A fresco aimed at the district’s young people
On Friday 20 May 2016, on a building on Place Anneessens (17, Rue de la Verdure), Alderwomen Ans Persoons and Karine Lalieux inaugurated a new street art fresco on behalf of the Collège des Bourgmestre et Échevins de la Ville de Bruxelles (Board of Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Brussels); the fresco was created by graffiti artists Shake & Defo in collaboration with the non-profit organisation and community centre, Buurtwinkel. It replaces the fresco of the cartoon character Isabelle, which was in very poor condition. “The fresco of Isabelle was almost 15 years old and in very poor condition. Renovation was clearly necessary to give a bit of colour back to this dynamic district of Brussels”, said Ans Persoons, Alderwoman responsible for the Comic book trail, District contracts and Participation. The wall’s owner, the non-profit organisation Buurtwinkel, had suggested creating a new fresco along the same lines as the street art fresco beside the football pitch next to the wall.
“For this project, the Buurtwinkel community centre in the heart of the Anneessens district wanted to use the artists Shake & Defo ; an excellent initiative because they are graffiti artists; not only are they famous, but they also have an excellent knowledge of the Anneessens district. So we are investing in excellent art as part of the district’s urban regeneration. The design proposed by the artists integrates perfectly with the existing urban fresco and is aimed primarily at the district’s young people, who spend a huge amount of time on this football pitch next to the fresco”, stated Ans Persoons. The Alderwoman nevertheless stressed that Isabelle remains a key figure in Belgian comic strips, and that the City will find her a new home.