Jan Gat

Rotterdam, city without a heart.
May 14 1940: air-raid, quick in a shelter or flat on the ground or pushing ur self against the wall of a big building. Within 15 minutes 158 bombs of 250 kg dropped down and 1150 bombs of 50 kg. The hart of the city turned in to a burning hell.
May 15 1940: 800 dead, 80.000 people homeless, 24.000 houses destroyed. Holland fucked by nazi-germans.
May 15 1953: Rotterdam reveals a statue of Ossip Zadkine “Verwoeste stad” (destroyed city) or “Jan met de handjes” (John with the hands) or “Jan Gat” (John Hole).
And then? We transplanted a modernised heart and in pain we live with it.

Pictures of the old city of Rotterdam: http://www.oud-rotterdam.nl/

Ossip Zadkine: www.digischool.nl/ckv2/bevo/zadkine/ossipzadk.htm