Gijs Van Vaerenbergh Gracefully Reimagines a 16th-Century Belgian Abbey Church in Steel

"Herkenrode Abbey was converted to the first Cistercian convent for women, becoming a site of pilgrimage from the 13th to the 15th centuries, despite regional wars and economic uncertainty."

"The abbey experienced its heyday in the 16th century due to the patronage of Prince Bishop Evrard van der Marck, who oversaw the addition of a Gothic church adorned with stained glass and art."

"The Liège Revolution, coinciding with the French Revolution, led to the abbey's dismantling by 1796, marking a significant decline in its historical and cultural presence."

"CLAUSURA, an ethereal sculpture by Gijs Van Vaerenbergh, represents an artistic vision for the vanished heart of Herkenrode, rising from the original footprint of the abbey."

Count Gerard van Loon commissioned Herkenrode Abbey in the late 12th century as a final resting place. It became the first Cistercian convent for women and a pilgrimage site from the 13th to 15th centuries. The abbey thrived in the 16th century under Prince Bishop Evrard van der Marck, adding a Gothic church. The Eighty Years' War and the Liège Revolution led to its decline by 1796. After various uses, it was acquired by a religious organization in the 1970s. Restoration efforts include the life-size sculpture CLAUSURA, representing the abbey's historical significance.

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