Art on the Meuse brings three church towers to the Meuse river bank in Maaseik
Maaseik, 24 June 2024 – A new artwork referencing three church towers in the area will soon appear in Maaseik. Created by Belgian artist Adrien Tirtiaux, this piece bridges Maaseik's past and future, connecting the city center with the river. Following the ‘Tree of Life’ by Mark Dion in Herbricht and the upcoming work by Laure Prouvost for Kinrooi, ‘Echoes of a Landscape’ is the next project for Art on the Meuse.
Adrien Tirtiaux in Maaseik
Z33, in collaboration with local experts and art enthusiasts, selected Adrien Tirtiaux (°1980, BE) to create an artwork in Maaseik that connects the city’s rich history with its future.
With training in architecture and sculpture, Tirtiaux brings extensive experience in integrating artworks into public spaces. In ‘Echoes of a Landscape,’ he combines the best of architecture and art for Maaseik.
Echo of Maaseik
Tirtiaux drew inspiration from historical landmarks in the Meuse landscape. His artwork references three distinctive church towers: Saint Anne’s Church in Aldeneik, Saint Catherine’s Church in central Maaseik, and Saint James the Greater’s Church in Roosteren (NL). Each of the three volumes in the artwork serves a different function, from a viewing platform to a megaphone, inviting visitors to look through, shout, or stand on them. The materials used, such as bricks and gravel, are characteristic of the Meuse Valley.
“Each tower in the artwork has a specific function: a brick tower symbolizes the robustness and heritage of the region, a megaphone tower aimed at the Netherlands emphasizes historical cross-border cooperation, and a tower with an oculus points to the sky,” said Tirtiaux, who unveiled the model for ‘Echoes of a Landscape’ at the future artwork site today.
The location
The location for the artwork, on Klauwenhofweg between the Maas and the Heerenlaakplas, was carefully chosen, partly because of the view of the three referenced church towers. This spot, within walking distance from the city center, connects urban life with the natural beauty of the Maas. The artwork serves as a new destination by the river, offering a place of interaction and reflection for residents and visitors alike.
Mayor Tollenaere and alderman of Culture and Tourism Giebens, along with the artist, unveiled the model: “We look forward to this new asset for the city. For both residents and visitors, it will become a landmark on our Maas riverbank, just 1.5km from the Market Square. It references Maaseik’s rich history while also focusing on the future in the cross-border RivierPark Maasvallei.”
Adinda van Geystelen, director of Z33, House for Contemporary Art, Design & Architecture, is also eager for the opening: “We are very pleased with the effort from both the artist and the local group to achieve this result. We aim to realize the artwork as soon as possible. We are currently looking for a contractor and will announce the completion date afterward.”
Laure Prouvost’s work for Kinrooi, an ode to ‘Mother Maas,’ is expected at the end of September.
About Adrien Tirtiaux
Adrien Tirtiaux (°1980, Brussels) is a visual artist based in Antwerp. After initially training as a civil engineer-architect (UCL, 2003), he graduated in sculpture and performance at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna (2008).
His artistic practice is site-specific, responding to the architectural and socio-political context of the places where he is invited to work, through installations, sculptures, performances, drawings, or graphic novels.
His work has been exhibited in numerous national institutions (Bozar, M HKA, ikob, etc.) and across Europe (Manifesta 7, Secession Wien, Ijsselbiennale, Marta Herford, Le Magasin CNAC, De Appel Amsterdam, MNAC Bucharest, etc.). He is represented by Galerie Martin Janda in Vienna and Otty Park in Antwerp.
Integrating artworks into architecture and public space is a natural extension of his practice, and in recent years, he has created permanent works for various locations, including Haren Prison (2022), the ING headquarters in Louvain-La-Neuve (2021), the sports center La Ferme du Château in Loverval (2021), Recy K in Anderlecht (2021), Transfo Zwevegem (2020), and the VDAB Competence Center in Antwerp (2015).
Practical
Art on the Meuse is an initiative of Z33, House for Contemporary Art, Design & Architecture (Hasselt) and Regionaal Landschap Kempen & Maasland.
The project is supported by Flanders, in particular by Tourism Flanders and the Cultural Infrastructure Fund (FoCI), and the five Flemish Meuse municipalities (Kinrooi, Maaseik, Dilsen-Stokkem, Maasmechelen and Lanaken). The project is being carried out in cooperation with numerous actors who are active in the Meuse valley.
Visit the Tree of Life by Mark Dion in Herbricht of Save Our Souls by Maarten Inghels in Heppeneert.
You can read more news about Art on the Meuse here.
