Bronze statue of the legendary beachcomber Mong De Vos, sculpted by Martine Labbeke in 2006. Mong De Vos is depicted with his back to the beach, his left leg resting on a rough stone, and a weathered beam supported on his left shoulder. The statue stands on a concrete plinth with a poem by Martine Labbeke on the front as an ode to the beachcomber.
- Material: bronze statue, concrete base
- Dimensions:
- Dimensions of the statue: 1.75 meters high, 70 cm wide, 1 meter deep
- Plinth dimensions: 80 cm high (above ground), 95 cm deep, 70 cm wide
Artist: Martine Labbeke
Martine Labbeke, an artist from Klemskerke, didn't begin studying at the Academy in Ostend until she was 30, where she discovered her passion for sculpture. Although she also creates paintings, the three-dimensional work presents a greater challenge for her.
Martine Labbeke created the sculpture of Mong De Vos with heart and soul: “Every artist living in our coastal town undoubtedly dreams of one day adorning the streetscape with their own work. I'd harbored that desire for years. And then the commission arrived: you go into hiding for six months to build the life-size figure with synthetic wax, to make the casting molds, and to assemble and finish the bronze pieces after casting. I patinated and polished until the very last day before the inauguration. Afterward, I sweated some more while composing a fitting piece of poetry to illustrate my joy in 'my' sculpture. When the Mong Devos flag was officially taken down, it was still a moment of deep emotion.”
Location
Beach access Vosseslag
Sources
https://issuu.com/communicatieichtegem/docs/erfgoedbrochure_12__beelden
Information sheet De Haan (October 2006)
