Date: Friday, April 29, 2022
Time: from 11.00 a.m. to 17.00 p.m.
Location: Laurenskerk

Friday 29 April from 11.00 a.m. to 17.00 p.m. Sculpture International Rotterdam (SIR) and Visual Arts & Public Space (BKOR) are organizing a symposium on the 400th anniversary of the sculpture in the Laurenskerk. Erasmus and thus the beginning of the collection of works of art in the public space of Rotterdam. Erasmus was the first public statue to a hero of the spirit in the Northern Netherlands and thus a novelty. The special history of the statue, Erasmus itself and the art collection of Rotterdam are discussed extensively during this symposium. With inspiring speakers such as Ronald van Raak (professor Erasmus University Rotterdam), Frits Scholten (curator Rijksmuseum), Sandra Smets (journalist and art critic), Siebe Thissen (historian and philosopher) and Annet Zondervan (director CBK Zuidoost).

Buy here a ticket for € 25,00 (normal) / € 12,50 (up to and including 21 years) incl. lunch, drink and a publication.

the bronze Erasmus was made in 1622 by Hendrick de Keyser on behalf of the city council. De Keyser chose not to depict the great humanist standing still, but to portray him while striding and reading. And that while Erasmus is anchored on a pedestal and is therefore lofty and immovable. A 'walking' statue on a pedestal was unique at the time, and marks a special moment in art history; the sculptor has deliberately explored the relationship between statue and pedestal.

Thanks to its long history, there is much more to tell about this statue. During the bombing of the city center of Rotterdam in May 1940, the statue remained undamaged, while the surroundings turned into ruins. The statue was then buried in the garden of Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen to keep it out of the hands of the German occupiers. Since 1963 stands Erasmus at its current location, the Grotekerkplein next to the Laurenskerk, and the statue was given a new pedestal.

During the symposium, there will be time for meeting and exchange during lunch and afterwards, completely in line with the ideas of Erasmus. There is also ample opportunity to visit the Erasmus statue and to listen to a description of this statue made especially for this symposium by the Oren en Ogen Tekort Foundation.

 

SPEAKERS SYMPOSIUM

Ronald van Rak, professor of Erasmian values ​​at Erasmus University Rotterdam
about the philosopher, writer and humanist Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus (1466 – 1536)

Fritz Scholten, senior curator of sculpture at the Rijksmuseum, about the history of the Erasmus statue

Siebe Thissen, philosopher, historian and until recently head of BKOR, about the history and future of the statue

Annette Zondervan, director CBK Zuidoost, about the statue as a (current) problem

Sandra Smets, journalist and art historian, about the many other works of art by Erasmus in the Rotterdam city collection

 

Z-FILES, ART AND THE CITY
BKOR and SIR work closely together to strengthen and renew Rotterdam's public space. This is how they organize Z-Files (with the Z for Zadkine) about art and the city in which art, public space and the city are discussed through lectures, presentations and excursions. The aim of the program is to draw attention to the special collection of works of art in the public space of Rotterdam and to shed light on current developments in the city.