New artwork on sculpture terrace in Rotterdam

With a height of no less than 6,5 meters, a new work of art will be unveiled in the city on International Women's Day (8 March). The braid (2020) is the title of this slender steel sculpture by the London-based visual artist Kalliopi Lemos (1951), who was originally from Greece. The work of art is an upright cut braid of dark brown hair of monumental dimensions. Kalliopi Lemos is known for its large-scale public installations of everyday objects, sometimes colossal in size. The braid raises questions about the role of femininity in modern society and rebels against patriarchal coercion.

Rotterdam Sculpture Terrace

Dat de Braid the first work by a female artist is on the sculpture terrace, add extra force to this message. On Monday, March 8, 2021, this artwork was unveiled by Alderman Kasmi (Education, Culture and Tourism) on the sculpture terrace on the Westersingel in Rotterdam. The braid ties in with the theme of the human figure, the sculpture terrace of which shows examples ranging from modern classical bronze by Auguste Rodin (l'Homme qui Marche, 1907) and Henri Laurens (La Grande Musicienne, 1938) to more abstract works by Fritz Wotruba (Reclining figure, 1969) or Joel Shapiro (Untitled, 1999). The sculpture terrace opened twenty years ago, during Rotterdam 2001, European Capital of Culture. Lemos's work has since been the first addition.

More about the sculpture terrace

International Women's Day

The unveiling took place, not entirely coincidentally, on International Women's Day. The theme this year was 'Influence with impact', an issue true de Braid a current answer to it. Lemos's cut hair braid alludes to a gesture of disobedience, maturing and a protest against the aforementioned patriarchal compulsion. It also refers to cutting off old ideas and making way for change. For this work, which is a symbol of women's struggle, Lemos says he also pays tribute to the recently deceased American Chief Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg.

Women's art walk

On the occasion of International Women's Day, CBK Rotterdam, together with Art Index Rotterdam, developed a extensive Women's Art Walk.

Donation of the Droom en Daad Foundation

The philanthropic Droom en Daad Foundation aims to make Rotterdam more attractive by investing in the city's cultural landscape. She is now doing this for the first time with a gift to the city of a work of art in public space. CBK Rotterdam acted as advisor and trustee in this process. Dream and Deed: “The braid by Kalliopi Lemos makes a valuable contribution to the sculpture terrace on the Westersingel. De Vlecht is a wonderful start to breathe new life into this location and to further enrich the entire international sculpture collection. ”

International collection of images

Kalliopi Lemos Pigtail is part of Sculpture International Rotterdam (SIR). A collection of international sculptures in which this image is given a place next to works by, among others Alexander Calder, Henry Moore, Charlotte van Pallandt en Ossip Zadkine.