Residue Amsterdam 2015 - 2020
In the Residue Amsterdam work we investigate the plant dyes of different plants in ruderal places in Amsterdam. We focus on plant life along roads, curbs and quaysides, which germinate spontaneously. Also neophytes, or newcomers, plants that have come to Amsterdam through the transport network, among others, and survive independently in their new environment.
We extract the natural dyes from plants, which we transfer to photographic film material. We also record the plants in their immediate environment on black-and-white negative, and document characteristic aspects of plants using photograms. All analogue.
Underlying thoughts and parallel to Amsterdam as a society, we have observed that a huge diversity of plants manages to establish itself in this specific urban environment. Remarkable in this is that the plant world and humans seem to live alongside each other on the one hand and in close affinity on the other. Humans, in various intended or unintended ways, help plants spread and plants and trees are indispensable to humans in several ways.


Bitter dock / Rumex obtusifolius, Amsterdamse bos Amsterdam (10)

Common dandelion / Taraxacum officinale, Stavangerweg Amsterdam (3)

Rough Poppy / Papaver hybridum, Drie Burgpad Amsterdam (6)

Common hollyhock / Alcea rosea, Kerkstraat Amsterdam (4)

Official burnet / Sanguisorba officinalis, Oude Haagseweg Amsterdam (11)

Persian Poppy / Papaver bracteatum, Gooiseweg Amsterdam (5)

Cushion moss / Leucobryum glaucum, Ringvaartdijk Amsterdam (7)

Wall lettuce / Mycelis muralis, Maxwellstraat Amsterdam (9)

Bay laurel / Laurus nobilis, Oude Haagseweg Amsterdam (8)

Mouse eared chickweed / Cerastium tomentosum, Drie Burgpad Amsterdam (2)

Hard Shield Fern / Polystichum aculeatum, Amsterdamse bos Amsterdam (1)

Himalayan Balsam / Impatiens glandulifera, Boeierspad Amsterdam

Tufted Vetch / Vicia cracca, Westhavenweg Amsterdam

Japanese cherry / Prunus serrulata, Copplestockstraat Amsterdam

Canadian horseweed / Conyza canadensis, Ottho Heldringstraat Amsterdam

Black alder / Alnus glutinosa (male flower), Ookmeerpolder

Common fleabane / Pulicaria dysenterica (flower), Amsteldijk

Blackberry / Rubus fruticosus (fruit), Amsteldijk
Spontaneous occuring plants growing in Amsterdam















Photograms on negatives

Iranian poppy / Papaver bracteatum, Gooiseweg

Sharp Dock / Rumex conglomeratus, Amsterdamse Bos Amsterdam

Common dandelion / Taraxacum officinale, Stavangerweg Amsterdam

Rough Poppy / Papaver hybridum, Drie Burgpad Amsterdam

Common hollyhock / Alcea rosea, Kerkstraat Amsterdam

Official burnet / Sanguisorba officinalis, Oude Haagseweg Amsterdam

Persian Poppy / Papaver bracteatum, Gooiseweg Amsterdam

Cushion moss / Leucobryum glaucum, Ringvaartdijk Amsterdam

Wall lettuce / Mycelis muralis, Maxwellstraat Amsterdam

Bay laurel / Laurus nobilis, Oude Haagseweg Amsterdam

Snow-in-Summer / Cerastium tomentosum, Drie Burgpad Amsterdam

Hard Shield Fern / Polystichum aculeatum, Amsterdamse bos

Himalayan Balsam / Impatiens glandulifera, Boeierspad Amsterdam

Tufted Vetch / Vicia cracca, Westhavenweg amsterdam

Japanese cherry / Prunus serrulata, Coppelstockstraat Amsterdam

Ottho Heldringstraat Amsterdam

Maple / Acer / Ottho heldringstraat, Amsterdam

Narrow-leaves ragwort / Senecio inaquidens / Aletta Jacobslaan


Florachromes at Huis Marseille Museum of Photography Amsterdam




Photo documentation by Eddo Hartmann

