Last year, Murals Inc. Agency assisted Erasmus University Rotterdam in supervising the sketch proposals of three artists for the stairwells of the Langeveld Building.
On this page, you can find information about the three artists and their designs related to this sketch assignment:  Proposals stairwells Langeveld Building

In the meantime, a distinguished committee has made its selection, choosing Hadassah Emmerich to realize her intriguing and beautiful design.

Hadassah has in turn chosen Murals Inc. Agency to support her in this ambitious undertaking.

On this page, you can follow the project’s progress and gain deeper insight into the conceptual foundations of Hadassah’s artistic approach.

First a big thank you to some of the staff at Erasmus University Rotterdam who provided invaluable support in navigating the complex challenges of carrying out this project while the building remained fully in use.

Our special thanks go to Anne Clement van Vugt, Coordinator-Adviser Art Affairs EUR, who invited Murals Inc. in December last year to assist with the preliminary sketch process, from which this follow-up commission arose.

And, we would like to thank Anouk Estourgie, who has supervised the project from an important moment onwards and will continue to do so until completion.

Hadassah Emmerich

*Heerlen (NL), 1974

Lives and works in Brussels

Body and identity, the sensory and the sensual, the commodification of the erotic and the exotic: these are frequently recurring themes in Hadassah Emmerich’s work.

The sensuality of her painting resides not only on the surface of the (erotic) image but also in her refined use of colour and technical execution. Since 2016, Emmerich has worked with a new painting technique, using stencils cut from vinyl flooring, which she covers with ink and then impresses onto canvas, paper or a wall. Referring to the visual language of advertising and Pop art, she creates images that both aestheticise and problematize the female body. She depicts the paradox of simultaneous attraction and repulsion, intimacy and cool detachment, seduction and critique. In this way, Emmerich succeeds in making the act of looking truly provocative. - Nina Folkersma

Motivation concept sketches by Hadassah Emmerich

Murals for Langeveld Building
This proposal presents two murals for the stairwells of the Langeveld Building. While both share a common visual language, each stairwell is distinguished by its own color palette: cool tones on the left and warm tones on the right. These color temperatures are not just aesthetic but also reflect the building’s energy systems, reinforcing its sustainable design philosophy.

The murals feature organic, abstracted forms—buds, stems, leaves—that contrast with the building’s rigid concrete structure. Muted colors ensure the artwork integrates seamlessly into the space without overpowering it. Monumental in scale, some motifs span multiple floors, guiding movement and offering subtle orientation in otherwise repetitive spaces. They also echo the natural forms of the green cascade in the central hall, enhancing the building’s dialogue between architecture and nature.

User Experience
For students, staff, and visitors, the murals introduce rhythm, direction, and personality. Soft, layered color tones blend with the concrete surroundings. Flowing shapes add warmth and contrast to the linear space. The artwork enhances identity without overwhelming it. The stairwells become more welcoming and easier to navigate.

Technique & Sustainability
The murals are created using a hand-printing technique: paint is applied to vinyl stencils with rollers and transferred to the wall. The ink is low-odor, water-washable, and dries to a durable, industrial-grade finish. Underlying acrylic fields unify the printed elements.

Stencils are produced off-site, transported rolled, and reused for future artworks—minimizing waste. The method suits a future-focused building:

Durable & maintainable: Touch-ups are simple, and cleaning is easy with mild soap.

Safe & robust: No protruding parts, fire-safe materials.

Long lifespan: No varnish needed, colors remain stable out of direct sunlight.

Conclusion
These murals offer more than visual enhancement—they express the core values of the Langeveld Building: sustainability, integration with nature, and a human-centered spatial experience.

Since 2016, Hadassah Emmerich has been working with a distinctive painting technique that involves creating ink prints on canvas, paper, or walls using stencils cut from floor vinyl. This printing method allows the personal handwriting to recede into the background, giving the painterly gesture a more mechanical and detached character, while at the same time imposing a specific visual language.

Yet the process remains playful and layered. Beyond the printed forms, the artist’s hand is still present – visible in the refined depiction of fans and Indonesian batik motifs. By repeating images and patterns, compositions emerge that can be executed in a variety of color schemes.