A New Landmark for the Faculty of Social Sciences
In front of the newly renovated Faculty of Social Sciences at KU Leuven, a striking artwork captures the attention of students, staff, and visitors. Designed by artist Henk Visch, the aluminium sculpture “Zoënzo” stands 3.60 meters tall on the inner square at the entrance tower of the building. Since its installation, Zoënzo has become a point of reference and a symbolic figure on the campus.
An Imaginative Guardian of the Campus
With its abstract yet human-like form, Zoënzo appears almost like a playful security guard, silently watching over the faculty grounds. Its presence engages directly with the surrounding architecture and contributes to the site’s identity as a space where art, knowledge, and daily life intersect.
A Dialogue with Poetry
The sculpture doesn’t stand alone. On the façade of the faculty building, designed by architects Lootens and Poponcini, the words of the famous poem “Alpejagerslied” (for E. du Perron) by Paul Van Ostaijen are cut into aluminium sheeting. The pairing of sculpture and poem creates a dialogue between word and image, deepening the visitor’s experience of the site.
The Meaning Behind the Title “Zoënzo”
The title of the artwork comes from another poem by Van Ostaijen, “Commission for Mister Zoënzo.” In it, the poet reflects on how words are imitations of reality but never reality itself. They form a parallel world, much like art, offering new perspectives to those who approach with imagination.
The sculpture mirrors this concept: just as the word Zoënzo is a compound form, the artwork itself is composed of various elements, balancing symmetry and ambiguity. Together, they invite reflection on the ways language and art help us interpret reality.
A Campus Where Art Meets Ideas
By combining a contemporary sculpture, a historic poem, and innovative architecture, KU Leuven’s Faculty of Social Sciences has created a space that embodies creativity, dialogue, and cultural heritage. Zoënzo is more than just a work of art—it is a symbol of reflection and imagination at the heart of Leuven’s academic life.
(Source: https://www.kuleuven.be/english/committees/contemporary-art/projects-and-acquisitions/henk-visch-bij-sociale-wetenschappen-geintegreerd-kunstproject-op-stadscampus
https://henkvisch.nl/commissions/2009/zoenzo-faculteit-sociale-wetenschappen-universiteit-leuven-b/
Photo by Aslı Tezcan
