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.

______________________________________________________________________________

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)