Ontdek het verhaal achter het voormalig Jan Sikkens pand
On Kruisstraat, the display window of Jan Sikkes' former premises has been transformed into a veritable comic book world. Illustrator Michiel Offerman drew his heroes and embellished the premises.Â
Michiel Offerman
Van kinds af aan tekent Michiel Offerman al. Vanaf zijn 20ste doet hij dat professioneel als illustrator. Hij tekent onder andere voor boeken, kranten, tijdschriften en reclames. Zo kan je veel van Michiels werk terugzien in het Haarlems Dagblad. Michiels eigen stripalbum Luthon-Höge won de Stripschappenning Beste Album 2022.
On a platform of Haarlem's monumental train station sits Michael's office. "From the old signalman's office I look out over the station. It is a particularly beautiful place where I get to work."
Michiel was asked to consider a drawing for a window display for a vacant downtown building. His drawing can now be seen on Kruisstraat at number 32.
An ode to Michael's heroes
The drawing Michiel created for the building on Kruisstraat is a glimpse into Michiel's world. "It is a sample of my thoughts and my inspiration," he said. The figures depicted are personal heroes. "From local to national and international. From fictional to existing people. Each and every one of them are my heroes."
Michiel has traveled extensively and visited various museums, from Moma to Voorlinden. He gets a lot of inspiration from there. For this commission, he stood in front of his own bookcase for a long time for inspiration. The drawing features not only cartoon characters, but also music artists, movie stars and figures from Haarlem's history.Â
"If I had to draw all the figures that inspire me, one storefront wouldn't be enough for me."Â
