'The Rotterdam Draft Horse' by Gérard Héman will have a new place in Nassauhaven Park

stood for thirty years The Rotterdam draft horse on the terrace of the residential care complex of Humanitas De Steenplaat. Gérard Héman's sculpture will soon be given a new place in the Nassauhaven Park, next to Villa van Waning. The work at the new location will be unveiled on Friday 29 September at 12.00 pm. A new publication about the artwork will also be presented.

As part of the centenary of construction company Van Waning, artist Gérard Héman (1914-1992) was commissioned to create a work of art. In 1991 was the sculpture The Rotterdam draft horse ready and was donated to the municipality of Rotterdam a year later. After much consultation, the artwork found a beautiful location at De Steenplaat residential care complex, a location of the Humanitas Foundation.

Thirty years later, Garrelt van Waning, son of Jacob Isaäc van Waning, expressed his wish to place the statue in the park around Villa van Waning. After the site was expropriated in 1990, the former head office of the Van Waning firm was purchased and restored by a private individual.

About the artist

Gérard Héman (Duisburg, 1914-Rotterdam, 1992) worked as a sculptor, painter and draftsman. He was born in Duisburg, but later moved to Schiebroek. Héman was already involved in woodcarving at a young age, so that the influence of German baroque folk art is noticeable in his work. Several of his works have been realized in the public space of Rotterdam, including the facade ornaments on the former bank building on the Coolsingel, currently Boekhandel Donner.

Program unveiling

On Friday, September 29, 2023 at 12.00:XNUMX p.m., the artwork will be unveiled and Alderman for Culture Said Kasmi will receive the first copy of the book The Rotterdam draft horse in receipt.

11.45:XNUMX a.m. check-in
12.15 Welcome speech by Ove Lucas, director of CBK Rotterdam
12.30 pm Speakers: Jorica Rombouts (daughter Gérard Héman and chairman Stichting HémanArt), Hans Rombouts (publisher book The Rotterdam draft horse), Garrelt van Waning (initiator)
12.45 unveiling by Alderman Kasmi
13.00 toast to the image and the book

Publication

On the occasion of the relocation of The Rotterdam draft horse a publication will appear in which seven authors discuss seven aspects of the work: the image, the maker, the donor, the (new) place, Villa van Waning and art in South. The book is available at Boekhandel Snoek, Meent 126, for € 24,95.