On November 25, 2024, during Orange the World Day, the global campaign against violence against women, alderman Care Ronald Buijt announced the arrival of a special and unique monument. The sculpture is made by visual artist Narges Mohammadi and will be given a AAA location on the Coolsingel. We are proud that today, March 8, 2025, International Women's Day, we can present the design.
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In 2018, 16-year-old Humeyra was shot dead at her school in Rotterdam by her ex-boyfriend. She was no exception: femicide, the murder of women by men because they are women, unfortunately occurs all over the world, including in our country. A year later, the city council adopted a motion to commemorate Humeyra and all other victims of (domestic) violence against women. In collaboration with the Municipality of Rotterdam, BKOR and SIR selected a Narges Mohammadic (1993) chosen to design this monument.
Design
Domestic violence turns what should be 'home' into a place to escape from. Mohammadi designed a wall that represents the only safe place in a house for many: the bathroom, with a door that can be locked. The artwork, which is made of red brick, has two different sides: an outside and an inside in which the objects bulge or recede. Because the elements are made to life size, you can imagine yourself in the space that is created, inside or outside. The bag on the floor refers to insecurity and fleeing: everything that is important for you to survive has to fit in that one bag.
Monument
The monument asks for attention for women and girls who are, were or will be in an unsafe situation. Because unfortunately the problem of violence against women is always and everywhere current. The Rotterdam region is the leader in our country when it comes to domestic violence. That is why it is good that the first permanent monument against violence against women will be located here.
About the artist
Since the impression Mohammadi made in 2020 with her graduation work at the KABK in The Hague, her career has accelerated. In 2024, she won the Volkskrant Visual Arts Prize. Her work has since been internationally appreciated for what it is: strong, meaningful, beautiful and moving. Cultural traditions, transience and memory play a major role in her work, which mainly consists of large installations and sculptures made from everyday materials.
The artwork will be unveiled on the Coolsingel by Alderman Buijt on November 25, 2025, Orange the World Day.