Arie Schippers, Mandela Monument 'Long Walk to Freedom' foto: Eric de Vries, courtesy Stroom Den Haag
Arie Schipper, Mandela Monument: 'Long Walk to Freedom', 2012
Location: Johan de Wittlaan, The Hague (near Omniversum)
On September 25, 2012, Bishop Desmond Tutu unveiled a 3.5-meter tall statue of Nelson Mandela near Omniversum in The Hague. The Long Walk to Freedom Monument was created by Arie Schippers. Stroom Den Haag facilitated the selection of the artist and the commissioning process up to the sketch phase.
"I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear."
- Nelson Mandela
For the municipality of The Hague, Stroom is naturally the first party to consult on matters of public art, and there are regular consultations regarding the Collection The Hague. In 2012, Stroom was also involved in the statues of Queen Juliana, Nelson Mandela, and J.R. Thorbecke.