Jasper Krabbé is known to many from TV, where he talks with great passion about art and its influences. He lives and works in Amsterdam and New York. He attended the Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam and in 1992 The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Art and Science in New York. His heart lies in painting his own art, in which he has built an extensive track record of solo and group exhibitions. Many of his paintings are visible in several Pillows Hotels.

This year he has been given the honour of being the curator of ARTZUID, a sculpture route through the Amsterdam's Zuid district. The art on this route will be visible from May through September 2023. We asked him about his motivations and influences.

Why do you want to be curator of ARTZUID?

I know the ARTZUID sculpture route well and I think it's an awesome initiative. It seems that the urban planner of Amsterdam South, designed the Apollolaan and Minervalaan to plan a sculpture route along them. When being the curator, it is very special to choose images by artists I admire. As well as having these images enter into a dialogue together. Different worlds come together and through this ensemble they tell a common story.

What is the theme of the exhibition?

The theme is Neo Pop Art. This is all that has been touched by Pop Art in one way or another. Graffiti-inspired works, which my work is permeated with, are also part of this. As long as there is a connection with Pop Art, a time of freedom and emancipation.

Can influences from this movement be recognized in your own work?

Definitely. There are visible influences such as the ease in which different subjects land in my work. Think of snippets of advertising text, wallpaper or "poppy" colours. The choice of colours and format also influence this. Many, Pop Art, paintings by Rosenquist and Warhol, for example, inspire me.

What do you consider when selecting the 50 sculptures?

We started with a 'longlist' of, selected by me, works related to Pop Art. A dream job! At the second step, you look at availability, but it's nice to see that most artists agree right away. Then you start paying attention to quality, even within an artist's oeuvre. The location of the work on the route and the connection between different works is important in this regard. Finally, you depend on different stakeholders, logistics and costs. Fortunately, the various gallery owners, collectors and artists are very helpful and happy to think along.

What do you want to achieve with the curated collection?

It would be nice if many young children come to see it. Also from other districts than Amsterdam South. Everyone is welcome and it is free to visit. It's like a gift to the city and partly also an ode to the Amsterdam spirit, which is always a little unconventional and contrary.

What sculpture was impossible to get, but succeeded anyway?

In some cases the costs of transportation and insurance were too high as in the case of a gigantic sculpture by Jeff Koons. Very unfortunate, but we were able to get many other fantastic works on loan. Like a work by Julian Schnabel, from the Keith Haring Foundation.

You also created a work yourself for ARTZUID. Can you tell a bit more about this?

With my sculpture "JMB on Tour St. Jacques," I pay tribute to Jean Michel Basquiat, an artist who had a lot of "Pop" in his work. It is also an ode to the universal artist, who continues to work despite much criticism and misunderstanding, thus going against the grain.

The work consists of a flying lion and found objects such as pallets and work benches are included in the work. A reference to everyday material, a technique that began with Andy Warhol, among others.

What else - besides ARTZUID - keeps you busy?

I have just made a new program, Portraits of Krabbé'. In it I make a road trip with Dutch celebrities and then paint a portrait of them. The program can be seen from Wednesday, March 29, 2023 at 20:30 on AVROTROS on NPO 2.