The kick-off of Jayne Mansfield (2004) Hans Citroen

photo BKOR archive
About the artwork

The movie star Jayne Mansfield kicked off Sparta - DOS in 1957. A photo of this legendary moment, taken by photographer Kees Molkenboer, has been transformed into a billboard and was attached to the facade of the new Schieoevers building in Spangen. At the initiative of artist Hans Citroen and under the auspices of CBK Rotterdam, this artwork has brought an important event in Rotterdam's urban history back to life. In October 2004, 'Sparta legend' Tinus Bosselaar unveiled the artwork amid music and cotton candy, after which Jules Deelder spoke, artist Henk Tas played pictures from 1957 and films with Jayne Mansfield were shown in a party tent, including the entry of Jayne Mansfield in Rotterdam from the Polygoonjournaal. It was a startling event in 1957 that those present can still remember very well. In a tight pencil skirt and heels, the movie star kicked the ball away from the turf in Het Kasteel. Then she kissed the keeper in the mouth, who, according to her own and others say, was little impressed. The football match itself then ended badly for the Rotterdammers. DOS won 7-0 against Sparta. Also in the audience was a thirteen-year-old Jules Deelder in the grandstand, who later described his memories of the blond vamp's appearance in 'Busy Days'. At the unveiling of the billboard, he recalls how the footballers reacted to her presence. The program was part of the festive weekend 'Buurtbios Spangen 2004'. The project was realized with the cooperation of: Mecanoo Architects, WoningBedrijf Rotterdam, Het Kasteel Primary School, Delphi Opbouwwerk. In early 2017, the work was blown off the facade during a storm.

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About the artist

Hans Citroen (The Hague, 1947) studied painting at the Royal Academy for Visual Arts in The Hague from 1966 to 1969. He then followed a course at Ateliers 1973 in Haarlem until 63. With Bob van Persie he managed the smallest museum in the Netherlands from 1974 to 1976: the legendary The Keikdoos Museum in the Rotterdam Central Station. Citroen became known as an artist with Kunst & Vaarwerk, an artist collective that he founded in 1979 with artists Cor Kraat and Willem van Drunen, and with which he played a major role in Rotterdam's art history in the field of art in public space. In 2010 he made the book with his wife Barbara Starzyńska Auschwitz - Oświęcim. His book appeared in 2014 Auschwitz de Juden disastere about a forgotten platform.

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