The living altarpiece was to portray the contemporary society of Ghent and Belgium, and for this reason the project also welcomed immigrants (including Poles) living and working in Belgium. In this way, Althamer's altarpiece became a reflection on the history of migrations in Europe.
The main idea behind this work was an interaction between people who thus far were strangers to one another. This common experience was to pose an opportunity for at least a momentary formation of a community.
To me, art is a way of bringing strangers together, so that they can co-exist together. (…) I think all of us need that.
– Althamer explained after the performance.
During the performance, the De 2de Adem choir sung Philip Glass's composition Quand les hommes vivront d’amour, il y aura de la paix.
The Track festival took place in the public space of Ghent between 12th May and 16th September, 2012. It was conceived with the intention of reviving the history of the Belgian city, as well as asking questions about its current residential conditions. Althamer was invited to participate along forty other artists from numerous countries, who were to create works that were grounded in the urban fabric of Ghent and combined local context with global issues.
Paweł Althamer's performance Agnus Dei took place on 8th September, 2012, between ca. 7.45 and 8.45 pm at the St. Peter's Square (Sint-Pietersplein) in Ghent.
Some of the other Paweł Althamer's interventions in Belgium have included, among others, Common Task in 2009, for which golden people invaded Brussels. A piece by him was also shown in Brussels in 2011, at the Power of Fantasy exhibition, coinciding with the Polish Presidency in the European Council.
Sources: www.culturepolonaise.eu, track.be, ed. MG, transl. AM, December 2015