Murals in Rotterdam

Some time ago, a mural was made on the Feijenoordkade. It is a restoration of an old advertisement which is restored to its former glory. The sponsor was Woonstad Rotterdam and the mural the performing artist was Willem Kerssemeijer of well known Advertising Workshop Leo Mineur. ( http://www.mineur.nl/) The result is beautiful: it is as if the text is the original and has been on the facade for years for years!

 

 

 

The mural was unveiled by Hamit Karakus, who is Alderman of Housing and Planning.

 

 

 

Because of this mural I got interested in other wall art in Rotterdam.

For example, in the 70’s the so-called Chilean brigades were active in Rotterdam. Much of their work is lost, but at Zuidplein one can still admire their work.    

Not all murals are permanent. Some are part of a project and can only temporarily be seen. Others are removed due to demolition of the walls that they adorn or because of changing views about what is ‘beautiful’. Whatever the reason may be, the appearance and disappearance of murals gives in it’s own way a good example of how to dynamic Rotterdam is.

And this is only about official art wall, because there are also unofficial graffiti artists active in Rotterdam. I’ve already written something about those in my space invader blog in May this year. (http://wp.me/punIp-5o)

So from now on I will pay more attention to murals and other wall art in Rotterdam. I will search my photo archive for photos of murals since gone and while roaming the streets of Rotterdam I will search more actively for new and existing artistic expressions.

For anyone who is interested in the subject I can really recommend the book Stands well back to appreciate – Murals in Rotterdam – An exploration by Siebe Thissen. (in Dutch: Mooi van ver – Muurschilderingen in Rotterdam – Een verkenning)