Page 76 - Damen Shipyards Group

76 CULTURAL HERRITAGE | THE ART OF SHIPBUILDING 77

THE ART OF

SHIPBUILDING
SHIPBUILDING PIECE BY WILLEM HENDRIK MESDAG

Mr Damen is very fond of the Haagse School and there are a number of
A PLACE OF WORK AND ITS WORKS OF ART examples in his office. This example shown here is by Mesdag.

“Mesdag often painted Dutch coastal scenes. The sombre colours used by the
Haagse School painters are perfect for depicting the North Sea and its fishing
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Every year in the Damen Magazine, we look at the work the Damen Shipyards Group fleets. He was also very good at capturing the dramatic Dutch skies and their
Every
clouds,” says Mrs Damen.
and the Damen family do to encourage the arts and access to them. Each edition,
and the Damen family do to encourage the arts and access to them. Each edition,
the magazine speaks to a theatre, museum, gallery or other such institution with which
the magazine speaks to a theatre, museum, gallery or other such institution with which
Damen has a relationship. This year, however, we decided to do things a little
Damen has a relationship. This year, however, we decided to do things a little
differently and instead take a look at the works of art to be found at Damen’s FAMILIEBEDRIJF
differently and instead take a look at the works of art to be found at Damen’s
JAN LEEUWENBURGH
headquarters.
In the reception of Damen’s HQ, at the entrance to the building, guests are greeted by a
sculpture by Jan Leeuwenburgh. It depicts numerous people crowded into a small boat and
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The Damen family has a love of art, something that they are keen to share with others. Josien is named, appropriately, familiedbedrijf – family business.
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Damen: “We want to encourage access to culture wherever possible and this certainly includes our
Damen: “We want to encourage access to culture wherever possible and this certainly includes our
own employees in their place of work.” “I like Jan Leeuwenburgh’s work very much,” states Mrs Damen, who is herself a
ceramist. “There’s a lot of humour in it.”
To those ends, works of art are displayed at various public spaces and in a number of offices
To those ends, works of art are displayed at various public spaces and in a number of offices
at Damen Shipyards Gorinchem. Here, Mrs Damen takes us on a tour of some of the paintings,
at Damen Shipyards Gorinchem. Here, Mrs Damen takes us on a tour of some of the paintings, This is the product of the artist’s simplified style. Leeuwenburgh is a local artist whose work
sculptures and photographs to be found at Damen’s HQ. has been influenced by the region – including the presence of the shipbuilding industry.
“His work is very special. It’s endlessly polished until it looks like stone,” continues Mrs Damen.
“This piece to me represents the very extended network of the Damen family.”