On the 24th of February, the first anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the city of Brussels inaugurated a mural as a tribute to Ukraine. The mural can be seen on rue Haute, near the hospital St. Peter. “Done in collaboration with 2 Ukrainian artists and 1 Belgian artist, this work illustrates the solidarity and the unfailing links of Belgium with the Ukrainian people,” said Delphine Houba, Alderwoman of Culture, Tourism and Big Events in the City of Brussels.
The work was created by two Ukrainian artists, Mishel and Nicol Feldman and the Belgian artist Teresa Sdralevich. It shows two people, sitting on a giant eye with each a cup in hand. The Ukrainian Institute and cultural agency Port attracted ten well-known Ukrainian and European street artists who’ve created projects to illustrate the idea of synergy.
The Wall project allows us to start a dialogue about the world’s attitude towards Ukraine.
Katya Taylor, Port.agency CEO and founder
According to the site Promote Ukraine, the mural symbolizes resistance, stability, and armor that fences off Europe from the war. At the same time, the title refers to the Pink Floyd cult album, a rock opera that tells about a hero who is fenced off from the whole world by a wall behind which he copes with his inner demons. To create murals, well-known Ukrainian and international artists were invited to find a shared voice that will speak about freedom, democracy, and unity. The co-creation is aimed at lighting up the alliance and mutual benefit of Ukrainian and European collaboration at all levels: between individuals, communities, businesses, and countries.
“Ukraine is dealing with an external demon,” said Katya Taylor, Port.agency CEO and founder. “The Wall project allows us to start a dialogue about the world’s attitude towards Ukraine and ‘us and them.’ We wish to rethink this idea and look at the mental and historical wall that separates us, which must be eliminated so that we feel like a single community.”
This work illustrates the solidarity and the unfailing links of Belgium with the Ukrainian people.
Delphine Houba, Alderwoman of Culture, Tourism City of Brussels
The fresco is part of the solidarity actions taken by major European cities and is part of the Street Art route of the City of Brussels. On a larger scale, the work is part of the Ukrainian Institute’s initiative “The Wall: Murals across Europe”. Four other murals have been created in Vienna, Berlin, Marseille and even in Nairobi, Kenya.
According to Belga news agency, a long term collaboration is established between the CHU Saint-Pierre and the hospital number six in Kiev. The hospital also provides support for the treatment of victims of war rapes in the city of Lviv. This is the reason why the mural is present in the vicinity of the hospital.
