The artwork was unveiled on Thursday afternoon, October 2nd The owl by Atelier Van Lieshout unveiled on the Balcony at the Maashaven on Brielselaan in Charlois. The program image is a donation of investmentcompany Van Uden aan GThe municipality of Rotterdam is celebrating the 175th anniversary of the Rotterdam family business. To celebrate this new artwork, Van Uden organized a free neighborhood party for all ages – "Owl Day" – with a program full of workshops, music, and food and drinks. The party will become an annual event for and by the neighborhood. Van Uden commissioned Atelier Van Lieshout to create the artwork.
The five-metre-high copper owl stands on top of an enormous egg, which can rotate 360 degrees on its axis. The owl represents wisdom, foresight, and creativity, according to the work's creator, Joep van Lieshout. The artist enlisted the help of the neighborhood to name the sculpture. A naming contest was held among residents of the Tarwewijk neighborhood, from which the final title for the work will be chosen. The final name is not yet known.
About the artist
Joep van Lieshout (Ravenstein, 1963) is an internationally renowned sculptor and designer based in Rotterdam. With his collective Atelier Van Lieshout, founded in 1995, he has created some striking designs. Van Lieshout's work often explores ethical boundaries, as evidenced by his long-term project "Slave City." Van Lieshout has received numerous awards, including the Charlotte Köhler Prize (1991), Prix de Rome (1992), Hendrik Chabot Prize (1997), and the Wilhelminaring (2000).
