Philip van Isacker

Work of art cemetery Genk-centre

It is important to give relatives and friends a tangible memory of their beloved, a monument to remember the deceased, also after graves have been removed.

For the Genk-centre cemetery, the city elected to commission artist Philip Van Isacker (°1949).

Van Isacker described his sculptures as monuments for the right to have doubts. This right becomes visible in his 'unfinished' sculptures. The bodies are modelled classically, but they remain unfinished.

When he designed his artwork for the cemetery, he was inspired by its open character. Open in the literal sense of the word, because in this immense area everything is down low - there are hardly any vertical elements. But also 'open' in the cultural sense of the word, because in this cemetery there are so many expressions of different cultures and nationalities.

The artwork represents two torsos in a calm and relaxed pose: a female upright torso, and a male torso leaning sideways onto it. Both are in a plane, so the whole looks like a relief of two bodies melting into each other. A symbol for the acceptance of death and for the peace that follows.

The engraving in the bench fronting the statue reads: 'It is not here that I am resting now'.

Cemetery Genk-centre
Hoogstraat, Genk