein - The history of a neglect (Simon Vestdijk) - 1959
Novel "De rimpels van Esther Ornstein - De geschiedenis van een verzuim", chapter 3-4 (AD 1922)
Collection: Inmost [1]
Tribute to: Vestdijk, Simon
| Come in, look at me, | |
| look at my inner world, my -- | |
| inner wallpaper. | |
| Kom binnen, bekijk | Komm herein, schaue |
| mij, mijn binnenwereld, mijn -- | mich an, meine Innenwelt -- |
| innerlijk behang. | Innentapete. |
Amsterdam, 2023-06-20
The inner wallpaper (Hans Lodeizen) - 1949
Poetry collection "Het innerlijk behang" (1950, published in "De vrije bladen" ["The free papers"], 1949, volume 20, book 5)
Collection: Moist glow
Tribute to: Lodeizen, Hans
| I loathe standing out, | |
| but I must present myself -- | |
| on the book cover. | |
| Ik val niet graag op, | Ich hasse Spotlights, |
| maar ik moet me laten zien -- | muss mich aber ausstellen -- |
| op de boekomslag. | auf dem Bucheinband. |
Amsterdam, 2022-07-11
Like it or not - Faxing to Ger #4 (Nicolien Mizee) - 2021
Present yourself or be yourself
Diary-novel "Hoog en laag springen - Faxen aan Ger #4"
Collection: In the shadow
Tribute to: Mizee, Nicolien
| I loathe standing out, | |
| yet, on all my book covers -- | |
| I am a poseur. | |
| Ik walg van vertoon, | Ich hasse Spotlights, |
| maar op mijn boekomslagen -- | aber auf den Einbänden -- |
| ben ik een poseur. | bin ich ein Poseur. |
Amsterdam, 2022-07-11
Like it or not - Faxing to Ger #4 (Nicolien Mizee) - 2021
Postures as a nude model, used on the book covers
Diary-novel "Hoog en laag springen - Faxen aan Ger #4"
Collection: In the shadow
Tribute to: Mizee, Nicolien
| We are tirelessly | |
| looking for ourselves, all time -- | |
| with quarrels and sex. | |
| We zoeken onszelf, | Wir suchen uns selbst, |
| en doen dat onvermoeibaar -- | und tun das unermüdlich -- |
| met ruzie en seks. | mit viel Streit und Sex. |
Amsterdam, 2021-06-06
All-crushing - Faxing to Ger #3 (Nicolien Mizee) - 2019
Diary-novel "Allesverpletterende - Faxen aan Ger"
Collection: In the shadow
Tribute to: Mizee, Nicolien
| My poem is: I | |
| get kisses from my brothers -- | |
| so I'm a sister. | |
| Mijn gedicht luidt: ik | Mein Gedicht ist: ich |
| krijg van mijn twee broers een kus -- | werde von Brüdern geküsst -- |
| dus ben ik een zus. | das heißt: Schwester sein. |
Amsterdam, 2021-04-14
Gitte (Kristien Hemmerechts) - 2010
Novel
Collection: Look at me
Tribute to: Hemmerechts, Kristien
|
Who will do it, who |
Amsterdam, 2021-03-13
Collection: The climbing house
| In the group photo | |
| I'm in the back: over there -- | |
| where I'm nobody. | |
| Op de groepsfoto | Auf dem Gruppenbild |
| sta ik ver achteraan: daar -- | bin ich ganz hinten: drüben -- |
| waar ik niemand ben. | wo ich niemand bin. |
Amsterdam, 2020-06-14
Chameleon (Ingmar Heytze) - 2008
Poem "Kameleon" (collection "Elders in de wereld")
Collection: Moist glow
Tribute to: Heytze, Ingmar
| I almost master | |
| the art of disappearing -- | |
| my shadow is next. | |
| Ik versta de kunst | Ich versteh die Kunst |
| om te verdwijnen steeds meer -- | des Verschwindens immer mehr -- |
| nu mijn schaduw nog. | jetzt mein Schatten noch. |
Amsterdam, 2020-06-14
Chameleon (Ingmar Heytze) - 2008
Poem "Kameleon" (collection "Elders in de wereld")
Collection: Moist glow
Tribute to: Heytze, Ingmar
|
It feels famous, those sunglasses |
Amsterdam, 2020-04-24
Collection: Inflictions
Tribute to: Kelly, Robert Sylvester
Dedicated to: Siera Mayhew
| Where I cut, I bleed, | |
| please look, look at me, I am -- | |
| warm, no delusion. | |
| Waar ik snijd bloed ik, | Ich schneide, blute, |
| kijk dan, kijk naar mij, ik ben -- | schau mal, schau mich an, ich bin -- |
| warm, geen verzinsel. | warm, keine Fiktion. |
Amsterdam, 2020-03-02
Collection: BloodTrunk
|
The fog must have cleared |
Amsterdam, 2019-02-17
Collection: Local traffic
|
Only noticed in a small circle |
Amsterdam, 2018-11-10
Collection: Summer birds
| I was there, I'm in | |
| the photo, maybe to the -- | |
| left, the nineteenth head. | |
| Ik was er, ik sta | Ich war dabei, bin |
| op de foto, misschien links -- | auf dem Foto, vielleicht links -- |
| het twintigste hoofd. | der zwanzigste Kopf. |
Amsterdam, 2018-07-02
Crowd photo (Wislawa Szymborska) - 1972
Poem "Fotografia tlumu" (collection "Wszelki wypanek")
Collection: Wean Di
Tribute to: Szymborska, Wislawa
| Look at me closely, | |
| for you, I want to be real -- | |
| See me as I am. | |
| Kijk heel goed naar mij, | Schau mich genau an, |
| voor jou wil ik echt zijn, zie -- | für dich möchte ich echt sein -- |
| me zoals ik ben. | Sieh mich, wie ich bin. |
Amsterdam, 2018-01-07
Diary 1970-1971 (Frida Vogels) - 2011
"Dagboek 1970-1971" - December 10th, 1971, Bologna
Collection: Lookout
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida
| Don't dream about me, | |
| but look at the naked truth -- | |
| and see who I am! | |
| Droom niet over mij, | Träume nicht von mir, |
| kijk naar de naakte waarheid -- | schau die nackte Wahrheit an -- |
| en zie wie ik ben! | sehe, wer ich bin! |
Amsterdam, 2017-12-05
Diary 1968-1969 (Frida Vogels) - 2010
"Dagboek 1968-1969" - September 11th, 1968, (also: January 7th, 1972), Bologna
Collection: Between us
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida
| Am I made of glass? | |
| My inner self visible -- | |
| and unreachable? | |
| Ben ik soms van glas? | Bin ich ganz aus Glas? |
| Is mijn innerlijk te zien -- | Ist mein Inneres sichtbar -- |
| en onbereikbaar? | und unerreichbar? |
Amsterdam, 2017-10-15
The hard core - 2 (Frida Vogels) - 1993
Autobiographical account "De harde kern" (2) - June 1951, Leiden
Collection: ThereFrom
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida
| I'm writing about | |
| myself, so you can attack -- | |
| me for who I am. | |
| Mijn verhalen gaan | Ich schreibe über |
| over mij, op mijzelf kun -- | mich, wegen meiner selbst kann -- |
| je me aanvallen. | man mich angreifen. |
Amsterdam, 2017-06-25
On closer inspection (Han Voskuil) - 1963
Autobiographical novel "Bij nader inzien" - September 12th, 1949, Amsterdam
Collections: Elude, WriteWiser signage
Tribute to: Voskuil, Han
|
I entered the display case |
Amsterdam, 2016-11-30
Collection: The Yellow House Museum
