Z33

Echoes of a Landscape

Adrien Tirtiaux

Belgian artist Adrien Tirtiaux (°1980) builds a bridge between the rich past and the future of Maaseik. Three church spires from the surroundings take centre stage in his artwork, reimagined with new positions, functions, and materials.

Echoes of Maaseik

As Tirtiaux immersed himself in the city and its surroundings, two aspects stood out. In Maaseik, the historic centre and the River Meuse are clearly separated — a result of historical development, further reinforced by the construction of the national highway.

In addition, there are few tall buildings along the riverbanks, allowing for expansive views of three prominent landmarks: the Church of Saint Anne in Aldeneik, the Church of Saint Catherine in Maaseik, and the Church of Saint James the Greater in the Dutch town of Roosteren. These three historical silhouettes form the basis of the artwork.

Ingenious towers

The spire of Aldeneik is turned upside down — a playful nod to the area’s former gravel extraction and the resulting formation of the Heerenlaak pond. Fittingly, the six-metre structure is made of concrete, with gravel as one of its key components. Inside, a skylight invites visitors to look up at the sky. Its brick counterpart, based on the spire of Maaseik, is ten metres long and serves as a raised observation platform. It is built using bricks made from Meuse river clay. The third spire, representing Roosteren, takes the shape of a giant megaphone aimed at the Netherlands — a symbol of cross-border connection. The use of steel refers to the industrial legacy of Liège, located upstream along the Meuse.

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.

Thanks to the residents of Maaseik, Dragetra NV, Fam. Henckens, De Vlaamse Waterweg and the city of Maaseik