In its underground art gallery close to the Rousegärtchen, the Spuerkeess showcases paintings by Belgian artist Gilliane Warzee as well as exclusive photos from the bank’s private collection. Photo: Spuerkeess

In its underground art gallery close to the Rousegärtchen, the Spuerkeess showcases paintings by Belgian artist Gilliane Warzee as well as exclusive photos from the bank’s private collection. Photo: Spuerkeess

To celebrate the reopening of its modern art gallery “Am Tunnel”, the Spuerkeess has put on an exhibition honouring women. The bank says it is a conscious choice from a company in a typically male-dominated sector.

As the bank reopens its underground gallery to the public, Gilliane Warzee was chosen to showcase her art. For good reason: her paintings place women--especially their eyes and expressions--at the heart of the canvas. 

Warzee is not unknown to the Luxembourg art scene. The Belgian artist--who lives in the greater region and works as a nurse in Luxembourg--a few months ago painted a portrait of Grand Duchess Maria Teresa at the request of the grand duke. In 2020, her work also made it to the Spuerkeess exhibition space.

Around one hundred of Warzee’s works are presented in the pristine tunnel. Along its 365 meters, visitors can view art that celebrates women, both famous and unknown, and of different origins. “I feel the need to enhance women--present their pride, strength, freedom,” Warzee says. The paintings--portraits and depictions of bodies--were loaned by customers and taken from Warzee’s own collection. Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, who is the patron of the exhibition, also lent her portrait for the exhibition that runs until January 2023. 

Having collected awards from the Strassen biennale in 2015 and the Cattenom biennale in 2015, among others, Warzee could live from her art. Yet, she continues to work as a nurse--which she sees as her calling--as she gathers inspiration from her interactions with colleagues and patients. As an artist, she mainly works with oils and a spatula but, two or three years ago she started including spray-paint and UV paint too, “to give the painting a completely different look” in changing light settings. The portraits are bold, colourful and have a rich texture, reflecting the energy of their subject’s gaze.

The message Warzee’s collection promotes aligns with the Spuerkeess’ ideas. “We always support artists from the greater region and this exhibition--’We are Women’--reflects our values,” says spokesperson . “Female leadership is something that is also very important for our CEO Françoise Thoma. (…) The theme “Strong Women” interests us, so we thought we should invite [Warzee] again.”

The exhibition also features an extensive selection of photographic art collected by the Luxembourg bank. The photos, by international artists, always present women--as diverse as the ones on Warzee’s canvases. The frames usually grace the walls of Spuerkeess’ offices but were brought to the tunnel space for the occasion.

An added bonus for visitors of the exhibition: work by internationally renowned photographer Edward Steichen, who was from Luxembourg and is most know for curating the world-famous “Family of Man” collection now permanently on show in Clervaux, can also be discovered in the underground exhibition space. 

To discover the exhibition, click .