Artist Tom Herck creates mural for Trudo Year at Sint-Truiden station: 'A tribute to my roots'

Artist Tom Herck is set to create a significant mural at the Sint-Truiden train station to commemorate the Trudo Year. The 15x15 meter artwork will adorn a blank wall near platform 1, a prominent location Herck describes as a "showcase at the entrance to the city where I was born."

Herck, whose international work includes installations for the Venice Biennale and Burning Man, considers this project deeply personal. "For me, this is more than a work of art. It is a tribute to my roots and proof that - however international my work may be - the local always holds a special place," he stated.

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A mural of 15 by 15 meters as a showcase at the entrance to the city where I was born and where I took the train every day for years as a student, is a project with special meaning.

The mural aims to tell the story of Sint-Truiden, with Saint Trudo at its center. He will be surrounded by symbols emblematic of the city: the blossoms and fruit of the Haspengouw region, the local football club STVV, the military presence linked to the Saffraanberg base, and the historical brothels of the Chaussée d’Amour. Herck believes these elements together will represent Sint-Truiden's past, present, and unique identity.

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For me, this is more than a work of art. It is a tribute to my roots and proof that - however international my work may be - the local always holds a special place.

In addition to the mural, Herck is creating approximately 50 limited edition art prints. Each print will feature authentic textile fragments from the Truiense textile treasure, described as one of Europe's most important collections. This initiative, in collaboration with the Pastorale Eenheid Sint-Trudo and vzw Sint-Truidense Schatten, aims to give these historical fabrics new life within a contemporary art piece, preserving a tangible piece of heritage.

Herck plans to begin work on July 26th, with an estimated completion date around August 3rd, provided the weather cooperates and there is no heatwave or snow. The mural is expected to be a prominent feature for millions of travelers passing through the station in the coming years.

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Trudo is central, surrounded by symbols that characterize our city: the blossoms and fruit in Haspengouw, STVV, the army with the Saffraanberg base and the brothels along the Chaussée d’Amour. Together they form an image that brings together the past, the present and the identity of Sint-Truiden.