Brussels’ Grand-Place Is Carpeted with 750,000 Fresh Dahlias in a Tribute to Hokusai
Titled "Neo Hokusai," the monumental arrangement last weekend in Brussels covered nearly 14,000 square feet. Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article Brussels’ Grand-Place Is Carpeted with 750,000 Fresh Dahlias in a Tribute to Hokusai appeared first on Colossal .
Brussels’ iconic Grand-Place transformed into a vibrant flower carpet this summer, marking the 24th edition of the city’s Flower Carpet event. This year’s installation celebrated the 160 years of friendship between Belgium and Japan, with artist Hiro Sugiyama creating a tribute to ukiyo-e master Katsushika Hokusai. Titled "Neo Hokusai," the grand design comprised over 750,000 fresh dahlias, covering nearly 14,000 square feet, and framing the composition with intricate patterns.
The centerpiece resembled Hokusai’s famous woodblock print "The Great Wave Off Kanagawa" from his Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji series (1830-1832), rendered in vivid magenta, vermilion, and yellow hues. While dahlias dominated the design, accounting for 80 percent, the 2024 event also featured voluminous blossoms, including begonias as seen in a previous 2018 installation.
Bloemencorso Loenhout, a century-old flower parade originating from the northern city of Loenhout, partnered with the Flower Carpet event to source the precious dahlias. The annual spectacle is set to resume on September 12, continuing to unite art, community, and diplomacy within Brussels’ heart.
Written by urgent.news from Colossal's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
