A Modern Tribute to a Renaissance Masterpiece
Just outside Leuven’s ring road, at the Blood Transfusion Center in Gasthuisberg, stands a striking 3-meter bronze statue by sculptor Luk Van Soom. Created as a tribute to Michelangelo’s famous fresco, The Creation of Adam in the Sistine Chapel, the statue captures the timeless moment when life is given through a simple touch.
From the Sistine Chapel to Leuven
Van Soom’s sculpture is an exact copy of Adam’s head, arm, and hand from Michelangelo’s masterpiece. The extended arm reaches outward, echoing the fresco’s symbolism of life, creation, and human connection.
A Symbol Linked to Blood Donation
The statue’s location at the Blood Transfusion Center adds a deeper meaning. Donating blood also requires an outstretched arm—an act that helps save lives. Visitors and donors alike can see the sculpture from the donation room, reinforcing the theme of giving life through human touch and generosity.
Source: Leuven Gebeiteld_metkaft - Leuven statues.pdf, 2014
Photo by Aslı Tezcan
