'Stille Strijd' (wich means 'Silent Struggle') is an artwork by artist SAZZA to draw attention to depression and suicide among young people.
A journey through the Netherlands and Belgium
The project was launched in July 2023 in Amsterdam and immediately received a lot of attention from the national media and the public. The statue, dressed in a striking yellow hoodie, grew into a memorial where people left flowers, photos, candles and cuddly toys. All these personal items traveled with the artwork, which has since traveled through various cities and communities.
During the project, a second statue was created: a girl figure, especially for the Belgian tour. The Dutch statue represents a boy, the Belgian statue a girl — both wearing the same bright yellow hoodie. On the one hand, that color represents the cheerfulness that many young people radiate outwardly, while on the inside it feels different. On the other hand, yellow symbolizes hope.
Two statues, one message
With two statues in two countries, 'Stille Strijd' delivered a compelling and universal message: mental pain may be seen. The images have become silent witnesses to a problem that affects many, and support points for survivors and young people who recognize themselves in the theme.
Permanent location
Although the tour has now ended, the message lives on. Both statues have been given a permanent location:
- The Dutch statue has been on the Kanaaldijk in Katwijk since 16 April 2025.
- The Belgian statue was given a permanent location in Kortrijk on 23 January 2025, on the Nelson Mandelaplein, near schools and the city park.
Thanks to these permanent locations, 'Stille Strijd' remains visible and tangible.
At BlowUps, we are grateful that we were able to support this project. Although our role focused on the production of the polyester statues, we find it valuable that we were able to contribute to spreading this important message.
