It is an unwritten tradition that every president of Maastricht University is portrayed by an artist at his or her farewell, and that he or she also determines who the  artist is. Thus, from 1978, five portraits have been made. All five painted greatly differ in style. Due to the fact that these portraits have not been presented together for years, it was  difficult to see the history in  the portrait gallery, and how they are connected. As was suggested by KEC chairman Nick Bos, the curator Mieke Derickx has designed a concept to present these portraits in a more coherent and attractive artistic way.

On two large walls at the Minderbroedersberg, from the first to the third floor, an immense mural of dashes is realized, inspired by the field or power lines that visualizes a magnetic field. The white lines change colour under the influence of the shifting light that passes through two high windows, and sometimes coincide in colour with the striking light forms on the wall. The painting, a flow of dashes, has a coherence, but also give direction. It connects the portraits. The colouring of some of the lines near the portraits forms its own 'DNA' within the whole. Martin Paul will be the 6th chairman who is expected to be added to the gallery. Who knows which artist will make his portrait.

The mural was executed by Stef van Dungen and Mieke Derickx

The presidents:                                       The artists:

Sjeng Tans (1976-1978)                          Hans Truijen

Rob van den Biggelaar (1978-1987)       Chrit Rousseau

Loek Vredevoogd (1987-1994)                Carla Rodenberg

Karl Dittrich (1994-2003)                          Annelies Hoek

Jo Ritzen (2003-2011)                               Sidi El Karchi

Martin Paul (2011 until present)