Time Capsule by Will Beckers

During the detailed soil survey that is carried out for every land consolidation, masses of fossils were found in the plot of the so-called shell field near Kerniel. That fact and the fact that Borgloon is known for its special limestone nature, allowed the idea to mature to artistically indicate the special relationship between geology on the one hand and ecology on the other in that shell field.The result of that idea can be seen, because since December 2021, two corten steel works of art have been set up in Kerniel (Borgloon) along the "Hidden Beauty Route" of the Regional Landscape Haspengouw & Voeren, not far from the monastery of Coolen (Mariënlof), right along the former fruit track. They are the work of artist-designer Will Beckers, who wants to enter into a dialogue between man, nature and geology with these so-called experience elements ("Time capsule" and "Time traveller"). These works of art naturally refer primarily to the fossils of the 'shell beach', but also to limestone tufa and mistletoe, for example. They are also the first works of art in Flanders that are dedicated to a geological subject.These achievements are initiatives by the Flemish Land Agency (VLM) concerning the sustainable management and beautification of the landscape and the improvement of the environmental quality of the Haspengouw open space within the Jesseren land consolidation project. With this contribution, the VLM wants to draw attention to a number of special places in this landscape and to its geological history.Source and extensive article in the LIKONA yearbook 2022 at provinciaalnatuurcentrum.be/borgloon-aan-zeeA highlight of this can also be found at komoot.com/nl-nl/highlight/6374055

The landmark "Time Capsule" is located on the so-called Schelpenakker, near the monastery of Coolen in Kerniel, Borgloon. Will Beckers was commissioned by the VLM and the city of Borgloon to create a monument that pays tribute to the role and importance of the thousands of shells that occur on the site and are found in the shallow subsurface. These more than 30 million year old shells form a thin layer of orange dust and clay. It is thanks to this clay water that there are so many specific plants in the area in addition to mistletoe in the trees. The artwork is shaped like an enormous shell and is almost 4 meters high. The work appeals not only to the senses of sight and touch, but also to hearing; there is a specially designed peephole where you can see a wall of shells and a metal ear through which you can listen to the sound of the wind - as if you were listening to a shell.