When artist Karin Beek was invited by the Blokker family to think about a statue for the 100th anniversary of the Hoorn retail chain, she quickly came up with the design. “I was walking along the Blokker in Hoorn and saw two shopping ladies standing arm in arm at the bus stop in front of the store. I immediately thought: this is it. I just have to make it.”
The artist was eventually commissioned and the statue was unveiled in 1996 on the Veemarkt near Blokker’s first store. The Blokker family, who donated the statue to Hoorn, was happy with the result. “For them, it also represented two regular customers who regularly came to the store arm in arm. It is also very close to me, that you go shopping with your mother or aunt.”
Consequences for artwork
The originally Hoorn retail chain has been in serious financial trouble for some time: in recent years the company has suffered millions of losses. That is why a deferment of payment was requested at the beginning of November. Ultimately, the store chain was ruled out by the judge bankrupt declared. Since then, the trustees have been looking for a buyer for the household goods stores. It has now been found, they reported earlier this week. About 45 Blokker stores in the Netherlands will remain open after December 31. The four stores in West Friesland may close.
And that, according to artist Beek, is a great shame. “Blokker has been a household name from generation to generation. It is very unfortunate that such a store disappears from the streets.” But what does it mean for the work of art? Does it have to go? Should it be placed on an even higher plinth, or should there be a sign with additional text? “No,” she responds to these questions. “It should just remain as it is now. It should remain a memory of Blokker. Hopefully it will still be here in a hundred years.”