On the anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Ukrainian mural “Grow in Freedom” was unveiled in Brussels. It was created by the Ukrainian artists Feldman's sisters.
The project was implemented on the initiative of the Ukrainian Institute and the cultural agency “Port”. The mural can be seen on the wall of St. Peter's Hospital. This is reported by the correspondent of Channel 24 in Brussels.
The Belgian designer Tereza Sdralevich helped Ukrainian artists to embody the wall painting. As the representative of Ukraine to the European Union Vsevolod Chentsov said, this shows that the people of Brussels and the citizens of Belgium understand this tragedy.
But this tragedy also gave a new start to friendship, new relations. And this mural is a symbol of the connection between Brussels and Kyiv. This mural is about relationships between people,” Chentsov emphasized.
According to Ukrainian artists, the fresco symbolizes friendship between Ukraine and Belgium. The mural depicts a Ukrainian Cossack and a Belgian woman in traditional dress. And the national flowers of Ukraine and Belgium were planted under the mural.
Ukrainian mural in Belgium/Photo by Sofia Nazarenko
The opening of the mural took place on February 24/Photo by Sofia Nazarenko
Nicole and Michelle Feldman, sister artists who participated in the creation of the mural, noted that the Port agency produces murals throughout Europe. It was her representatives who invited the sisters to join this project in Belgium.
This is not our only mural abroad, but such a large work was painted for the first time, – they said.
In total, the mural was painted for six days, however, according to the artists, they constantly took breaks due to rain. The Feldman sisters say that in the future they want to do more wall paintings in Ukraine, in particular, in Kyiv, Odessa and the Dnieper.
On the same day, a 40-meter flag of Ukraine was unfurled under the building of the European Parliament. People who participated in this event came with posters and national symbols of our country. The floor was taken by the Belgian politician and member of the European Commission Didier Reynders. He said that the European Commission will continue to support Ukraine and seek to ensure that Russia is held accountable for war crimes.
We have two goals for the future: the first is to make sure that Russia will pay for the reconstruction, and the second is to be sure that the aggressor country will not escape responsibility for war crimes and the aggression that it has committed, and that we will find justice, summed up Didier Reynders.
Didier Reynders at the opening of the mural/Photo by Sofia Nazarenko
40-meter flag unfurled in Brussels/Photo by Sofia Nazarenko
Unfurled in Brussels huge Ukrainian flag: watch the video
It should be recalled that Belgium strongly supports Ukraine in the war against the Russian invaders. At the end of January, the country announced the transfer of 92 million euros for Ukraine. This is a record support package. It will include military equipment, rifles, anti-aircraft guns and cartridges.
