Hello, I am Moryz Haupt!

Where are you from? What are you doing in Amsterdam?

I am from Germany – where my parents are from and also where I was born – but have lived most of my life elsewhere, most prominently in Malaga, Spain, for the better part of 12 years. Recently, I moved here to Amsterdam to pursue the Bachelor’s degree ‘Liberal Arts and Sciences’ at Amsterdam University College, a unique programme that offers me the chance to explore several interests while still focusing on one ‘major’ path: for me, in this case, that is the Humanities.

The AUC community is vibrant and international, and has already changed my perspective dramatically, while Amsterdam itself is also a place I have fallen in love with. I hope the stick around for a few more years after my Bachelor’s, dependent on if I somehow manage to find housing

When I stumbled onto Street Art Museum Amsterdam during my search for an internship, I was pretty immediately fascinated by their unusual, socially-driven setup, which I felt aligned perfectly with the kind of socially conscious, critical-thinking attitude that has guided my AUC experience thus far. As a student of history, culture, and (occasionally) media, this looked like an unmissable opportunity to widen my horizons even further, by taking my academic knowledge and inclination out of its theory bubble and seeing what things are actually like ‘on the ground’; more importantly, what I can do to actually help. My hope is to make a positive impact in the short timespan of my internship, and that I can bring what I learn here back to academia in a transformative capacity.

Can you tell something about the place where you come from?

Since I spent most of life there (the part which I remember the most clearly anyway), I will talk about Málaga. Aside from the obvious facts anyone can tell you – its always sunny, there’s lots of tourists, there’s always a party going on somewhere – there is more to Málaga than meets the eye in my opinion. I guess living there as opposed to visiting lets you really experience Spanish culture, from the quiet Saturday morning café conversation, to the local small-crowd Flamenco shows, and the dozens of pristine historical churches scattered around each with their own unexpected story (and not all as a easy to find as TripAdvisor would have you think). Also, there is so much natural beauty beyond just the beaches, Camino del Rey, and Ronda. If you’re really looking, you will find something far better than any advertised attraction.

What are your favorite activities/things you like to do during your free time?

I won’t lie and claim that I’m the most active person in terms of hobbies and free time use, but I do what comes naturally to me, and I think there’s value in the little things. While I do not make art in the hand-drawn sense, I do enjoy creative writing and filmmaking, the latter being a particular passion that I hope to continue in some form even if not as my main career. I enjoy cooking (though I’m unsure how skilled I actually am at it), listening to music, and going out to do random things with my friends, honestly, while weekly badminton training gives some structure to counteract the liberating chaos. One thing I really appreciate is a family sports trip, such as a good spring hike, summer kayak adventure, or the rare ski day in local Sierra Nevada. I love travelling, and would like to do it more, but for now my student budget keeps me at bay with city trips in the vicinity of the Randstad. I also love engaging with local culture wherever I go, which may be in the form of a museum trip, or just talking to locals during a heritage festival.

What fascinates you the most about the city? About Nieuw-West?

Having now spent almost three years here, I would say that what fascinates me most about Amsterdam is just how much is going on here, in the sense that there are so many diverse, quirky things happening all at once, and no matter how much you think you know the place, there will always be some new surprise waiting around the corner in another neighbourhood (also, as in Málaga, that the way cooler stuff is outside of the center). I suppose many of Europe’s big cities work that way, but as someone who grew up in the outskirts, inner city life is still new and exciting every time I get on my bike and head out.

I hadn’t been to Nieuw-West before starting my internship at SAMA, but from what I have seen in my first week, the architectural diversity makes the area feel less homogenous than I expected from a planned development, and the incorporation of nature is an aspect that I think works very well. Additionally, the local mix of cultures is complex and unique while also coming across as less gentrified than other parts of Amsterdam (notable from the distinct lack of fast-food chains and multinational brands). The refreshing humility is probably what I find the most interesting, once again in the big-city context.

What is your relationship to street art? Art in general?

Interestingly enough, I was actually quite late to appreciating art in my life, particularly the unorthodox and non-classical vein that street art is a part of. While I wouldn’t say that I grew up with an elitist view of what qualifies as “good art”, I think that a linear development of increasing my open-mindedness and understanding of experiences which are so distant from my own has led me to where I am today: appreciating the things that break the mold, that talk about something when everyone else is silent, that bring something new in a world that feels increasingly stale.

In recent years I have found myself taking a subtle interest in street art, not only due to its diversity in style and location, or even its (often) political purpose, but also its implication in urban life, and what it says about the people who inhabit superdiverse metropolises like Amsterdam. Finding SAMA has allowed me to expand this ‘subtle’ interest, and who knows, I may end up engaging with the street art world quite a lot more in the near future. I am not an art history student or art practitioner, and as such I think I am quite in sync with SAMA’s core ideals: I care more about what the art entails in its lived context, and the people behind it and around it, whose lives are the real story.

What are your responsibilities at SAMA?

During my one month internship with SAMA, I will be mainly contributing to the project Digital Street Art Depot, one of their leading future-oriented heritage initiatives. This will involve working with a vast archive of visual material to be collected, organised, and curated for the digital database, as well as testing out a novel VR memory capsule on a wide variety of participants, in order to measure its effectiveness and feasibility as a cultural heritage tool. Furthermore, I will be assisting in communications and branding, through both social media content production and contributions to the SAMA website’s blog. Aside from these main tasks, my role at SAMA will also involve helping out with general operations (dialogues with the local community, attending relevant cultural events, and managing project logistics).

Do you have a favourite artist in the SAMA collection?

As far as favourite artist I would have to say BTOY, I think because of her consistent and iconic output in the area. While not the most prominent or eccentric, her works have a special ability to catch you by surprise on the back corner of a building, on the side of a fast-food shop, or on a random electricity box in the middle of a green space. In a strange way they blend in but also stand out, stopping you in your tracks in places where you would least expect it, putting a face into the most overlooked pockets of the urban structure.

What interests you most in the concept of SAMA?

Among the many characteristics that made it stand out to me, I have to say that’s its community involvement as a museum is a feature I found particularly compelling. From what I saw on the website this dedication seemed genuine and organic (as opposed to the kinds of performative initiatives that you see from the larger, popular museums), and now as a part of the SAMA team temporarily, I double down on this sentiment. In fact, that the main focus is on the community rather than the art for its own sake is not only an inspiring driver but makes the professional experience enjoyable for someone of my interests.

Which artwork of the SAMA collection do you like the most?

Bastardilla’s Memories is easily the most impressive due to is scale and dazzling colours (which is probably why it is a very popular choice), and I already noted my appreciation of BTOY’s many pieces in Nieuw-West, but personally I have to go with Hope by Kenor. While not as technically “interesting” or eye-catching as many of the others, what I appreciate about this is its effective simplicity; turning a bland underpass into a piece rich with pigment and texture. Of course, I also just love it visually, since I am interested in architecture and creative uses of public space. As a film enthusiast, I feel drawn to its play on visual depth and its overall spectacular character.