Date: Friday, March 25, 2022
Start: 15.30 hour
Enter through the main entrance Grote Zaal van de Doelen, Schouwburgplein 50

On Friday 25 March, the mural 'Untitled' from 1961, which the Rotterdam artist Louis van Roode (1914-1964) made for the former Dijkzigt hospital, will be festively unveiled in De Doelen. The artwork was rescued from demolition on behalf of BKOR and can now be admired in the foyer of the Willem Burgerzaal.

In connection with the demolition of the Dijkzigt hospital, BKOR was asked to advise on several building-related works of art. This showed that Van Roode's mural is a key work in his oeuvre: irreplaceable and indispensable.

After an intensive research project by restorer and fresco painter Annelies Toebes, the mural was removed from the original wall and retouched using a special technique. By means of strain the work was transferred to ten panels. Architect Dimitri Kruithof was commissioned to design the mounting system and mounting it on the wall in the foyer. Filmmaker Christiaan van Schermbeek documented the project from start to finish. He interviewed various key figures about their vision of Van Roode's work and the importance of preserving reconstruction art. His movie The time travel of Louis van Roode, a second life for reconstruction art (commissioned by Moois Cinematics and CBK Rotterdam) will premiere after an introduction by art historian and journalist Sandra Smets. The screening will be followed by a discussion with Siebe Thissen (former head of BKOR), Woody van Amen (visual artist) and Janneke Staarink (director de Doelen) led by Dore van Duivenbode. Then the artwork is presented.

Director Janneke Staarink: “We are extremely proud that De Doelen can add this work of art by Van Roode to its art collection and in this way contribute to the preservation of special heritage. The mural will be part of the new art route of De Doelen, in which, in addition to beautiful post-war works, work by contemporary artists will also be on display.. "

BKOR project leader Marjolijn van der Meijden: “With the preservation and revitalization of the mural by Louis van Roode on behalf of BKOR and the relocation in De Doelen, both parties are sending a clear signal on how to deal with post-war heritage. It is a wonderful and hopeful example for other parties who have to make decisions about its future. "

Program
15.30 | walk-in through the main entrance of the Great Hall
16.00 | reception in Van Cappellen Hall
16.10 | introduction by Sandra Smets
16.25 | premiere movie The time travel of Louis van Roode, a second life for reconstruction art
17.00 | talk with Siebe Thissen, Woody van Amen and Janneke Staarink
17.25 | unveiling and toast with DJ Benjamin Herman
19.00 | end of program

About Louis van Roode
Louis van Roode is one of the most prominent artists of the reconstruction period in Rotterdam. He made many murals and mosaics in and on buildings that tell their own story about nature, culture, people and the cosmos. All this under the influence of the modernity of post-war Rotterdam. Several works by his hand can be seen in the city, such as the mosaic Erasmus trip (1954) on the Coolsingel or the 57 meter high glass-in-concrete facade of the former Station Post Office from 1959. His last mural was commissioned by the municipal Dijkzigt hospital. On March 6, 1960, the artist says about his abstract wall painting: “This is the idea behind it: the branches express an association with nature, but also symbolize unity – just like the different departments of a hospital work together. But the design is sketchy because it concerns the wall painting itself. I don't want to plan and philosophize too much in order to put the painting on the wall fresh and spontaneously.”

Art collection de Doelen
De Doelen has a considerable (post-war) art collection, including the recently restored statue Curved Shape (1961) by the world famous English artist Barbara Hepworth (1903-1972). On March 8, 2022, International Women's Day, the foyer where the statue stands was renamed the Barbara Hepworth Foyer.