This summer, the young people of Saint-Gilles will be playing football on the largest Brussels waffle in the world on the Jacques Franck square – an artwork created in the context of the 'Playcation' project.
The square in the Brussels municipality of Saint-Gilles was rebuilt a few years ago and since then it has a terrain with two basketball courts and a football pitch with enthusiastic users. Still, local residents still have some questions about the reconstruction: how can you brighten up the square? How can you make the area more attractive for other ages, and for girls?
Artist, illustrator and art director Katrien Vanderlinden took up the gauntlet: the football pitch was painted over in a Brussels waffle, with a dollop of whipped cream on the centre spot.
"I studied and lived here and I have a big heart for Brussels," said Vanderlinden. "I was looking for something that is familiar to all nationalities, young and old. Something that makes you smile. I was looking for something typical of this place."
The Brussels waffle, she said, is culinary heritage. "This is an idea that can only be done in Brussels."
Related News
- Brussels creates playgrounds to encourage children to be outdoors this summer
- Solution for Place De Brouckère renovation helped 'avoid creating urban cancer'
- How Brussels became a frontrunner in sustainable urbanism and architecture
The subsidy to the artist is part of the Flemish Community Commission's project 'Playcation,' an experiment in play and sports incentives. The FCC wants to turn Brussels into a city where there is room for free play in the neighbourhood, 365 days a year.
"We need a change of mentality. We are striving for a Brussels on the scale of children, where it is obvious that every Brussels child can play carefree all year round," said FCC Commissioner for Culture, Youth, Sports and Community Centres, Pascal Smet. "Playing outside helps children to get to know their neighbourhood and the other inhabitants of Brussels and to feel connected to them."
The Jacques Franck square is an important playground, hangout and meeting place in the South of the city centre, stressed Willem Stevens, Alderman responsible for Youth and Urban Renewal in the municipality of Saint-Gilles.
Credit: Office of Pascal Smet
Still, he said that the square could be improved if a number of targeted changes were made. "That is why we are making funds available for a real upgrade of this square, which we want to realise together with local residents and young people," Stevens said.
"Katrien Vanderlinden's street art is a good sign for the improvement process that we will be starting in the coming months," he added.
This floor painting was created together with young people from the neighbourhood and with the Saint Gilles youth service. Six young neighbours helped to paint every day. The work of art is conceived as a temporary intervention and will gradually disappear. The message is to go and have a look before the waffle is finished.
