Page 79 - Damen Shipyards Group

78 CULTURAL HERRITAGE | THE ART OF SHIPBUILDING 79

DECKS AWASH – MONTAGUE DAWSON STAAND OBJECT – VERA GALIS

Montague Dawson was a famous, British Staand Object (Standing Object) stands at the entrance to ‘the tower’, the
maritime artist. The example shown here is newest building at Damen Shipyards Gorinchem, which opened in 2009.
hung on the wall of Mr Damen’s office.
“We wanted to give something to the new building when it opened,”
“He liked this painting because it’s so says Mrs Damen. “We thought it would be nice to do something
realistic. Look at the movement of the waves with a local artist.”
– I almost get seasick from it!”
The local artist was Vera Galis. Vera works with metals, painstakingly
The painting shows a barque in rough seas making each piece of her sculptures by hand. Her work is displayed
taking water on deck. in public areas of organisations around the Netherlands. It uses
space, light and reflection to create interaction between architecture
“Life was like that aboard such a ship. It was and art. The building at Damen’s headquarters is itself a very light
hard. It was rough. Dawson was really able and spacious one so is a fitting place to show such an approach.
to capture the moment.”
“When we commissioned her, Vera was asked her to do something that
would fit with what we do. She was inspired by the nozzles on vessels
being constructed in the production hall.”
FLOWERS – ZHUANG HONG YI

In the office of Kommer Damen’s secretary, Eliza Erkelens,
hang two pieces from Chinese artist Zhuang Hong Yi’s
Flower series – Royal Blue and Sunrise. NEW YORK CITY – A MARATHON FOR ALL

Eliza explains, “The artist uses special materials, forms
and colours to combine traditional Chinese influence “We saw this James Rizzi piece in a gallery in Switzerland and
with characteristics of western impressionism. He’s based were immediately taken with it.”
in the Netherlands actually, but returns to his studio in
Beijing a few times each year for inspiration.” The Damens selected the image to hang in a communal
seating area where colleagues go to talk or take telephone
Eliza is very happy with the colourful images that adorn calls. The piece, from 1997, shows the cityscape of New York
her office walls. “The pictures are very bright and during a city marathon in the cheery, 3-D style for which the
cheerful – many people comment on them when they artist is renowned.
come into the room. I was really happy when they were
placed here.” “I just loved the elaborate details of it, there’s so much going
on, you can spend hours looking at it,” states Mrs Damen.

INDIË WAS ONS PARADIJS – ANNELIES DAMEN

This series of photographic images – which have been
displayed throughout the Netherlands – were created by
a member of the Damen family – Annelies Damen. The
pictures are a tribute to Mrs Damen’s mother and can
be found adorning the walls of Damen’s museum and
archives.
BOWL – OLAF STEVENS
Following Indonesian independence in 1949, many Dutch
people were forced to leave the islands over the next
two decades – including Mrs Damen’s family. This piece, to be seen in the library at Damen Shipyards Gorinchem, is
made by local artist Olaf Stevens, husband of Vera Galis who made
Each image, with names such as Mist, Joy, Farewell and Staand Object (described above).
Blossom show scenes from Indonesia, such as flowers,
paddy fields and landscapes. In each of the images, in a “Olaf has a very special technique, that he developed himself. He uses
watermark-like fashion, Mrs Damen’s mother can be seen. multiple layers of coloured glass, repeatedly heated and molded before
the final cut and polish. This piece looks very simple at first glance, but
The final image in the series shows the sea. “This is the if you look, the colours are beautiful.”
sea they had to cross to come to the Netherlands. My
mother never returned to Indonesia until she was in her The bowl is a deep purple colour, inlaid with gold leaf, offering a subtle,
80s. It took her a long while to be able to go back.” pleasing contrast.