On Tuesday, the City of Brussels launched the third edition of ‘Flowering Brussels’ under a cloud cover that René Magritte could have painted. The flower route unfolds in eighteen stages, spread over the center of the capital. This year, all artists chose to work with artificial flowers, because real flowers don’t survive two weeks in the city.
From 1 to 15 August, various places in the historic city center will literally be brightened up with floral artworks. Some of these works evoke the surrealism and dream world of René Magritte.
The trail starts on the Grand Place with the creation Ceci n’est pas une pipe by florist couple Sofia Tavares and Marc Noël, of Moments Subtils. The mineral fiber installation releases vibrant flowers, like swirls of smoke.
The work of florist Max Hurtaud also hovers somewhere between dreams and reality, more specifically in Brouwerstraat. “I come from a family of cyclists myself and find my work a successful combination between surrealism and my own story with bicycles,” says Hurtaud. “But it is also a bit of a thank you to the City of Brussels and Belgium. I was welcomed here with open arms and have been able to turn my passion into my profession, which I can now live on.”
This year, all artists chose to work with artificial flowers, because real flowers don’t survive two weeks in the city.
Flower carpet
For the last five days, the traditional Flowertime event, organized alternately with the Flower Carpet, will take over Brussels’ Town Hall. Fifteen rooms and lounges are decorated by the best national and international floral artists.
Blooming Brussels first took place during the corona period, at the initiative of alderman of Economic Affairs Fabian Maingain (Défi). The intention was to breathe new life into the dead streets and to support the traders in the center during the corona crisis.
This article is originally published on bruzz.be
