Brussels’ 2024 Flower Carpet celebrates splendour of city’s Art Nouveau floral motifs

The 23rd edition of the Brussels Flower Carpet is on show in the Grand Place until 18 August following its public unveiling on Thursday afternoon.

For the first time, a street artist was asked to design the giant floral installation in the famous medieval square. Océane Cornille, aka Whoups (pictured below), from Liège drew on the capital’s renowned Art Nouveau style and architecture in her inspiration for the large swirling floral decorative design.

Another new element this year is the use of dahlias as the prominent fresh flower for the wildly popular biennial event. They replace the begonias that have been the favoured plant since its inauguration in 1971, but are less resistant to warm dry weather conditions.

More than 80% (1,300 m2) of the gigantic 1,600 m2 carpet will feature fresh dahlias of different colours and varieties. Grown in Belgium, the perennial is a popular, robust and decorative bloom. The ephemeral display of hundreds of thousands of flowers needs to survive four days of sunshine, although showers are forecast on Friday.

The enormous task of creating the carpet was the responsibility of countless volunteers and employees of the nonprofit Brussels Flower Carpet organisation. After the back-breaking task of picking the flowers the previous day, teams began the painstaking work early Thursday morning.

Street artist Whoups is best known for her large murals and graffiti, which are often inspired by flowers and nature. "The lines in my work are a metaphor for the urban 'roots', where neighbourhoods come together and diverge in a complex and dynamic network,” she told Bruzz. “Today, my project comes to life in 3D, on the most beautiful market square in Belgium. This is a great honour for me," she added.

Highlighting the carpet’s international reputation, Delphine Houba, alderwoman for culture and president of the Brussels Flower Carpet association, said: “This summer, expect to see colourful images of Brussels blooming all over the world.”

It was a message reiterated by the alderman for economic affairs Benhur Ergen. “The flower carpet is one of those great moments in Brussels’ cultural life, which attracts both Belgians and tourists to the ephemeral beauty of a secular art modernised by the influence of street art.”  

He also referred to the carpet’s sister event ‘Shops in Bloom’ that runs until 25 August, as “an unmissable summer event”.

The Flower Carpet can be viewed from the balcony of Brussels City Hall until Sunday 18 August. An entrance ticket costs €8 per person, while children under the age of 10 can view it for free.

Photos: ©asbl Flower Carpet/Fabian De Backer