Jules Deelder doesn’t need an introduction, but alright: the legendary writer, poet, text virtuoso, funny guy, and performer celebrated his seventieth birthday this November. Rotterdam spotlighted him (with his sunglasses) on many occasions.
Friends of Jules Deelder (Hans Kleinjan, Jack Kerklaan and Krijn van Laar) initiated one of these occasions. On November 26, a life-size statue of Deelder was revealed next to Café Ari in Rotterdam. Placing the statue was a guerrilla action, nobody but the creators knew of this project.
Photographer and art director Lenny Oosterwijk is responsible for the design of the statue. One of his Deelder photos was used to create the silhouette. The design cut out of 4 cm thick steel is lifelike and very detailed. Mothership conceived the concept and took care of the production. Big thanks to Barzilay Rotterdam B.V. And Rotterdam Steel Works.