(Leave) Space for Space

A new, colorful artwork by the British artist was released in the summer of 2024 Morag Myerscough at NDSM, near the waterfront at the shipyard. You may know Morag Myerscough from her installation at Coachella in 2024.

What makes you feel at home somewhere? That question is at the heart of the work (Leave) Space for Space - a temporary meeting place at NDSM, enriched with colorful text boards inspired by and by Amsterdam-Noord. The work is a symbol of exchange and connection, amidst the dynamic developments in both the rapidly changing Amsterdam-Noord and the growing NDSM area. The result was a playful and striking construction with seats, swing benches and mobile phones that dance with the wind. A meeting place for everyone, young, old, local, and international.

Inspiration from Amsterdam-Noord

Myerscough is known for her location-specific approach, using typical phrases, words, and visual poems to create a sense of local community, shared identity, and ownership over public space. During workshops, local residents shared their views on Amsterdam-Noord with her. Myerscough translated this input into words and patterns that occupy a prominent place in the installation.

For even more local embedding, the artist is collaborated with spoken-word artist and performer Mahat Arab for “(Leave) Space for Space”. Based on the stories that participants shared during the workshops, he wrote a poem about “belonging”. Read the poem here, or listen to it in a spoken-word lecture by Mahat Arab below.‍


About the artist

Morag Myerscough's mantra is “Make happy those who are near and those who are far away will come”. Born and raised in Holloway, London, Morag has always lived in the city and is fascinated by how color, pattern, and words can change urban environments and change the perception of spaces into places. From schools and hospitals to cultural centers and city centers, Morag is transforming public spaces by creating engaging experiences for everyone. Her strong visual approach is instantly recognizable and elevates any context in which it is placed. Her work is rooted in creating a sense of joy and belonging for all who encounter it. She often works with community groups to develop ideas that reflect users' identities, drawing on a shared cultural history and heritage of the local area.

(Leave) Space for Space was visible at NDSM until september 2024.

This artwork is made possible with the contributions by Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunsten (AFK), BPD Cultuurfonds, Vriendenloterij Fonds (Stichting Doen), Stadsdeel Noord, and sponsoring by Plug Verfgroothandel.