At AB, everything revolves around energy. On stage, in the venue and between people. Since 2023, this has also been true in the most literal sense: solar panels on our roof generate renewable electricity for our venues as well as for households in the neighbourhood, thanks to a crowdfunding campaign with Bolt.
Next to these solar panels, one large canvas had remained empty until now: the exterior wall of the Main Hall, more than fourteen metres wide and prominently visible from AB Rooftop. Earlier this year, Bolt and AB therefore launched an open call for a monumental mural centred around renewable energy, music and Brussels.
A crowd in motion
Promising young artist Hanna van Dun was selected as the winner. Hanna based the work on the energy of a crowd. Dynamic figures move through and around one another, forming a single collective force. References to solar, wind and hydropower are woven between the different bodies.
“It was a challenging assignment, working on AB Rooftop through wind and weather. In the heat of summer and the Belgian rain, but always with the Brussels skyline and streets as a vibrant source of inspiration for what the energy of a crowd can be.”
Setting things in motion together
On Wednesday 16 September, the mural was officially unveiled to invited guests. After a few words from Bolt and Hanna, the group headed to AB Rooftop, where the artwork was revealed against the backdrop of the Brussels skyline, accompanied by drinks and bites.
The distinctive idea behind Hanna’s work ties in seamlessly with Plenty, the energy cooperative through which citizens invest together in Belgian renewable energy. Both are rooted in the same idea: showing what can happen when we combine our strength and energy.
The guests were also invited to unleash their own creativity. During the Create Your Own Mural workshop, participants created their own artwork, inspired by the new mural.
Hanna van Dun’s mural is now a permanent part of AB Rooftop, as a tribute to Brussels, renewable energy and the power of a crowd in motion.
You can visit the rooftop and discover the artwork during our Housewarming, from 16 to 20 September.
Want to find out more about Plenty? Discover the story at plenty.be.
