Artist Documents Berlin's Queer Scene in Amsterdam Exhibition

An upcoming exhibition in Amsterdam offers a unique and stripped-down perspective on Berlin's sprawling queer nightlife. In "Es geht auch ohne" ("It can be done without"), artist Ton of Holland presents a series of 90 drawings, each one a portrait of a single night out in the German capital.

Over a period of 90 days, Holland immersed himself in the city's diverse queer scene, attending a different party each night. His journey took him through a wide spectrum of venues, from established clubs and bars to illegal gatherings in factories and hideouts. From each experience, he created a single drawing, resulting in a collection that serves as both a diary and a sociological study.

The artistic approach is deliberately minimalist. Instead of capturing the chaotic energy of a crowded dance floor or a dark backroom, Holland isolates a single individual from the scene. Each subject is rendered against a stark white background, removed from the context of the party. The style is described as clear and analytical, providing a sharp contrast to the often-intense environments from which the subjects were drawn.

This method creates a focused view, shifting attention from the collective experience of a party to the specific people who populate it. The collection documents a wide range of community archetypes, from what the artist observed as "fashion gays" and the leather scene to "queer squatter gays."

Part of the official Pride Art Route for WorldPride Amsterdam 2026, the exhibition invites viewers to contemplate the individual within the collective and see the familiar world of queer nightlife through a fresh, analytical lens.