Brussels Unveils 700,000-Flower Carpet

Brussels has unveiled a giant flower carpet inspired by Hokusai's masterpiece to mark 160 years of diplomatic relations between Japan and Belgium. The installation features over 700,000 flowers and measures 70 metres long by 24 metres wide.

The flower carpet is inspired by Hokusai's 'The Great Wave off Kanagawa', a famous woodblock print by the Japanese artist. Japanese artist Hiro Sugiyama designed the flower carpet, which is part of the 24th edition of the biennial Flower Carpet in Brussels.

Over 100 volunteers worked for approximately six hours to arrange the flowers into the artwork, with Japanese Ambassador to Belgium Takeshi Osuga also helping to lay the flowers. The volunteers worked from a small reference image, with each colour assigned a number to ensure the pattern was reproduced accurately.

The installation will remain on display until Sunday, 16 August, with a nightly sound and light show taking place from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. The event brings together Belgian and Japanese cultural traditions, with the pattern created by Hiro Sugiyama and his collective Enlightenment, who describe the work as “Neo-Hokusai”, a modern reinterpretation of Hokusai’s masterpiece.

## Why it matters The flower carpet marks the 160th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Belgium, and is a symbol of bringing people and cultures together. The event shows that culture can be used to bridge the gap between different nations and communities, and that collaboration and cooperation can lead to beautiful and unique creations.

The flower carpet is not only a work of art, but also a celebration of the friendship and cooperation between Japan and Belgium. It is a testament to the power of cultural exchange and the importance of preserving and promoting cultural heritage. The event is expected to attract many visitors, who will be able to enjoy the beautiful flower carpet and the nightly sound and light show.