The construction of the Rotterdam metro gave the opportunity to add visual art to everyday life, both underground and above ground. This one Dike workers are above ground on the dike, which was raised after the flooding in 1953. In 1968, a sketch of this statue, commissioned by the Municipality of Rotterdam, was on display at an exhibition of Van Zanten's work in the Heuff art gallery in Wassenaar, under the title 'Balspelende cijfers' (Ball-playing figures). In its final form, it represents two bent male figures, who together lift a basalt block. The statue is placed under the metro viaduct at the Maashaven, where it comes into its own with the harbour as a background. The large dark silhouette contrasts dramatically with the sky and water and has space around it, while it is still clearly visible to many passers-by. The work was unveiled on 11 December 1970 by the chairman of the Charlois district council and the chairman of the Afrikaanderplein district body.
Ernst Arnold Frederik Robert van Zanten (Ek) van Zanten (Zaltbommel, 1933) is a Dutch sculptor and draftsman. He studied at the Rijksacademie in Amsterdam, then followed an art course in Brussels, then took part in the international sculpture exhibition in Sonsbeek in 1955 and won the Prix de Rome that year. He mainly made large figurative sculptures, commissioned for Dutch municipalities, and in 1963 won the Hilversum culture prize for his Europe and the Bull (1961) there. Some 30 images of his hand have been placed in the country. He also made tokens and taught at the Minerva Academy in Groningen.
Percentage regulation, concerned assignment for building metro
Owner
RET
About the artwork
The construction of the Rotterdam metro gave the opportunity to add visual art to everyday life, both underground and above ground. This one Dike workers are above ground on the dike, which was raised after the flooding in 1953. In 1968, a sketch of this statue, commissioned by the Municipality of Rotterdam, was on display at an exhibition of Van Zanten's work in the Heuff art gallery in Wassenaar, under the title 'Balspelende cijfers' (Ball-playing figures). In its final form, it represents two bent male figures, who together lift a basalt block. The statue is placed under the metro viaduct at the Maashaven, where it comes into its own with the harbour as a background. The large dark silhouette contrasts dramatically with the sky and water and has space around it, while it is still clearly visible to many passers-by. The work was unveiled on 11 December 1970 by the chairman of the Charlois district council and the chairman of the Afrikaanderplein district body.
Ernst Arnold Frederik Robert van Zanten (Ek) van Zanten (Zaltbommel, 1933) is a Dutch sculptor and draftsman. He studied at the Rijksacademie in Amsterdam, then followed an art course in Brussels, then took part in the international sculpture exhibition in Sonsbeek in 1955 and won the Prix de Rome that year. He mainly made large figurative sculptures, commissioned for Dutch municipalities, and in 1963 won the Hilversum culture prize for his Europe and the Bull (1961) there. Some 30 images of his hand have been placed in the country. He also made tokens and taught at the Minerva Academy in Groningen.
Percentage regulation, concerned assignment for building metro
Owner
RET
Ek van Zanten -
Dike workers (1970)
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