Hank.

 

This is Hank.  Well...Hank's work.  Well...at least I think his name is Hank.

Utrecht has a resident graffitti artist whose work can be seen all over the city.  I first noticed him about three days into my trip but, rather than a simple tag - which I kind of hate because who cares about your name and why do they want it on their property - he instead paints fun little cartoon guys.  And who doesn't love a fun little cartoon guy?

 

 

They all have the same characteristics - like the portfolio of an artist in a museum or a book, but he uses walls, overpasses and basically any flat surface to express himself.

Big head, small ears, hands (if there are any) are attached by curly cue arms, a heart painted on the figure's chest.  I feel like you can understand the mood Hank was in when he painted each one. 

And some seem unfinished, so I always imagine he was interrupted mid-work.

I would have liked to find him, but my friend from Utrecht said he hadn't seen any *new* pieces for about five years.  So, I guessed he'd probably moved on.  

Utrecht was already saturated with his work - he needed a new canvas.

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

Bloemen Markt

No account of time spent in Holland would be complete without a mention of flower markets.

I don't have any social commentary for this one, but the pictures might make the bloemen-lovers among you hop on a plane come spring.

** A word to the wise, however.  If you want to share some of the beauty with your friends and family back in North America, perhaps pictures are best.  I sent tulip bulbs to my Mom and sisters - two in British Columbia and one in California.  The bulbs bound for BC were confiscated by Canada Customs despite the gold seal the flower-seller assured me was proof of their safety for North American soil.  Fortunately, the "Princess Irene" bulbs sent to California made it safely through the postal system and my sister tells me that her Dutch Tulips are already sprouting.  Hopefully the Canada Customs agent who stole my bulbs will appreciate their beauty as much as my family would have.