Over the years, the Flower Carpet has become an unmissable event on Brussels' cultural and tourist calendar. The Grand Place of Brussels, a UNESCO World Heritage site, will once again shine in 1001 colors. From Thursday, August 15 to Sunday, August 18, 2024, the famous Flower Carpet returns to the most beautiful square in the world. This new floral creation will be the result of a collaboration between artists, gardeners, and volunteers from all corners of the country around a unique project.
Grand Place of Brussels With Flower Carpet
The 2024 edition also marks a floral first and a renewal of the concept, now opening up to youth, women, and street art. The 23rd edition of this ephemeral artwork already promises to be historic, as for the first time, dahlias will form the main motif. The design of this artwork was entrusted to a young street artist: Océane Cornille. Her creation is a tribute to Brussels as the flower capital of Europe, but also as an international benchmark for Art Nouveau and the birthplace of surrealism.
Since 1971, Brussels' Flower Carpet has unfurled its floral splendor every two years on the most beautiful market square in the world. After the 2020 edition was canceled due to the pandemic, the 2022 edition marked a return to normal. But 2024 signifies a change: radical in content, yet equally dazzling in form.
The Flower Carpet is THE event you can't miss this summer. As tradition dictates, this fleeting creation transforms the Grand Place into a gigantic landscape reflecting the city. The 2024 edition features a stunning creation by artist Océane Cornille. Her Art Nouveau-inspired work reminds us of the important role the capital played in this architectural movement.
The Brussels City Councilor for Economic Affairs shared:
"The Flower Carpet is one of the highlights of Brussels' cultural life, attracting both Belgians and tourists to the fleeting beauty of an ancient art form, modernized by the influence of Street Art. It is a unique moment that contributes to the appeal and dynamism of our city, which, combined with the 'blooming shops' initiative, has become an unmissable summer event."
A Sign of Change
The 2022 Flower Carpet marked a return to the roots, reinterpreting the motifs of Arabesques, the first Carpet from 1971. But "Rhizome," the motif of 2024, is a true break in many ways, while still respecting tradition.
Historically, the Grand Place Carpet consisted mainly of begonias. But this year, they make way for magnificent Campine dahlias. The organizers of the Brussels Flower Carpet have enlisted the help of those from Bloemencorso Loenhout, who also supplied the necessary dahlias for the 2022 edition.
This year, over 80% (1,300 square meters) of the massive 1,600 square-meter carpet will be composed of fresh dahlias in various colors and varieties. The dahlia is a flower grown in Belgium, both robust and decorative.
Whoups - A Street Artist from Liège
For the organizers, this change of flowers was an ideal opportunity to refresh the image of the carpet with a design that breaks from the conventions of previous editions, aiming to attract a new audience while still retaining loyal fans.
Until now, the symbol of the Flower Carpet was always linked to a cultural event, the guest country of honor, or an anniversary. "Rhizome" was created specifically and exclusively for the Flower Carpet. It’s a nod to Brussels and Art Nouveau, and a tribute to street art, youth, and surrealism.
It was designed by Océane Cornille, a street artist from Liège, following her studies in graphic design at the École Supérieure des Arts de Saint-Luc in Liège, under the pseudonym "Whoups". She uses the movements of plants as a metaphor for human subjects.
Océane Cornille (Whoups) says:
"In my artistic approach, I am inspired by the concept of the plant rhizome to represent the complexity and interconnectedness of Brussels. The lines in my work symbolize the rhizome of plants, but they also serve as a metaphor for the urban 'rhizome', where neighborhoods converge and diverge in a complex and dynamic network. Just like the roots of a plant, these lines cross and overlap, creating a dense and organic network that reflects the diversity and vitality of Brussels."
Océane Cornille: Woman, Artist, and City Muse
After studying graphic design at the École Supérieure des Arts de Saint-Luc in Liège, Océane traveled to Brazil and Argentina. Her travels led to numerous artistic encounters. Along the way, she painted, created street collages, and experimented with new techniques.
She creates her works on a wide variety of surfaces: paper, glass, walls... She knows no boundaries except her own creative power. Painting, dancing, screen printing, sewing... Her universe is a vast terrain where her experiments go in all directions.
Under the pseudonym "Whoups," she composes what she describes as "graphic poems full of symbols, blending emotions and materials."
For the Brussels Flower Carpet, her artistic approach is inspired by the plant rhizome to represent the complexity and interconnectedness of the city of Brussels. It is a metaphor for the urban 'rhizome,' where neighborhoods converge and diverge in a complex and dynamic network.
Océane:
"Each line in my work symbolizes a street, a connecting road, or a social bond in the city. Just like the roots of a plant, these lines cross and overlap, creating a dense and organic network that reflects the diversity and vitality of Brussels."
But historical elements were not forgotten either: both the iris and water are prominently featured. The iris, the symbol of the city, refers to urban resilience and Brussels' ability to reinvent itself over time. Water, on the other hand, symbolizes the constant flow of city life and the creative and regenerative power of the city.
"By bringing these elements together in my work, I aim to capture the rhizomatic spirit of Brussels, its cultural diversity, and its urban dynamism. My work invites the viewer to discover the many facets of the city, to pause and reflect on its invisible connections, and to celebrate its complex and ever-changing beauty,"
The Dahlia, King of the Grand Place
The dahlia originates from the Mexican plateaus, where it was discovered in 1788 by Spanish botanists and named after the Swedish botanist Andréas Dahl. In the language of flowers, it symbolizes recognition and gratitude for some, while for others it symbolizes grandeur and splendor. But one thing is certain: the dahlia is a particularly decorative flower thanks to its size, shape, and exceptional color palette.
Robust, colorful, decorative, and easy to work with: the dahlia has become the favorite flower to decorate floats in flower parades and other flower events. Because of all these qualities, it was chosen as the main element in the Brussels Flower Carpet, 2024 edition. And that even though the flower is smaller than the begonia and therefore requires more work and (especially) more flowers per meter.
Rhizome counts 585,000 dahlias, good for more than 1,300 square meters. It is the first time that the share of flowers in the design is so large (80% of the Flower Carpet – 450 flowers per square meter).
Practical Information to Know About the Program
- Installation of the Flower Carpet begins on August 15, 2024, from 9 AM to 1 PM
- Official Opening with Sound and Light Show: August 15, 2024, around 10 PM
- Visit from the Town Hall Balcony:
- On August 15, from 2 PM to 6 PM (last entry at 5:30 PM)
- From August 16 to 18, from 10 AM to 10 PM (last entry at 9:30 PM)
- Sound and Light Show: From August 15 to 18, from 9 PM to 11 PM (every 30 minutes)
- Tickets available for purchase at Flower Carpet's website
Enjoy!
