Aedicula, 2023, Concrete, 1050 x 1050 x 280 cm

Permanent installation at the Abdij van Park, Leuven, BE

The artwork Aedicula is the result of a participatory process with several residents of Leuven, initiated in September 2021 under the guidance of De Nieuwe Opdrachtgevers. As the landscape continues to evolve, the silence artwork is integrated as a fundamental element in the expansion of the green domain of Abdij van Park.

The design consists of sixteen separate modules, installed in groups of four. Each module is accessible—visitors can sit, or even stand on them if they wish. The arrangement allows visitors to seek moments of rest and stillness, either alone or together. The spacing between the different modules is equally significant, inviting viewers to walk among them. These acts—stepping into and wandering around—create a physical experience that allows visitors to explore their own mental space.

The inspiration comes directly from the site itself. The artwork's title literally means "niche," an important architectural element present in various religious traditions and widely found in Abdij van Park. In line with the characteristic architectural style, where a niche both shelters and reveals, the artwork invites visitors to seek and experience silence—either alone or in companionship.

The ground plan of the work is echoed in the abbey's refectory, best known for beautiful stucco ceilings from the second half of the 17th century. The ground of the refectory is inlaid with bluestone tiles in a cross shape. According to the negative spaces of this pattern, the modules stand as an enigmatic wandering garden - again: an invitation to interaction.