Interview with Nils Westergard: The Amsterdam Cyclist Project – Capturing the Beauty and Diversity of Bike Riders through Stencil Art

GraffitiStreet

What inspired you to start "The Amsterdam Cyclist" project?

Nils Westergard

I moved to Amsterdam 3 years ago. I had spent so long trying to get here that once I finally did, I was a bit like the dog that caught its tail. I was not really sure what to do with myself and my new space.

It is, of course, a city and nation of bikes. While one can know that conceptually, seeing it in action is entirely different. I saw a mother with three kids on a normal bicycle one day, and I chuckled, thinking it was just so fantastically Dutch. After that, it occurred to me that there is an infinite well of imagery in the cyclists of Amsterdam. The more I thought about it, the more I realized the project could really have legs (or wheels, rather.)

The bike is the great unifying factor of Dutch society- it is like shoes in that everyone has them; however, unlike shoes, they serve a massive spectrum of needs and desires and reflect it back so simply.

Bikes are the ideal casual census of the city. More than anything, however, it just makes every day stepping out the door a little treasure hunt for me.

GraffitiStreet

How did you come up with the idea of documenting cyclists through small hand-cut stencil paintings?

Nils Westergard

Well as you know I have been doing stencils since I was a boy, it is a massive part of my life and likely forever will be. However I found myself getting bogged down in these epic stencil pieces that would take months to complete.

The beauty of the bike pieces is that they are all small, either 25x25cm or 25×30. This allowed me to finish one or two in a week’s time- which was something totally new for me and my studio process. I also wanted to jump into full-colour works without dedicating a month to a single experiment.

The bikes were the perfect vehicle (pun intended) for all my needs. Once the idea of the book came along, it solidified everything. Now, the book could be the exact same size as the original works. Then I hit the ground running.

I would love to do a larger mural of the cyclists- the right opportunity just has not come along yet.

GraffitiStreet

What makes Amsterdam's cycling culture unique compared to other cities you've visited/ your hometown in Richmond?

Nils Westergard

The unique thing about it is that it is not unique at all. I feel like everywhere else, definitely in the states, biking is an identity you have to have. You are a cyclist, and you have to fight for space and rights as a cyclist actively. No one blinks an eye if you have a car in the States, but having a bike past childhood is almost laughable for normal transportation.

If you have seen The 40-Year-Old Virgin, a huge running gag in that movie is simply that he rides a bike instead of driving. The thing about bikes here is that they are just normal; there is nothing exceptional about them at all. Everyone bikes just like everyone eats, and everyone shops for groceries.

It is the absolute inclusion into the fabric of everyday life and infrastructure that sets the Netherlands apart from the rest of the world.

GraffitiStreet

How long does it typically take you to create each stencil painting?

Nils Westergard

It takes me about a week per piece. I start with a photo I have taken; I take hundreds of photos in a month. I will whittle these down to some exceptional ones and then move forward with one.

I break down the basic layers on my computer, then print the templates out five times, one for each layer of detail. Then, I draw on top of each template to really fine-tune the image before starting to cut.

The colour layers are simpler stencils that I place over the detail layers. So once the detail layers are done, I think about how many colours I need for the image and figure out in what order those colour layers need to be applied. Then, I spray once, make adjustments, and spray the final piece. Once that is locked in, I can spray about 10 or so before details start to suffer.

GraffitiStreet

How do you choose which cyclists to document? do you have any favourites?

Nils Westergard

I just keep a simple point and shoot camera in my pocket at all times. If I am running errands in the city I will have 10 minutes to kill, so I will just post up on a corner and watch the bikes go by. If something strikes my eye I will take a shot.

Sometimes I will go to a particularly busy strip and just sit there for a few hours. The best pieces, however, generally come from someone I see pass and have to catch up to in order to get a shot.

As of now, I am most stoked about the woman carrying the Alocasia [house plant] in her panniers [bag]. There is something so Dutch about that image.

GraffitiStreet

What kind of feedback have you received from the local community about your project?

Nils Westergard

So far, so good. Het Parool, one of the larger papers in the country, did a little story on the project a few months back. From that article three of the actual people managed to find me.

I was a bit worried they would be upset, but they were very pleased; I gave each a copy of the painting depicting them. Individuals’ responses to the project vary. People from different countries tend to look with bemusement at everything Dutch people do on and with their bikes.

For the Dutch, the images generally seem to unlock memories of different experiences they had: sitting on their fathers’ bikes as kids, or moving house in University etc.

GraffitiStreet

You moved from Virginia to Amsterdam in 2021. How has your experience living in Amsterdam been so far?

Nils Westergard

Great. I have spent a lot of time in Amsterdam in the last 10 years and have always wanted to live here. It has been a treat and only seems to get better. I still have my apartment and studio in Richmond, and I often travel back and forth for different projects. So, I have managed to keep a comfortable foot in both worlds. That can be a bit disorienting at times, but I would not trade it for anything.

GraffitiStreet

Do you have any favourite spots in Amsterdam where you like to paint or find inspiration?

Nils Westergard

There is a particular bench in Vondelpark which has a great line of view at just the right distance and with just the right light to catch some fantastic bikers while I lounge on a bench.

With that being said though, the beauty of the project is that everywhere is a great spot to catch an interesting cyclist.

GraffitiStreet

Do you plan to expand your project beyond Amsterdam and document cyclists in other cities?

Nils Westergard

As of right now, no. This is a project that could potentially be never-ending since the well of imagery is infinite. I am nearly done with the book, which will be comprised of 50 paintings. Once that is done I want to see how it does out in the world. If it does well I can see myself doing another. If it stalls out it is likely time to move on.

GraffitiStreet

Where can people find your "The Amsterdam Cyclist" artworks and follow your project?

Nils Westergard

@the.amsterdam.cyclist is where I post everything. The book will be ready at the end of this summer, as will the exhibition. I am looking now for spaces outside of Amsterdam to take the show after the main opening in Amsterdam this summer. I will do a show in Richmond in January and maybe New York next spring. But I am ready and able to take the show anywhere there is interest.