Vote for Amber Andrews’ mural as Museum Piece of the Year!

What do you do when a statue of Mary washes ashore?
You build a chapel, of course. These kinds of myths and stories ignite the creative fire of artist Amber Andrews. The result? A chapel adorned from head to toe, hidden in the heart of Hasselt, embedded in the front facade of Z33.

Fertile ground
The round shape of the chapel at Z33 reminded Andrews of an embrace, a womb, a pregnant belly. Add to that the Virga Jesse festivities, and the theme for her work quickly became clear. In such a fertile place, it could only become an ode to women—or to femininity.

Mary in good company
In art history, it’s impossible to ignore an icon like Mary. And this chapel is no exception. The 16th-century statue of Mary no longer stands alone. A rope connects her to other women. That’s no accidental detail. What you see here is not an exalted Mary placed on a pedestal, but Mary as an equal among other women. Each of them takes on an active role. They have more to do than simply be beautiful—something that hasn’t always been the case in art history. In this way, the artist highlights care and compassion, and gives each woman a place of honor.

Myths and folklore
This mural is steeped in stories. Here and there, there’s a wink to art history. Sometimes, myths literally come to life—like the figure of Fortuna, who wishes to bring luck to the viewer, or Pandora, emerging from a vase in a silver dress. But between the brushstrokes, we also find traces of miracles that are part of our collective memory. Subtle references to stories surrounding the Virga Jesse can be found throughout. This statue of Mary has been venerated in Hasselt since the 14th century.

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