Chapel
Not Vital

Not Vital chanced upon the Philippines when looking for a space in Asia to install his celebrated sculptural structures for contemplation. Seeking a place of worship that transcends the bounds of traditional devotion, the Chapel is a 141-square meter cast concrete structure, molded to resemble wooden planks with intricate grooves of raw lumber. Illuminated solely by the sliver of sunlight found at the far end of the room, the Chapel houses a 240-tile ceramic mural of thirteen heads in an abstract rendition that could also be interpreted as the Last Supper. Each tile was fabricated in the famous porcelain city of Jingdezhen, China.

During the first half of 2015, Bellas Artes Projects in Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar hosted Vital and architect Paulo dos Sousa as artists-in-residence. A half an hour drive from Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar over rough jungle terrain, the soon to be opened Chapel emerges from the forest and provides a space to look at the seaside horizon and to contemplate spiritual wonder of any denomination. A natural river is located just below the chapel where visitors can swim and enjoy the bounty of nature. This 400-hectare site will be Bellas Artes Projects’ sculpture park in the future.