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Evere Racines Festival

by Vincent July 31, 2026

written by Vincent

Racines Festival is a landmark event in the world of graffiti and street art. It is the realisation of a dream by artist Fouad Hachmi (HMI), deeply attached to his roots.

HMI arrived in Evere at the age of 10. Painting and drawing had been in his blood since early childhood. He grew up in a happy, cosmopolitan neighbourhood, somewhat removed from the city’s hustle. In 1983 the emerging Hip Hop culture hit the young people hard, especially through breakdancing and smurfing. The music and movement shaped the teenager who would become HMI. At 14 to 15 he discovered graffiti.

What he loves most about a mural is working with four or five artists from different worlds, creating harmony together, a human and artistic encounter.

All these experiences planted a seed of ambition. The result is Racines Festival: ten days that bring together artists from around the world, with their varied paths, stories and trajectories. With a hand on his heart and a smile, remembering his first tag in the Platon neighbourhood, HMI is happy to gather all the roots that form part of his history, right where it all began.

The festival’s vision is simple: to honour the human network and the intertwined roots that underpin graffiti and street art. To celebrate the richness and beauty of its ramifications, while paying proper tribute to the origins of the movement, the “roots”, and to those who opened the way.

Here is my collection so far

Veneno l’homme qui chuchote à l’oreille de la hyène

Razor sharp linework, cross hatched like an engraving, with contrast that hits different in person. This gable wall mural by Veneno is one of the standout pieces linked to Racines Festival in Evere.

Veneno is known for powerful black and white works built around wild and humanized animals. Her style was shaped by years spent in Mexico, where she worked closely with engraving collectives. A member of the Belgian CNN199 crew, she blends the raw energy of graffiti with the precision of engraving.

This piece forms part of her Black Lines series.

Smok Dinomyte & RYCKWANE

A roaring blue dinosaur bursts out of the wall in full colour and wildstyle letters. This large mural by Belgian artist Smok was painted during the second edition of Racines Festival.

Smok (Bart Boudewijns) was born in Antwerp in 1972 and started writing graffiti in 1986. After a long break he returned to the walls in 2013. He works mainly with spray cans and creates playful, high energy pieces that often feature animals and characters full of life. His goal is to make people smile or think about nature and social awareness.

Yann Lazoo Graffenstein

Graffenstein: Mad Science in Technicolor

A vivid mad science laboratory comes to life on the wall. Scientists, bubbling equipment and a giant purple Frankenstein head fill the scene in bold purple and green tones. The piece is titled Graffenstein, Prométhée du Street Art.

Yann Lazoo is a French artist born in Paris in 1969 and a member of the Parisian collective MAC. Strongly inspired by comics and 1980s New York graffiti, he is known for colorful figurative work full of energy and character.

Un Zorro en Evere by HMI

That stare stops you mid walk. Painted fur that moves like flame across brick arches, split into panels but reading as one continuous gaze. Found just steps from home in the park next to the place.

This large fox mural is by HMI (Fouad Hachmi), the Evere based artist and founder of Racines Festival. A member of the CNN199 crew, HMI has been active in the Brussels graffiti and street art scene for decades and is known for strong figurative work that often connects to local roots and public space.

A striking female face with flowing turquoise hair and deep purple tones wraps around the corner of a dark brick building. Wildstyle lettering in pink, blue and silver frames the portrait. Painted by HMI during the first Racines Festival in 2022

HMI Roaring Dogs

A fierce golden dog head roars across the black garage doors, teeth bared and eyes locked forward. The side wall carries the tags EVERE 2022 RACINES

Urban Jungle in Stone Arches by HMi CNN

Found this piece of street art where brick and stone meet a painted rainforest. Love how the arches frame the scene

Submerged Serenity

A dreamlike underwater scene where a calm face drifts among bubbles, fish and flowing colors. The mural was created by Remix_2r and Dirtysix6 during the Racines Festival graffiti jam, with the theme The Sea. Remix_2r, based in Brussels is a frequent collaborator (they have done several walls together, including the Racines Festival piece and Meeting of Styles).

Dirtysix6 is a French graffiti artist based in Lille who has been painting characters for over twenty years.

Roger Rabbit by CASTAR

A wild and colorful Roger Rabbit mural full of bold drips, layered colors and animated energy. Painted by CASTAR for Racines Festival 2024.

A dynamic mural packed with cartoon energy, glowing eyes, sharp claws and electric colors under a bold CASTAR throw up

CASTAR is a Brussels based graffiti artist and the founder of CityJam. He is also the initiator of Castarwall in Anderlecht, the largest open air free expression wall in Belgium.

Derm Bad Taste

A large turquoise alligator character in military gear lounges against the wall, cigarette in mouth and heavy weapon in hand. Bold lettering reads DERM BADTASTE and KILLER VOICES.

Street Art Gone Carnivorous

Feel the Spark

A long blue brick wall covered in colorful wildstyle lettering, with two large hands reaching toward each other and a bright energy spark between them. Tags and pieces run the full length, including a door marked 7773 RACINES

Zepha Calligraphic Vortex

A massive swirling composition of abstract calligraphy in deep purple, red and blue wraps around the corner of the building, creating a hypnotic vortex of letterforms and geometric flow. Photographed by Vincent Vanderveken.

Zepha (Vincent Abadie Hafez) is a French artist based near Toulouse. Active in graffiti since 1989, he is known for blending traditional calligraphy with urban lettering. Website: vincentabadiehafez.com

Witloof by MRBEE

large bee tends to a chicory plant on the wall. The piece celebrates witloof, the white gold of the Brussels region that was extensively grown in Evere from around 1830 until urbanization changed the landscape. Dedicated to the inhabitants of the Lauriers Roses district.

MRBEE is a Belgian street artist. Instagram: @mrbeebzzz

Tower 6

title

Rue H. Van Hamme 38 – Archery Club
Rue W. Van Perck 69
Allée de Provence 9639 – Courtyard
Rue E. Degas 6 – Tour Degas 6
Avenue des Anciens Combattants 365 – Palisade
Avenue des Anciens Combattants 300 – Sports Complex
Avenue des Anciens Combattants 250 – Scouts Local
Rue de Paris 70
Intersection Rue de Zaventem and Avenue Jules Bordet
Rue de Zaventem 60 – Home Roger Descamps
Clos des Lauriers Roses 101
Avenue Cicéron 20
Rue Edouard Stuckens 125

All locations are in 1140 Evere, Brussels.

This is just the beginning of the collection. More murals from Racines Festival will be added as the archive grows.

The third edition, titled Animals, is expected in Evere in early September 2026, with activities planned from around 5 September onward.

Stay tuned.

Internationnal : Al Pacman (France), Amin Brush (Maroc), CEET (France / Hong Kong), EKO LSA (La Réunion), Madzoo (Sénégal), OTM (Maroc), sitou (France), Sophi ODLING (Australie), Swalt (Suisse), Veneno (France)

Belgique : CASTAR, Cimon, Defo, DZIA, ERES, EWOC, FARMPROD, H5D, HMI, IOTA, LOCATELLI, LUCILE & TRAMA, Madame la belge, MAGIC WIZARD, NEAN, Pippilota, PSOMAN, Samuel IDMTAL, SHIVA, Size 44, SMOK, STRANGE bird, TARANTINO, WOUF

July 31, 2026 0 comments

Cinema

Inside Cinema Nova: Brussels’ Last Truly Underground Cinema

by Vincent July 15, 2026

written by Vincent

Tucked away on Rue d’Arenberg, just a few steps from the tourist crowds of the Grand Place, Cinema Nova doesn’t announce itself the way you’d expect a cinema to. There’s no marquee lighting up the street, no glossy poster wall. Instead you get a joyful bric-a-brac of salvaged colour above the entrance, hand-painted letters, a wall of scavenged faces, and a red glow spilling out onto the cobblestones. I’d walked past it plenty of times before finally stepping inside, and once I did, I understood why people talk about this place the way they do.

Movie Night ?????? — The entrance to Cinema Nova on Rue d’Arenberg, its salvaged-art signage lit up after dark.

A Cinema With a Past

Nova opened in January 1997, but the building itself goes back much further. Originally built at the end of the 19th century as a cabaret bar, it later became a vaudeville theatre, then a cinema called the Arenberg Studio in the 1930s. It closed in 1987 and spent a decade as a second-hand furniture store before reopening as Nova. Today it’s run entirely as a non-profit by the cooperative Supernova Coop, with a team of around a hundred volunteers keeping the programme alive.

That volunteer-run, horizontal structure is really the soul of the place. There’s no corporate booking calendar here. Nova exists to platform rare, contemporary, and often previously unreleased films in Belgium, along with festivals, discussions, exhibitions, and concerts that spill out of the screening room into the basement foyer.

Cinema Nova — The 200-seat auditorium, stripped back to bare brickwork.

Stepping Inside

The auditorium itself seats 200 and has been deliberately stripped back to raw brick. There’s nothing polished about it, and that’s clearly the point. It gives the whole space a kind of underground, almost squat-like energy that you don’t find in the multiplexes a ten-minute walk away. Sitting there before a screening, waiting in the dim light, it feels less like going to the cinema and more like being let in on something.

Downstairs, the bar and lounge area keeps the same DIY spirit but with a lot more colour. Murals cover the walls, mismatched furniture fills the corners, and it’s clearly a space built by people who wanted somewhere to hang around after the film, not just somewhere to sell tickets.

The Art Is Part of the Experience

What struck me most walking around Nova is how much of it feels handmade. Sculptures built from scrap metal and found objects sit lit up in corners. A whole wall is covered in salvaged masks and puppet-like faces, each one clearly made by hand, clearly loved.

None of it feels curated in the gallery sense. It feels accumulated, added to over years by people who cared about the space, which fits perfectly with a cinema that’s been kept alive by volunteers rather than investors.

Final Thoughts

Cinema Nova isn’t trying to be the most comfortable place to watch a film in Brussels, and it isn’t trying to compete with the big chains. What it offers instead is something increasingly rare: a genuinely independent, community-run space where the programming, the decor, and the whole atmosphere reflect the people who built it rather than a marketing department. If you’re after arthouse films, rare screenings, or just want to see a different side of Brussels nightlife, Nova is well worth the visit.

Address: Cinema Nova, Rue d’Arenberg 3, 1000 Brussels

Website: nova-cinema.org

July 15, 2026 0 comments

Museum

Uterus in Uterus: Delcy Morelos Turns Bozar’s Horta Hall Into a Mountain of Earth

by Vincent July 12, 2026

written by Vincent

The hall that forgot its own scale

Walk into Bozar’s Horta Hall this summer and the first thing that happens is a small disorientation. The space is grand, marble floored, lit by a soaring glass roof, the kind of room built to hold sculpture on pedestals and portraits on walls. Instead, half of it has been swallowed by a mountain of raw earth.

This is Uterus in Uterus, the 2026 edition of Bozar Monumental, and it is the work of Colombian artist Delcy Morelos.

What it actually is

The piece is a trapezoidal structure, 14 metres long and 9 metres wide, built from a framework of hazel panels layered with local red clay, spices, and natural fibres. Depending on where you stand, it reads as a pyramid, a temple, or a nest. Morelos has cited Mesoamerican pyramids, Egyptian mastabas, and Amazonian maloca houses as reference points, and all three are visible in the form if you look for them.

Walk around it and you find narrow trenches cut into the mass, corridors just wide enough for one person, that lead to smaller chambers inside. The walls are close, the ceiling of each trench climbs high overhead, and the earthen texture up close looks almost woven, like a giant thatched or fibrous surface rather than solid clay.

Visitors are invited to remove their shoes and walk the interior barefoot.

It’s not just visual

Morelos works with scent as deliberately as she works with material. For this installation she commissioned a professional fragrance designer to create a scent specific to the piece, evoking humid soil, wood, cinnamon, and natural oils. The smell reaches you before you’re even inside the trenches, a quiet layer most visitors don’t expect from a sculpture.

There’s a clear intention behind the material choice too. Horta Hall’s floor and columns are marble, and Morelos points out that marble and clay share the same origin: both come from the mountains. The cold, permanent stone of the historic hall and the warm, malleable earth of the installation are put in direct conversation with each other.

Location: Horta Hall, Bozar (Centre for Fine Arts of Brussels), Rue Ravensteinstraat 23, 1000 Brussels
Dates: 28 June to 30 August 2026
Admission: Free
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 18:00
Series: Bozar Monumental, supported by BNP Paribas Fortis, in collaboration with BC Materials and the Studiotopia project

Worth the visit?

Yes, especially if you go on a quieter day when you can actually walk the interior trenches without a queue behind you. Photographs (including the ones in this post) capture the scale reasonably well, but the smell, the texture under your bare feet, and the way the light drops as you move from the open hall into the narrow corridors are the parts that don’t translate to a photo. It’s one of the more memorable free things to see in Brussels this summer.

July 12, 2026 0 comments

urban art

MOTION: Cirque du Soleil’s Mural Takes Over Saint-Gilles

by Vincent June 23, 2026

written by Vincent

If you’ve walked past Gare du Midi recently, you may have stopped dead in your tracks at the sight of this. Sprawling across the full width of a railway underpass near the intersection of Rue des Vétérinaires and Avenue des Rois, MOTION is one of the most ambitious pieces of street art Brussels has seen in years.

The mural was commissioned by Cirque du Soleil to mark their Brussels residency with Alegría – In A New Light, a reimagined version of their legendary 1994 show. Rather than just plastering posters around the city, they went big, collaborating with the municipality of Saint-Gilles, designer Sam Billen of Treepack, and painter Wannes Vrijs of Wallievis to create something permanent.

And permanent is the right word. This isn’t a pop-up activation that disappears when the circus leaves town. The swirling acrobatic figures, rendered in rich terracotta and electric blue with muscles twisting mid-flight, are now a fixture of the Saint-Gilles streetscape. A nod to Cirque du Soleil’s roots as a street performance troupe in the 1980s, painted on a wall that thousands of commuters pass every single day.

Saint-Gilles was a natural choice. The municipality has deep ties to circus arts, being home to Espace Catastrophe, the École du Cirque, and Trapèze vzw. Mayor Jean Spinette saw the project as a way to both celebrate that heritage and breathe some color into the grey concrete surroundings of the South Station. On both counts, mission accomplished.

The sheer scale of it is what gets you. Standing at street level, with a lone pedestrian disappearing into the tunnel beneath those giant figures, you get a real sense of just how massive and how meticulously painted this thing is. Worth a detour if you’re anywhere near Gare du Midi.

???? Near Rue des Vétérinaires / Avenue des Rois, Saint-Gilles, Brussels
???? Design: Sam Billen / Treepack | Painting: Wannes Vrijs / Wallievis | Commission: Cirque du Soleil

June 23, 2026 0 comments

Museum

Echoes of Art Deco at Villa Empain: A Fusion of Past and Present

by Vincent March 9, 2025

written by Vincent

Brussels’ Villa Empain is a true architectural gem, a masterpiece of Art Deco design that has stood the test of time. Originally built in the 1930s, this lavish mansion now serves as a cultural hub under the Boghossian Foundation, hosting exhibitions that bridge the past and present. The latest exhibition, “Echoes of Art Deco” perfectly encapsulates this spirit by blending historic elegance with contemporary artistic interpretations.

Stepping Into Another Era

From the moment you step inside Villa Empain, you’re surrounded by the hallmarks of Art Deco—sleek geometric lines, luxurious materials, and an unmistakable sense of grandeur.

The exhibition takes this a step further by incorporating modern pieces that either pay homage to or challenge the traditional Art Deco aesthetic.

One of the most striking features of the villa is its massive glass skylight, which floods the upper floor with natural light, illuminating the intricate details of the space. Walking along the balcony, you can’t help but appreciate the interplay of light and architecture, a signature characteristic of the era.

Then there are the furniture pieces, rich in deep colors and plush textures. From the burgundy-upholstered armchairs to the marble tabletops and finely crafted woodwork, every detail speaks of a time when design was both functional and luxurious.

The Art Deco Influence in Everyday Life

One of the most fascinating aspects of the exhibition was how Art Deco transcends time. The movement wasn’t just about architecture or high-end decor—it influenced everything from fashion and furniture to everyday objects.

Echoes of Art Deco — A vintage **Art Deco telephone**, at a time when elegance meets function—imagine the conversations it once carried!

A perfect example is the vintage rotary telephone, displayed with period-appropriate wallpaper. It’s a small but powerful reminder of how design trends shape even the most functional objects. Similarly, the use of polished metal accents, intricate glasswork, and bold wallpaper designs throughout the exhibition further emphasized Art Deco’s lasting influence.

The villa itself plays a huge role in reinforcing this theme. Whether it’s the ornate entryway, the marble-lined hallways, or the floor-to-ceiling windows offering stunning outdoor views, every space feels like a carefully curated tribute to the movement.

A Dream for Photographers

From a photography perspective, “Echoes of Art Deco” is a visual feast. The way light filters through the large windows, casting long shadows across the marbled floors and reflective surfaces, creates endless opportunities for capturing the perfect shot.

One of the best moments was standing in the sunlit rooms, where every detail—whether it was the polished wood furniture, the subtle glow of a stained-glass lamp, or the way the colors of the ceramics popped against neutral backdrops—felt like a painting come to life.

Each space within the villa tells a story, and this exhibition only adds another layer to its rich history and artistic legacy.

Beyond the exhibition highlights, Villa Empain itself is a masterpiece worth capturing. From its stunning architectural details to the way light and shadow play across its interiors, every corner of this space tells a story.

Here are a few more photos from my visit:

These vibrant Art Deco ceramics are a perfect example of the era’s love for bold patterns and intricate craftsmanship. From the geometric teacups to the richly decorated vases, each piece feels like a celebration of both color and form. The backdrop, with its classic Art Deco motif, makes the entire display even more striking!

The iconic swimming pool of Villa Empain is a breathtaking example of Art Deco luxury. With its sleek curves, geometric tile patterns, and perfectly symmetrical design, it embodies the era’s focus on both form and function. On a sunny day, the reflection of the sky in the water makes the setting feel almost surreal—like stepping into a glamorous scene from the past.

This collection of vintage Art Deco radios is a perfect example of how the movement extended beyond architecture and fine art into everyday life. With their bold geometric patterns, rich wood finishes, and sleek metallic details, these radios were more than just functional devices—they were design statements. Set against a backdrop of classic Art Deco wallpaper, they capture the era’s obsession with craftsmanship and modernity, blending technology with elegance.

This Underwood typewriter is a true relic of the past, embodying the craftsmanship and industrial elegance of the Art Deco era. With its sleek black frame, gold detailing, and mechanical precision, it’s a reminder of a time when even the most functional objects were designed with style in mind. Sitting against a geometric-patterned backdrop, it perfectly blends nostalgia with the bold aesthetics that defined the period.

These vintage beer advertisements for Export Vandenheuvel capture the bold, playful style of early 20th-century commercial design. With their strong geometric shapes, vivid colors, and stylized characters, they reflect the Art Deco movement’s influence beyond architecture and into everyday branding. The backdrop of classic fan-patterned wallpaper enhances the nostalgic feel, making these posters look right at home in this exhibition.

This Art Deco vanity setup is a perfect example of the movement’s signature elegance and craftsmanship. The bold geometric curves of the wooden console contrast beautifully with the intricate detailing of the wrought iron mirror frame. The rich, polished wood and the vintage rotary phone add a nostalgic touch, while the fan-patterned wallpaper ties everything together in a stunningly cohesive design. A scene straight out of the 1930s!

This elegant Art Deco sculpture perfectly captures the era’s fascination with movement, grace, and luxury. The polished bronze figure, poised with her two sleek hounds, radiates a timeless sophistication. Reflected in the mirror behind her, the piece takes on an almost cinematic quality, drawing you deeper into its world. The black-and-white treatment enhances the textures and contrasts, making the details of the marble base, flowing fabric, and delicate features stand out even more. A stunning tribute to Art Deco’s enduring allure.

This vintage gramophone is a true centerpiece of early 20th-century design, embodying the glamour and sophistication of the Art Deco era. The polished brass horn and rich wooden base contrast beautifully with the patterned wallpaper and the collection of old radios in the background. It’s easy to imagine the warm crackle of a record playing, transporting you back to a time when music was a ritual and design was all about elegance.

This striking portrait commands attention, not just for its subject but for the way it interacts with its surroundings. The deep blues and earthy tones of the painting stand in stark contrast to the bold fan-patterned Art Deco wallpaper, creating a fascinating visual tension. The subject’s intense gaze and strong posture evoke a quiet resilience, while the soft lighting enhances the contours and shadows, adding depth to the piece

Framed in a classic gold border, the artwork feels both timeless and deeply rooted in its era, blending the realism of portraiture with the stylized world of Art Deco design. The juxtaposition of textures and colors makes this piece a captivating part of the exhibition, bridging the human element with the grandeur of its decorative setting.

A perfect way to wrap up the visit—this ornate Art Deco mirror reflects not just the intricate patterns and golden accents of the space, but also the experience of being surrounded by timeless design. The bold wallpaper, the rich detailing, and the playful composition make this more than just a self-portrait—it’s a moment captured in an era where elegance and artistry were everything. A fitting final shot for an unforgettable exhibition!

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re an architecture enthusiast, a history buff, or just someone who appreciates good design, “Echoes of Art Deco” at Villa Empain is well worth a visit. It’s a reminder that great design is truly timeless, and that even decades later, the elegance of Art Deco continues to inspire.

For anyone looking to step back in time while still seeing a glimpse of the future, this exhibition delivers exactly that—a perfect fusion of past and present.

March 9, 2025 0 comments

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