ROTTERDAM, 9 July 2025 – A new artwork on Coolsingel confronts Rotterdam with questions of waste, decay and renewal. Discarded leather takes centre stage in an evolving installation by textile artist Phlox van Oppen.
Activist art on Coolsingel explores waste and change
An evolving public artwork made from discarded leather has been unveiled in the third round of the EDGE Coolsingel Artist Competition, titled Show me your heart. The work, created by Rotterdam-based artist Phlox van Oppen, highlights themes of overconsumption, sustainability and transformation through an installation that is intentionally temporary and subject to decay.
Van Oppen, currently pursuing her master’s degree at the Swedish School of Textiles, developed the piece using surplus leather from the furniture industry—material that would otherwise have been discarded. Through this medium, she draws a symbolic red line, questioning the societal urge for constant renewal.
A red thread through urban change
The artwork, installed opposite Rotterdam's city hall, has not been designed to remain pristine. Instead, it has been constructed to react to its environment, with sunlight, rain and human interaction slowly altering its form and colour. According to Van Oppen, this gradual degradation is a central part of the message: “You do not always need to buy something new. Decay is value.”
From student housing to Swedish weaving labs
Van Oppen’s focus on materials can be traced back to her student days, when she shared a home with 36 others. That chaotic yet intimate environment shaped her attention to the textures of daily life. Now based in Sweden, she continues to explore new textile techniques and circular ecosystems in her academic and artistic work.
Phlox van Oppen’s new work on Coolsingel explores waste and decay through discarded leather in the EDGE Show Me Your (He)art competition.
EDGE and the competition
The Show me your (he)art competition is organised by EDGE, a developer of office buildings in several European cities. With the EDGE Coolsingel project, the firm is integrating contemporary art into the urban space during the building’s construction phase. The initiative offers local artists a platform to engage with the city.
Previous participants include visual artists Melissa Moria and Tjado Astrando Boerleider, who were the first to transform the construction fencing into an artistic canvas. Winners are selected through a combination of public votes and jury input from the EDGE Coolsingel project team.
About EDGE Coolsingel
EDGE Coolsingel, located at number 75 on the avenue, is set to provide approximately 21,500 square metres of office space. The building has been designed to achieve Net Zero Carbon status and aims to receive the highest level of WELL certification. Smart technology is being incorporated to support the health and comfort of future occupants.
How to visit
Directions and location
The artwork is located at Coolsingel 75, directly opposite the Stadhuis (Rotterdam City Hall). This central part of Rotterdam is easily accessible by public transport, bike or on foot. The Coolsingel itself is a prominent boulevard that connects Hofplein with Erasmusbrug and regularly hosts events and public installations.
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