The latest addition to Brussels' celebrated comic book walls was inaugurated on Wednesday at the primary school De Heembeek in Neder-Over-Heembeek.
Featuring an illustration by French artist Aurélie Neyret, the location and artist mark an effort to extend the murals beyond the city centre and include more female artists.
The giant painting depicts a student finishing her homework in the branches of a tree while a family of foxes frolics below and children play football in the background.
The "Les Carnets de Cerise" mural. Credit: The Brussels Times/ Margherita Bassi
"I didn't realise until now how big it would be – it's huge and will become a piece of heritage that will stay in the city for decades. I'm very honoured," Neyret said after thanking the city of Brussels for proposing this project.
Decentralise and feminise
The choice of a female artist and the approval of a location far from downtown were agreed by the school administration and representatives of the city of Brussels. It was only in May 2017 that the comic book walk added a mural by a female artist and most continue to emphasise the adventures of male heroes.
By contrast, this newest addition to the comic book walk has both a female artist and a female protagonist.
The initial proposal was made by the primary school De Heembeek to the City of Brussels. The exact artist was chosen by the school and a committee of comic experts, who ultimately proposed the project to French illustrator Neyret.
Neyret is perhaps best known for illustrating Les Carnets de Cerise, a children's comic series loved by the De Heembeek students, according to the school's head teacher Delphine Dubois.
Aurélie Neyret (left, with the blue hair) and primary school administration. Credit: The Brussels Times/ Margherita Bassi
Involving the students
Key to the project was ensuring the artwork reflected its environment. When Neyret arrived from Lyon, Dubois took the illustrator around the school and neighbourhood to help her get a feel for the places that would become home to her gigantic art project. Perhaps most importantly, Neyret spent time with De Heembeek students. They told Neyret about a family of foxes that lives near the school since the Covid lockdown.
"It was a collaborative adventure and I think that's what gave such charming results," Neyret said enthusiastically. "The story of the foxes was great because I have to admit that when the children talked about Formula 1 and football, I was not very inspired," she laughed. The artist finally proposed several drawings, and the students and the school administration voted on their favourite—which just happened to be Neyret's favourite, too.
One of the primary school students cutting the ribbon at the inauguration. Credit: The Brussels Times/ Margherita Bassi
The final product
Interestingly, it was not Neyret who painted her artwork onto the wall of the De Heembeek primary school, but a company called Urbana specialising in murals, project coordinator Ana Maria Chavez explained.
"I also want to thank the painters who created the mural according to my drawing in an incredible manner," Neyret concluded her list of thanks, "I didn't believe they would be able to reproduce all the small variations in light and colour, and so I am thrilled."
