Clave, Contemporary sculpture in Lloydkwartier, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Clave is a steel sculpture in Rotterdam's Lloydkwartier featuring four nude figures moving in a dance formation across a ship's bow structure, their ankles connected by chains. The composition stretches along the Maas River in the former port district.
Unveiled in 2013, the sculpture marks the 150th anniversary of slavery abolition in Surinam and the Dutch Antilles. This work became a public statement about freedom and historical memory in the former colonial port.
The name Clave refers to rhythmic patterns in Afro-Cuban music, linking this work to African musical traditions and the heritage they represent.
The sculpture sits directly along the Maas riverbank and is easily accessible from the city center, with the Lloydkwartier offering multiple walkways and viewing points around it. Its location in an active part of the city means you can visit at any time without formal arrangements.
One figure at the edge displays a broken chain around its ankle, symbolizing liberation through movement and dance. This subtle detail carries the message of hope embedded in the composition.
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