Post/No/Bills #6

The space surrounding the historic staircase of the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam are adorned with vibrant murals by Hedy Tjin. With her expressive style and bold colours, Tjin celebrates the power of connection and solidarity. These works are part of Post/No/Bills, a series showcasing new creations by emerging graphic artists.

For Hedy Tjin, solidarity serves as a significant source of inspiration. Whether it's celebrating together, protesting collectively, or commemorating shared histories, she observes how differences are bridged and people come together during these moments. Her work pays homage to these communal experiences: from the exuberant atmosphere of King's Day to the remembrance during Keti Koti, from cheering for any nation during the World Cup as if it were one's own, to protesting at Dam Square. In her murals, Tjin brings these encounters to life through an energetic visual language. Where others might see division, she illustrates how diversity can foster unity.

Initially working in black and white, Tjin began experimenting more with colour during her stays in her fatherland, Suriname. She navigates between abstraction and figuration, rendering her images layered and open to personal interpretation. Often drawing from everyday, personal experiences, she translates them into visuals with universal resonance. In Amsterdam, several of her murals can be found, including a monumental portrait of Anton de Kom in the Zuidoost district.

Hedy Tjin is an Amsterdam-based visual artist whose work is hard to miss. She creates illustrations for newspapers, magazines, and books, designs textile prints, and paints massive murals. With her expressive style and bold colours, Tjin celebrates the power of connection and solidarity. Where does her work come from? How do her murals take shape on such a large scale? And what message does she want to share with Amsterdam right now? You'll hear it in A Closer Look With.

Hedy Tjin graduated in 2009 with a bachelor's degree in illustration from the Utrecht School of the Arts. Since then, her work has been exhibited in various venues, including the Amsterdam Museum, The Black Archives, and the Rembrandt House Museum. Her illustrations are prominently displayed as murals and also as textile prints. Additionally, Tjin is active as a children's book illustrator. She has received multiple awards for her work, including three Zilveren Penselen (Silver Brushes): for Op de rug van Bigi Kayman (2022), Lennox en de gouden sikkel (2022, in collaboration with Brian Elstak), and 151 boeken (2024).