Rotterdam’s Hofbogen gets new mural in tribute to Volkskracht's centenary

Rotterdam’s Hofbogen gets new mural in tribute to Volkskracht's centenary

ROTTERDAM, 5 June 2023 – The centenary of the foundation of Volkskracht, a momentous occasion steeped in Rotterdam's history, was marked by the unveiling of an engaging mural at the city's Hofbogen.

A century of Volkskracht

Harking back to 7 November 1923, harbour baron Willem Burger established the foundation of Volkskracht (Stichting Bevordering van Volkskracht), aiming to foster the people's strength of Rotterdam's citizens. To celebrate a century of Volkskracht, a mural featuring a poem by Moze Naél was revealed at the Hofbogen by the Opperclaes artists' collective.

A mural on the Hofbogen wall

The large, five-metre-high wall of Hofbogen, situated near Boekhorststraat and the Grafisch Lyceum, now exhibits the word “VOLKSKRACHT” in vibrant letters, a design envisioned by the Opperclaes artists. The word stretches over 65 meters along the wall, incorporating Moze Naél's poem: an ode to Rotterdam, specifically composed for Volkskracht. Excerpts from the poem are set to be featured in two other yet to be determined locations in the city. Visitors can understand more about Volkskracht and its work by scanning the accompanying QR code.

A gift for Rotterdam

“The poem is a birthday gift from Volkskracht, for all Rotterdammers,” shared Jacqueline Frima, the chair of Volkskracht. "We hope people will pause, look up, and think: yes, this is Rotterdam."

A tapestry of characters form Rotterdam

The mural and the poem were officially unveiled today. The Hofbogen wall has no defined boundary, and the letter shapes are flexible, echoing the diverse characters of Rotterdam, according to Linda van der Vleuten of the Opperclaes collective. “There is no city with more 'volkskracht' (people's strength), resilience, and vigour than Rotterdam,” she said, explaining that the bright colours are intended to enliven the otherwise dull street.

The word stretches over 65 meters along the wall, incorporating Moze Naél's poem: an ode to Rotterdam, specifically composed for VolkskrachtThe word stretches over 65 meters along the wall, incorporating Moze Naél's poem: an ode to Rotterdam, specifically composed for Volkskracht

Directions to the Hofbogen mural

To reach the mural, follow the directions to De Hofbogen, located near Boekhorststraat and the Grafisch Lyceum in Rotterdam. This vibrant mural is situated in a dynamic neighbourhood filled with creativity and architectural gems.

AAAFRESH123 - fresh contemporary art by Rotterdam-based trio

AAAFRESH123 - fresh contemporary art by Rotterdam-based trio

AAAFRESH123 is an art collective based in Rotterdam. These three creative minds, who share the same ideas and a passion for art, collaborate wittingly and unwittingly in the creation of art that is fresh, thought-provoking and inspiring.
 
Artists Hans Kleinjan (1958), Maikel Kleinjan (1984) and Roderik Faasen (1990) get a lot of work done in their studio in Rotterdam's Oude Noorden neighbourhood. Under the moniker AAAFRESH123, the trio has produced art that can be seen on display all over the world. The Rot terdam-based trio has presented their work at exhibitions in Milan, Antwerp and Los Angeles.
 

The atelier

Almost all of the work is made together, which results in surprising and above all colourful paintings. The studio at Zaagmolenkade 123 in Rotterdam-Noord, an immense 700 square metre building, is full of paintings. Paint tins and easels with works in progress are everywhere.
 
AAAFRESH123 atelier in Rotterdam 150159AAAFRESH123 atelier in Rotterdam 150159
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The artists refer to their studio as the neighbourhood's livingroom. At any given time, friends might drop by and a DJ might start performing. It's the kind of place where there is always something going on. It is this hustle and bustle of activity that inspires the artists.
 
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The art

The three artists met in 2008. Back then, they were all doing their own thing, including drawing, airbrushing, photography, poetry and graphic design. Their shared passion for artistic expression led to the creation of a collective whose work is almost always made up of three people. Working together on one canvas provides surprising and exciting moments. Paintings suddenly change direction, as a brushstroke comes from nowhere and upends one artist's concept. This is actually what makes the art quite interesting. The artists constantly come up with new insights and reinforce each other's talents.
 
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A visit to the studio can also be combined with a visit to GaleriAAA by Mangiare, an Italian restaurant next door. Indeed, some of the artwork is on display inside the restaurant. Every last Sunday of the month, they do a live painting session inside the restaurant.
Live painting is something they are particularly fond of. The trio has painted live on location at the North Sea Jazz Festival and the MTV Awards.
 

Why AAAFRESH123?

The reasoning behind the name AAAFRESH123 is actually simple. As Maikel Kleinjan explains it, 'fresh' was a word they used all the time and when making the move from Delfshaven to their new studio at Zaagmolenkade 123 they also saw it as a 'fresh' start. As for AAA, they thought it was a good fit, so that's how AAAFRESH123 was born.
 
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Location: AAAFRESH123

 

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