In Papendrecht stands Artwork Vondelpark by Carel Visser. Mari Andriessen made Man before the firing squad for Haarlem and Jan Wolkers created the glass artwork Women in resistance for Oegstgeest. These are examples of sculptors who created a work for their birthplace. Recently, a work of art by Marinus Boezem can be admired in Leerdam, where he was born in 1934. The working group KIOR in Leerdam took the initiative for this work of art. Esther Didden spoke with them.
Marinus Boezem was born as Marinus van den Boezem on the Westwal in Leerdam. Together with Jan Dibbets and Ger van Elk, h is one of the founders of conceptual art in the Netherlands. Before h created a furor as an artist, he had already left Leerdam. The working group KIOR (an abbreviation of Art in Public Space) noted that Boezem was not very well known in Leerdam. Unjustly, they thought. After all, one of his first conceptual works took place in the neighborhood.
In 1960 Boezem exhibited a piece of polder near Asperen. On folding chairs, spectators could peer into the polder from the Lingedijk. Nature as readymade. Does it matter that Boezem was born Leerdammer? "Yes, definitely," replies working group member Beatrijs Schweitzer. "The city helped shape him. It was there, thanks to the progressive attitude of the directors of the glass factory, that he came into contact with artists and designers 'from outside.'" She says the young Boezem became acquainted with artists Willem Heesen, Lies Westenburg, Willem Bus in Leerdam and befriended the young Jan van Münster in Gorinchem. Boezem has now lived in Middelburg for a long time and, despite his advanced age, he is still working hard.
He wanted to create a work that specifically reflects on his relationship with Leerdam as well as having meaning for the people who now live there
Wim van der Leij, in 2018 one of the founders of the working group to realize more art in Leerdam, contacted the municipality. What did they think of their plan to ask Marinus Boezem to create a work of art for Leerdam? The municipality immediately supported the proposal and together they wrote a message to Boezem. The request was - not surprisingly - taken up by Boezem on a conceptual level. He wanted to make a work that specifically reflected on his relationship with Leerdam as well as having meaning for the people who now live there.
A theme that forms one of the common threads in Boezem's work is Icarus, Greek myth. Icarus flew to the sun with homemade wings, but the heat melted his wings and he fell into the sea where he drowned. The story symbolizes the youngster who literally wants to spread his wings and gain new experiences. The spreading of one's wings, with all its risks and possibilities, is the starting point for the design Boezem created for Leerdam.
In the Market Square, right in the center, there is now a round ground slab of natural stone with the inscription Icarus, How High is the Sky. On the plate is a pair of binoculars with a fixed focus point. If you look through it you can see two golden shoes on the balustrade of the tower of the Great Church. The owner of the shoes is nowhere to be seen; he has flown off, following his dreams and desires. Are they the artist's shoes? Boezem has flown off himself, but with this work he also wants to invite the viewer to reflect on his own ambitions and dreams.
A theme that forms one of the common threads in Boezem's work is Icarus, the Greek myth
Finding a location for the shoes was still not easy. Boezem liked to see the shoes placed on the edge of the church, but the church did not give permission. However, the tower is not owned by the church administration, and it turned out to be a good alternative.
The location of the shoes was crucial because it influenced the location of the binoculars. It could not be placed anywhere on the Market Square because a fire engine still has to be able to turn, restaurant owners need to be able to put tables and chairs outside, et cetera.
The location of the shoes was crucial because that in turn influenced the location of the binoculars
In order to find the necessary finances to make this work a reality, the working group made considerable efforts. The municipality contributed financially, but that was not enough. Fortunately, the Mondriaan Fund, the Fentener van Vlissingen Fund and the Culture Fund also promised contributions. To fill the last gap in the budget, a crowdfunding campaign was set up through Voordekunst. This exceeded expectations and turned out to be a good move. Many local organizations and residents supported the arrival of this work of art with a contribution. As a result, the working group knew that the work of art was supported by the community. There was also a budget for education. Ckv students from the local high school De Joost made films in which they tell what they would like to spread their wings for.
In September 2025, the artwork was unveiled in the presence of the ninety-one-year-old artist who, by the way, is already working on realizing another work for public space somewhere in the Netherlands.
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