Future Fossil, Kunst aan de Maas, Dilsen-Stokkem, Belgium, permanent installation since May 2026

Since May 2026, a new permanent sculpture by Koen Vanmechelen has been installed in Dilsen-Stokkem: Future Fossil, created as part of Kunst aan de Maas. Situated along the Meuse, the work enters into direct dialogue with the river, its history and the communities that have lived alongside it for generations.

Future Fossil begins with the place itself. Its base is formed from old sandbags, once used in moments of urgency to hold back the force of the water. Over time, they have been absorbed into the landscape, becoming quiet witnesses to cycles of flooding, protection and return. From this foundation rises a charred willow, a species deeply rooted in the region, its trunk marked by the teeth of the beaver, the Meuse’s own engineer, shaping and reshaping its environment in order to survive.

At the top rests an egg. A recurring symbol in Vanmechelen’s work, it stands for origin, fragility and the possibility of new beginnings. Together, these elements form a layered narrative in which human, animal and landscape are inseparable.

“Future Fossil invites to more than just looking: it calls for experience, memory and reflection. Perhaps one day it will be found as a fossil from the future, a testimony to how we, today, are searching for ways to coexist with the river that both carries and challenges us.”


Koen Vanmechelen

The work emerged through conversations with local residents, who expressed the need for a gesture that reflects both the deep connection to the Meuse and the ongoing tension between human presence and natural forces. This dialogue is embedded in the sculpture, where resilience and vulnerability exist side by side.

“The Meuse is our lifeline. She gives, takes and connects. With Future Fossil, Koen Vanmechelen brings this story of balance and coexistence to life in a powerful way. We were looking for an artist who could translate this landscape into a meaningful work, and with Koen, who began his journey here and went on to build an international career, the circle is complete.”


Lydia Peeters, Alderman for Tourism

Located at Meerheuvel, between Kempenstraat and the cycle dyke towards Elerweerd, the sculpture overlooks a water-rich and biodiverse area within RivierPark Maasvallei. It forms part of Kunst aan de Maas, a project by Z33 and Regionaal Landschap Kempen en Maasland (RLKM), connecting contemporary art with the landscape and stories of the Meuse Valley. Featuring work by Mark Dion, Jennifer Tee, Germain Kruip, Adrien Tirtiaux and Laure Prouvost.

Rooted in a specific site yet open in meaning, Future Fossil invites reflection on coexistence, adaptation and the traces we leave behind, not only of what has been, but of what is still to come.

EXHIBITION FACTS

Kunst aan de Maas – Future Fossil

Permanent sculpture

Location: north of cycling junction 46, along the long-distance walking trail in RivierPark Maasvallei, and a short distance from the red and blue walking routes in the Stokkem walking area (starting point: Visitor Center De Wissen)

More info: https://kunstaandemaas.be/praktisch/