Z-Files #30: Symposium Erasmus statue 400 years | 400 years of the Rotterdam City Collection

On Friday 29 April from 11 am to 00 pm Sculpture International Rotterdam (SIR), Visual Arts & Public Space (BKOR) and CBK Rotterdam are organizing a symposium about 17.00 years of Erasmus statue and the beginning of the collection of works of art in public space. This statue 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 of Erasmus University), Frits Scholten (curator of the Rijksmuseum), Sandra Smets (journalist, art critic), Siebe Thissen (historian, philosopher) and Annet Zondervan (director of 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 statue 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, the Erasmus statue has been at its current location, the Grotekerkplein next to the Laurenskerk, and the statue has been 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 and historian, on the history and future of the statue

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

Sandra Smets, journalist and art historian, about the many other works of art about Erasmus in the Rotterdam City Collection

Program

10.30 Hours
Walk-in with coffee / tea

11.00 Hours
Opening of the symposium by Mr Ove Lucas, director CBK Rotterdam.
Short introduction by Mr Stephen Lamberts, chairman of the Erasmus Committee, about the collaboration between Rotterdam and Gouda
Speech by the mayor of Gouda, Mr Peter Verhoeven
Speech by the mayor of Rotterdam, Mr Ahmed Aboutaleb

11.30 Hours
Introduction by moderator Esther Didden (philosopher, advisor art in public space)
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
Explanation of the Ears and Eyes Shortage Foundation, they made a Picture in Sound of the Erasmus statue

Approx. 13.00
Break with a catered lunch

14.00 Hours
Continued symposium
Siebe Thissen, philosopher and historian, on the history and future of the statue
Annette Zondervan, director of CBK Zuidoost, about the statue as a (current) problem
Sandra Smets, journalist and art historian, about the many other works of art about Erasmus in the Rotterdam City Collection Summary of the day Ronald van Rak

Approx. 16.00
Closing symposium, time to chat over a drink

Z-Files, Art and the city

De CBK Rotterdamprograms BKOR en Sculpture International Rotterdam collaborate intensively to strengthen and renew the Rotterdam public space. They organize regularly Z-Files (with the S of 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 bring the special collection of artworks to the attention of the public space of Rotterdam and to highlight current developments in the city.