Artist: Jos de Gruyter en Harald Thys
With their monolithic posture and stark gaze, the Drie Wijsneuzen (‘Three Wise Noses’) of De Panne tower over the coastline. They are part of a tradition of heroic-realistic monuments such as the Statue of Liberty in New York, the Cristo Redentor in Rio de Janeiro or the Colossus of Rhodes. These are statues that served originally as beacons or signposts and have now become tourist attractions in their own right. The ‘wise ones’ gaze over each other’s heads toward England, France and Belgium respectively. Their enigmatic knowledge extends presumably in the direction of those three regions, but reaches much further still.
Together witch the shiny chrome crescent, these outdoor sculptures are products of the Beaufort art festival.
Location: Beach at Canadezenplein, De Panne, right next to one of the fanciest restrooms along the coast, particular in contrast to France just across the border