The sculpture of Klaas Koper, the town crier of Zandvoort, is made of bronze and is 1.80 meters high (including pedestal). The statue stands in the front garden of the Zandvoort Museum on the Gasthuisplein and was unveiled on June 5, 2004. Klaas Koper, known as the town crier, was the model for this statue during the festivities surrounding the 700th anniversary of Zandvoort.
Masterclass and design
As part of the anniversary celebration, eight students from the Amsterdam Wackers Academy were invited to participate in a special masterclass led by the famous Dutch sculptor Kees Verkade. The students sculpted the head of Klaas Koper, who modeled in Verkade’s former studio, the Groot Bentveld estate in Bentveld. After the creation of the various designs, more than 700 Zandvoort residents acted as a jury and voted for the most appealing version. The design by Mara Dominioni, an Italian sculptor, received the most votes (221) and was later cast in bronze.
Disclosure and those involved
On 5 June 2004, the unveiling took place under great interest. Kees Verkade and mayor MR van der Heijden unveiled the bronze statue in the presence of, among others, Mara Dominioni and Klaas Koper himself. This statue became a symbol of the bond between the town crier and the city of Zandvoort, and marked the completion of the Kees Verkade Culture Prize 700.
About the Sculptress – Mara Dominioni
Mara Dominioni, born in Switzerland in 1967, has a background in architecture and studied sculpture in Amsterdam and Miami. Her work is inspired by classical sculpture by Michelangelo, Rodin and Camille Claudel. In addition to her work in bronze, she has made several busts for prominent figures, including Cardinal Jules Mazarin. Dominioni has won several awards, including the Kees Verkade Cultuurprijs 700 and the George Gachprijs in the US.