Seaweed Skeleton nr8 ARTZUID Amsterdam 2025
Seaweed Skeleton No. 8 2025 Margot Berkman
(The Remains of a Former Kelp Forest)
Do we need a physical object—like a skeleton—to become aware of our own mortality?
This question lies at the heart of the Seaweed Skeletons series, in which Dutch artist Margot
Berkman visualizes the invisible world beneath the waves. Seaweed produces more oxygen than
the rainforests, yet its organic life cycle ends with its dissolution in the sea. Seaweed skeletons are
structures that don’t actually exist in nature.
These imagined forms—once soft, flowing, and vital parts of the kelp forests—now stand frozen in
space like fossils from a bygone era.
The five upward-twisting red arms of the nearly three-meter-tall sculpture seem to plead for help; it
is an existential cry. Seaweed Skeleton No. 8 brings the ocean’s transience to the surface of our
consciousness. The sculpture is both a tribute and a warning. The floating motion of oxygen-rich
kelp is now trapped in an immobile future.
Since the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, ocean pollution has played a key role in Margot
Berkman’s work. Through large-scale public installations, she draws attention to climate change
and rising sea levels under the title The Ocean Breathes. A new work for the stage of Venice 2026 is
currently in production.
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ARTZUID 2025
The 9th edition of the Amsterdam Sculpture Biennale ARTZUID will take place from 21 May to 21
September 2025. On Apollolaan and Minervalaan in Amsterdam-Zuid, 50 outdoor sculptures will
be showcased of renowned arTsts and young talented artists.
www.artzuid.nl
List of participating artists ARTZUID 2025
Arlene Shechet (USA), Art van Triest (NL), Atelier van Lieshout (NL), Alicja Kwade(PL), Armando (NL), Bart
Lunenburg (NL), BasTenne Kramer (NL), BriYe Koolen(NL), Carin Scholten (NL), Chris Peterson (NL),
Cristobal Gabarron (ES), DavidBade (CW), David van der Kop (NL), David Nash (GB), Erik Buijs (NL),
EjiWatanabe (JP), Esther Jiskoot (NL), Fiona Römpp (NL), Gavin Turk (GB), HelenVergouwen (NL), Herbert
Nouwens (NL) Henk Visch (NL), Hieke Luik (NL), Huuben Adelheid Kortekaas (NL), Isa van Lier (NL), Ilse
Oelbers (NL), Iris Le RüYe (NL),Ivan Cremer (NL), Jaume Plensa (ES), Jean-Marie Appriou (FR), Katleen
Vinck(BE), Klaas Gubbels (NL), Laura Schurink (NL), Leilah Babirye (USA), Lina IrisVictor (USA), Leiko
Ikemura (JP), LoYa Blokker (NL), Louise Schouwenberg (NL),Maja van Hall (NL), Marcel Pinas (SR), Maen
Florin (BE), Magdalena Abakanowicz(PL), Marte Röling (NL), Marieke Bolhuis (NL), Margot Berkman (NL),
MarionVerboom (FR), Micky Hoogendijk (NL), Nadia Naveau (BE), Natasja Alers (NL),Nel van Lith (NL),
Nelson Carrilho (NL), Neo Rauch (DE), Paloma Varga Weisz(DE), Paul Goede (NL), Rachel Harrison (USA),
Rob Schreefel (NL), Rob Voerman(NL), Ronald Westerhuis (NL),Ruud Kuijer (NL), Shinkichi Tajiri (USA), Sjef
Voets(NL), Sokari Douglas Camp (GB), Stefan Rinck (DE), Tirzo Martha (CW),Tschabalala Self (USA), Tal
R(DEN), Tony Cragg (GB), Wjm Kok (NL), Woutervan der Giessen (NL), Xavier Veilhan (FR), Yoshitomo Nara
(JP)