Genk (The Brussels Morning Newspaper): Joey Steyls is creating a vibrant mural in Termien, reflecting Genk’s identity with elements like the Maten and Slagmolen, using bright colors to engage local children and inspire community pride.
Joey Steyls is working on a big mural in Termien that can be seen on both sides of a railway bridge. The artwork includes important parts of Genk’s identity, like the Maten and the Slagmolen, shown through a building with a water wheel, which represents the city’s history and industry. The mural also has local cultural touches, like a cyclist and slag heaps, that show Genk’s mining past. There’s an airplane taking off from Zwartberg, which highlights the area’s connection to aviation.
What elements in Joey Steyls’ Mural celebrate Genk’s identity?
The mural’s design highlights the importance of the railway bridge by featuring a train in the artwork. Steyls has combined these elements to celebrate Genk’s history and modern life, making the mural a vibrant representation of the city’s character. Music plays in the background as he works on the mural, enhancing the creative atmosphere.
It has been said that Joey Steyls’ mural stands out because it uses bright primary colors and simple lines, making it a cheerful and eye-catching artwork. This colorful style is meant to attract the attention of children who walk by. Since there are several primary schools nearby, Steyls chose bright colors to make sure the bridge is a positive and fun part of their daily walk. Steyls believes that dark colors would not work well for the bridge because they could make the area feel sad and take away from the fun of cycling for kids. By choosing bright colors, he wants to make the bridge a friendly and enjoyable place for children, showing that a colorful and well-designed environment can make daily trips better.
The word ‘Termien’ is painted really big on one side of the mural. Joey Steyls got the idea from big letters in Hollywood, and other cities like Amsterdam do this too. Genk likes to support art in public places, and since Joey grew up here, they want to help young artists. The mural makes kids, cyclists, and adults feel happy when they pass by. The alderman thinks art is important for public spaces and can inspire people, and this artwork really represents Termien and its community.
