The second and main installation for Dream Amsterdam took place at and in the vicinity of the Q-Park in Amsterdam, early Sunday morning, June 3. The number of participants was estimated at around 1300. The first part of the installation involved a series of setups in the Q-park structure itself.  For the first setup, Spencer had participants stand on chairs facing out of the gaps between the seven floors of the Q-park, a variation of this had participants on the same chairs facing inwards with hands raised to the concrete walls. For the second setup Spencer asked participants in one group to hold their heads into the circular shafts of the Q-park ramps, as he documented the setup from below. The second group held their arms into the shaft instead. A third setup, for men only took place in the filling station forecourt adjacent to the Q-park, the men on knees posing as petrol pumps. While this was going on, female participants who were fortunate enough to have bikes assembled on the other side of the canal for the fourth setup. A fifth setup for a small group of participants then took place on a temporary bridge erected over the Leliegracht.

On the Leliegracht  Photo: FrankVN

Jeff writes:

On the Q-Park ramps Photo: Fredany

I was a participant in Dream Amsterdam. Wow! I am still recovering from it all. Could only sleep for 4 hours afterwards, I was so energized from the experience. I guess most have seen the photos now, so I will just say having to stand on a chair, on the 4th floor of a parking garage, leaning back with my hands on the edge of the ceiling was ...challenging. I was so scared that somebody was going to fall, but there were no mishaps that i heard of. Since I am a man, I did the petrol pump poses after the garage onramp. In a way, it was more of a challenge for me, since it was clear that there were onlookers who could watch (standing in the parking structure itself, you could only see the onlookers from a far distance). My whole life I have been ashamed of my body, and don't even like to walk around my house naked. So doing this has really extended my personal boundaries. If I never do anything remotely similar to this again, nobody can ever take this experience away from me. What I also noticed was that after the first few seconds of being naked, it was just normal to stand and chat with your neighbor without being self-conscious. That was a revelation to me. Thank you, Spencer Tunick, for the art you make and the chance you gave me to enrich my life. And thank you, forum members, for giving me a place to discuss this experience with people who could understand how I am feeling right now.

Nicegirl writes:

It was my first experience with Tunick and I had a great time. Unfortunately at Q-park there were more people than places so there are many people towards the back that wouldn't be in the picture, and I was one of them, which was very disappointing. I did manage to get a bike from some random person which gave me the opportunity to be in the all-girl bike installation! I met some great people, the level of comfort you develop with a stranger after you've seen them naked is surprising. To me, it felt wonderful to have separated the naked body from the sexual body; the only way I can describe the feeling is like being in a large group of babies who happened to have larger 'bits'. Looking forward to the next one

Women on bicycles Photo: RPG

TheBernardAlan writes:

On the Q-Park ramps Photo: Fredany             Men at the petrol pumps Photo: Fredany

Well, I finally got back home on Monday (only just Monday, about half-past midnight). I briefly had a peek at this site last night, but I was just too tired to read it properly - or think in a coherent manner! Anyway, a few thoughts: There was the usual long wait before things really happened, though at least we were all dry and not cold. Good to see some old friends and meet up with new ones. It's so difficult to judge numbers on these events, but with such diverse places and circumstances perhaps not surprising. Still, I'm surprised there were nearly half as many again as at Newcastle. The spiral set-ups were unexpectedly challenging. I couldn't help thinking about the possibilty of falling off, though fortunately it wasn't windy. Glad I didn't have socks on for that bit (even though feet weren't visible). My balance was OK for the facing out shot, but the idea that someone else might loose it and accidentally bring down others just wouldn't go away. I didn't see any obvious rescue boats or frogmen either. Maybe that would have made everyone even more nervous! Leaning back was a real physical challenge too. Being only 5'3 and a bit" meant that it was easy to reach the 'ceiling' in a near vertical position. Fine, should be easier than standing up unsupported. "fingers on the outside edge" ... Shocked I gradually clawed one hand back bit by bit, leaning further and further. Finally found the edge. Now the other hand. I could feel my back bending over into what turned out to be a very uncomfortable posiition and one I was uncomfortable with being in. I must have been gripping that edge so, so tight my knuckles must have gone white! Now I wonder if we (the participants in general) might be victims of our own previous daring. Lay down on cold cobbles - we lay down on cold cobbles. Stand in the rain for hours then stand in a howling wind - we do so, admiring the greyness of Belgium's finest rainclouds. Climb up the side of the Sage.. lie in the mud in a bulb field... I reckon Spencer is still only beginning to explore the possibilities. The invisible bridge is brilliant, but it wouldn't work without us daring to use it. But I don't blame you backing out, Philipp - but be assured, the shoots are never exactly the same twice. But there's usually at least one that, though not dangerous, makes your arm, knees or neck ache! The 'men-only' shoot gave my shins a typical 'Tunick' texture from the rough tarmac. Guess that's a temporary badge of honour Very Happy It did seem a bit disjointed between the poses this time. Still glad I did it. And Amsterdam was a great place to see too.