Picture this: a massive creature stares back at you. It has a dog’s head, a caterpillar’s body, human arms, and a fish tail. A person rides on its back. This is the Pottenkijkers Mural.
In 1986, Keith Haring created this mural in Amsterdam. He was in town for his first solo show at the Stedelijk Museum. Haring wanted his art accessible. So, he spontaneously painted on a suitable brick wall. The wall belonged to a Stedelijk art depot near the Central Market Hall. Haring asked for paint. He used whatever commercial paints were available. These were oil-based alkyd paints.
Haring painted directly on the brick. He used a titanium white line. He didn’t sketch beforehand. Starting at the top right, he worked down to the lower left. The image is unusual for Haring. It measures about 12 by 15 meters. Will Shank, a conservator, described Haring’s line as self-assured. He didn’t make mistakes. Shank has restored other Haring murals in Paris and Pisa.
Some say Haring struggled to make the paint stick. The wall was blustery and wet. About 20% of the white line didn’t adhere. It needed to be inpainted. The wall has red and yellow bricks. The yellow ones are less porous. They retained less paint. Conservators experimented with paints to ensure adhesion to both brick types. They planned to apply a protective coating of hydrorepellent resin. This would protect the white paint from rain, grime, and UV light.
In 1994, the building became a refrigerated food storage facility. An aluminum facade covered the mural. This obscured it for two and a half decades. The metal screen protected it from rain, insects, and birds.
Interest resurfaced in 2014. Graffiti artist Aileen Middel, aka Mick La Rock, saw a photograph of it. She wondered how the mural had fared. She joined forces with the Keith Haring Foundation. Also, art dealer Olivier Varossieau and the Stedelijk Museum helped. She led a campaign to remove the panels in 2018.
Amsterdam residents wanted their mural back. They ensured the owners knew its value. The 180,000 Euro restoration was funded by the Haring Foundation. The municipality of Amsterdam also contributed. Marktkwartier, a real estate collaboration, provided funds too. They owned the building in the city’s Food Center area. The mural is a treasure. It is a testament to Haring’s accessible art. It shows Amsterdam’s commitment to preserving its street art gems.