Gedenkteken Aminga (Memorial Aminga)

About this artwork.

The colorful portrait and first name of nine-year-old Aminga in the tunnel under the A28 near the Van Iddekingeweg are a tribute to the girl who died in a tragic accident in Lauwersoog in the summer of 2017. The artist Wessel de Zeeuw took the initiative for the artwork. He wrote her name in large on the graffiti wall and asked his friend Michel Velt to make a portrait with it. The latter is specialized in large graffiti portraits.

The tunnel under the A28 at Van Iddekingeweg is one of the places designated by the municipality of Groningen as locations where graffiti artists can legally display their artworks to the public.

At the spot where the portrait of Aminga can now be seen, was a large graffiti piece about FC Groningen. It is common for graffiti artists to paint over each other's works, but in Aminga's case, Facebook was urged not to do so. The graffiti wall thus became a memorial.
 
Michel Velt (1986) started with graffiti at a young age. He learned to paint at the art academy Minerva and was inspired by art from the Jugendstil period. This art movement arose around 1890 and aimed to create a more beautiful world and better society through art. Characteristic is the use of graceful elements, for which inspiration was taken from nature; floral and animal motifs are a common theme.

Velt's mission is in line with the earlier artists of the Jugendstil: to make the world more beautiful through art. His colorful paintings can be seen in various (world) cities, including London, New York and Berlin.

Facts & Figures.

• Design
  Michel Velt

• District
  De Wijert

• Year of creation
  2017

• Art type
  Painting

• Material
  Acrylic paint