Rotterdam artist creates “timeless” statue of Johan Cruijff

Rotterdam artist creates “timeless” statue of Johan Cruijff

ROTTERDAM/BARCELONA – The statue of Johan Cruijff, revealed at Camp Nou, Barcelona on the 26th of August, is a production of art studio Artihove from Bergschenhoek (Rotterdam), the Netherlands. The sculpture has been designed by Corry Ammerlaan- Van Niekerk at Artihove.
 

The 2.55-metre high statue, standing on a 1.40-metre tall pedestal was revealed at the entrance of Camp Nou, the stadium of F.C. Barcelona on Monday evening. The sculpture is said to show Cruijff setting out the strategy for playing. “Focussing on the human side, the sculpture gains its timeless appearance”, says the artist.

Flamboyant

One of the guests at the festivity on occasion of the unveiling was the Dutch artist Corry Ammerlaan- Van Niekerk, who designed the sculpture on behalf of Artihove. The order was to show an image of Cruijff in the period (1973-1978) he was playing for the Spanish top-club. That is why he is wearing his old Barcelona shirt and also his hairdo is a tribute to the “roaring seventies.” Cruijff's wavy hair was the fashion of that time and moreover expresses his flamboyant personality, explains the artist, who met Cruijff several times.

Muscled legs

Special attention has been given to Cruijff's  “slim body and very muscular legs”,  but the most important thing was to create a timeless image. Corry Ammerlaan-Van Niekerk has achieved this by working with a choice of sustainable materials and by emphasising the “human side” of the football player.

Jelle van Dijk, director of Artihove,  says to be very proud of being selected for this prestigious project. Over the years his firm made statues of Pim Fortuyn, Kim Clijsters and Bep van Klaveren. “But this order is extra special because it's only about the person Johan Cruijff,  the huge size of the object, the commissioner and of course the location.

Impact

Carole Thate, General Manager of World of Johan Cruijff, is very pleased with the sculpture. “There exists an incredible number of memories of Johan Cruijff, and with this statue, Corry Ammerlaan-Van Niekerk has tried to portray him as well as possible. The famous posture of Cruijff, pointing and guiding, has been chosen. This was widely known from his time as a player and trainer but later also from the establishment of his Institute and Foundation. We are very proud that it takes such a prominent place at FC Barcelona”.

Corry Ammerlaan-van Niekerk welcomes the positive response, but she is especially curious about the judgement of the public. “During the football season, hundreds of thousands of supporters walk past the statue. I think that is very special. I especially hope that the public appreciates this tribute and that justice will be done to the major impact that Cruijff has had, both in Barcelona and worldwide”.

About Artihove

Art Studio Artihove at Bergschenhoek (near Rotterdam) is specialized in the manufacture of creative and artistic gifts in different materials. The Dutch Company has a rich history, which goes back to the year 1898 and has immortalized a great many very prominent people by sculptures. The company, with a sculpture garden of 30,000 square meters and a gallery, has since then grown into a substantial organization with important customers, both at home and abroad, among which are Unilever, Red Bull, DAF and Shell. There is more information to be found on the Artihove website.
Human sculptures admitted to Erasmus MC - art exhibitionc

Human sculptures admitted to Erasmus MC - art exhibitionc

Soon, patients and visitors of Erasmus MC in Rotterdam will be able to enjoy five masterpieces from the sculpture collection of Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen. Last week, a secret selection of sculptures, all human figures, was transferred to the adjacent hospital. 


The exhibition title, which translates into 'Human sculptures - Power & Vulnerability,' at Erasmus Medical Centre is the sixth in a series of eleven exhibitions. In the hospital, where the human body is the main focus, this exhibition celebrates the power and vulnerability of the body. The sculptures will be unveiled during a festive opening  on 9 September 2019. They will remain on display until 28 May 2021.

Boijmans van Beuningen museum closed for renovations

The entire museum collection of 151,000 works of art, including some 3,000 sculptures, will be assembled in 2021 in the Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen, the world's first fully accessible art depot, to be opened by then. In the meantime, as part of the large-scale renovation of Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, part of the museum's collection will remain on display at community museums and institutions under the title of 'Boijmans bij de Buren' (Boijmans at the Neighbours).

Around five hundred masterpieces will be displayed at eight neighbouring locations in eleven exhibitions. New connections and encounters arise at the guest locations. This is the first time that so many Rotterdam-based institutions have collaborated for many years to keep the Boijmans collection visible. In the second half of 2019 and 2020, new exhibitions are planned in the Wereldmuseum, the Kunsthal, Museum Rotterdam, Chabot Museum and the Maritime Museum.

Human sculptures from museum Boijmans van Beuningen on exhibition at Erasmus MC đź“· Aad HoogendoornHuman sculptures from museum Boijmans van Beuningen on exhibition at Erasmus MC đź“· Aad Hoogendoorn

The sculptures at Erasmus MC

Four of these five human sculptures, all from the museum's collection, will adorn the hospital's shaded garden. The four sculptures in question will remain a secret until the opening. The iconic metre-high cast iron giant 'Grosse Geister (Fig. No. 8)' by artist Thomas SchĂĽtte will from now on welcome visitors to Erasmus MC at the RG 101H entrance (near the atrium).

Professor Dr Jan van Saase, internist and member of the art committee, is pleased with the opportunity to temporarily include these human sculptures in the Erasmus MC. Van Saase: "A good neighbour is better than a distant friend. When we were asked to cooperate, the art committee was immediately enthusiastic, especially because the exhibition depicts powerful people who radiate emotions that fit well within the walls of our hospital. When you see the sculptures, you will immediately recognize them. We hope that our patients and staff will appreciate the exhibition and will find comfort or distraction in it." 
Feyenoord show off new sustainable designer threads by OGER

Feyenoord show off new sustainable designer threads by OGER

On Friday 26 July 2019, Oger Corporate Fashion Statements (OCFS) officially delivered its brand new, sustainable, tailored suits to players, staff and management of Feyenoord. The event took place in de Kuip (Feyenoord Stadium). 


OGER is a luxury fashion brand for men founded in 1989 by the brothers Rob, Martin and Oger Lusink with shops in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Haarlem and Antwerp. It is the twelfth year that the clothing company has given the Rotterdam club a new look via their OCFS corporate fashion label. 

While the emphasis last season was on 'casual chic,' this year's suits are 'fashion and design.' OCFS Managing Director Patrick Lusink: "The new season starts. After years of an informal and sporty club outfit, it became time again for a super sleek, more serious style."

'Our relationship goes beyond purely business.'

According to OGER, one of the main reasons why this relationship has endured is the fact that almost every year, Esquire declares Feyenoord to be the best-dressed team off the pitch. Patrick Lusink on the collaboration between Feyenoord and OCFS: "we are proud of the close relationship we have with Feyenoord. This goes further than just business. We love Rotterdam and are committed to Feyenoord and its city. Feyenoord's players and staff are very familiar with our store in Rotterdam."

Feyenoord Rotterdam show off new suits designed by OGERs OCFS labelFeyenoord Rotterdam show off new suits designed by OGERs OCFS label

The French style

"Oger's management is closely involved in every new Feyenoord creation. Martijn Lusink still makes the design personally", says Patrick Lusink. "After that, the entire clothing package is personally measured by our custom-made specialists and made to measure for each player. For the 2019/2020 season, we were inspired by the young Parisian designer style with narrow lapel, tie and a small collar, also called "The French style".

The tailor-made suit is dark grey and made of a stretch material which makes it extra comfortable. Grey is the trend colour for the autumn and completes the young design." The message the suit had to convey was "no words, but deeds, a real power suit", according to Martijn Lusink. "The tailor-made suit is combined with a white cotton shirt. The design of the tie is derived from the Feyenoord competition shirt. This means that there is a reflection right through the middle of the tie, only in two shades of grey. The Feyenoord logo is subtly woven on the tie in light grey."

Social responsibility: sustainable production

In the field of clothing production, OCFS wants to meet its social responsibility. Operations Manager Robert Spijkers Suwarni: "We are aware that we only have one Earth to deal with responsibly. That's why we take a critical look at our suppliers. More and more producers work with ecologically sound raw materials. In addition, we try to keep the journey between production and final destination short, so that we don't have to transport unnecessarily much from far away."

OCFS has also joined forces with the Feyenoord Foundation, which does everything it can to get the youth of Rotterdam moving. Sander Lusink: "The winners of last season's Feyenoord Street League were invited to attend the presentation of the suits. Each child was given a signed ball and there was an opportunity to meet the players briefly."
 
Catch these pop-up performances from July through October

Catch these pop-up performances from July through October

ROTTERDAM,  24 July 2019 - After organising a successful 10th edition of the Eendracht Festival last Thursday, De Nieuwe Lichting have announced their planning for the rest upcoming months featuring local talent. 

On Thursday, July 18th we saw the 10th edition of Eendracht Festival with multiple stages around the Eendrachtsplein. The celebration of the anniversary was a great party which put many local talents in the spotlight. Moreover, In the next weeks, you can still visit the Santa Clause statue by Paul McCarthy (known locally as kabouter buttplug) at Eendrachtsplein and appreciate the 3D-street art drawing made by Franky Sticks during the festival.

De Nieuwe Lichting will continue to present Rotterdam's talents at pop-up events all over the city. Every Saturday, their trolley will make a stop at a different, freely accessible spot in town where a cool local artist will perform.

These are the artists performing at DeNieuwe Lichting's pop-up events:
• 27/7/19 Maask
• 03/8/19 Willemijn de Boer
• 10/8/19 Young PACO & Zachery V
• 17/8/19 Alison Jutta
• 24/8/19 HardHeaderz
• 31/8/19 WARD
• 7/9/19 The Asses
• 14/9/19 Bourbon Avenue
• 21/9/19 Anemone
• 28/9/19 Froukje
• 05/10/19 Beau Black & The Company

Locations include Nieuwe Binnenweg, Black Widow,  Sevenply, Wunderbar, Dudok, Holy Smoke, Lilith coffee, Ben & Jerry's and Plaatboef.

In addition to the pop-ups, De Nieuwe Lichting is also organising Jam Sessions, Homegrown evenings at Bird and A Festival Downtown. The latter will take place on Saturday, 5 October. As for Eendracht Festival, the 11th edition is taking place on Thursday, July 16, 2020.
Rotterdam's ambitious plan to get everybody on bicycles

Rotterdam's ambitious plan to get everybody on bicycles

The bicycle has an important role in the growing city of Rotterdam. In order to keep the city accessible, a mobility transition is needed and the bicycle plays a major role in this. A 'cycling plan,' titled 'Fietskoers 2025,' sets out the ambitions and plans for getting even more people on board.

Fietskoers 2025 Rotterdam

Although the car seems dominant in Rotterdam, the majority of all trips are not made by car, but on foot, by bike or by public transport. Everyday cyclists in Rotterdam cover 1 million kilometres, which is 27 times around the world. All the more reason to take cyclists in Rotterdam seriously.

In 'Fietskoers 2025,' all activities to improve facilities for fast and slow cyclists are discussed, as well as attention for new cyclists and safe cycling. The city also wants to encourage as many Rotterdammers as possible to use their bicycles (more often). For example, city-wide cooperation with employers and organisations that attach great importance to cycling and the expansion of the network of cycle paths in and around the city.
Knowledge and experience will also be shared in a regional cooperative, extra enforcement of bicycle parking will be deployed and bicycle data and innovation will be an important theme.

The Fietskoers 2025 was presented by alderman Judith Bokhove of Mobility, Youth and Language. "More cycling is healthy and with fewer cars, we have more space for the green in the city. In addition, in the city you can often reach your destination faster if you take your bike" says Bokhove.

Ambitious plans for bicycle parking in RotterdamAmbitious plans for bicycle parking in Rotterdam

Concrete plans for the coming years

In the coming period, the municipality of Rotterdam will be constructing wide, safe cycle paths. The city will focus on creating safe school environments and traffic lights will be adjusted to improve the flow of cyclists. In addition, the municipality of Rotterdam is constructing extra bicycle parking spaces at Rotterdam central station, Alexander station, Blijdorp, Coolhaven and the Noordereiland. Rotterdam will also pay attention to cycling and traffic safety in schools. Rotterdam aims to ensure that by 2022 all children in group 7 take their cycling exams.

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