Artists Bonom, Conti and Outlandish conquer Brussels streets (14 images)
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The serious European capital is shot through with rush hours and concrete crossroads, but delve a bit deeper and there is a whole different world of arts and dreams, of self-expression and colours, of a place where the rules don't apply and where the imagination lives freely. Besides the obvious political and multilingual character of a city which is traditionally seen as grey and uptight, lingers street art, the harmony of traditions and modernity, warmth and unexpected corners for a tourist eye. Coming from south-eastern Europe, photographer Milena Milic says she was amazed by the similarities in the way of life and the vibe of the city compared to her native Belgrade
This gallery is part of the penultimate edition of cafebabel.com’s flagship project of 2012, the sequel to ‘Orient Express Reporter’, sending Balkan journalists and photographers to EU cities and vice versa for a mutual pendulum of insight. Many thanks to cafebabel Brussels
Brussels is the only city where you can actually see the word 'bubble' appearing above your head when you talk... if you try really hard, past the autumn leaves (Image: © Milena Milic for Orient Express Reporter II, Brussels 2012)
There is no better representative of Brussels’ streets than a comic book mural. Pictured, two of the most popular comic book heroes of Belgium: Broussaille and Catherine (by Frank Pe), walking across the very street that they are drawn on (Image: © Milena Milic for Orient Express Reporter II, Brussels 2012)
Belgium incarnated. You can see Tintin almost anywhere you look, even as a part of a commercial car’s street art campaign (Image: © Milena Milic for Orient Express Reporter II, Brussels 2012)
(Image: © Milena Milic for Orient Express Reporter II, Brussels 2012)
Bonom is the Banksy of Belgium according to locals. Since 2006 the street artist has been honouring the streets of Europe with unique works of art. This is one of his classic pieces, depicting the skeleton of an oft-used motif, the spider (Image: © Milena Milic for Orient Express Reporter II, Brussels 2012)
(Image: © Milena Milic for Orient Express Reporter II, Brussels 2012)
(Image: © Milena Milic for Orient Express Reporter II, Brussels 2012)
Photo pasted on the bridge wall, taken by photographer Roen, a member of Outlandish, a platform for young Belgian photographers (Image: © Milena Milic for Orient Express Reporter II, Brussels 2012)
'Brussels is flooded with second-hand and vintage stores. Just one look at patterns and colours and you'll know it's a hidden treasure waiting to be found,' says Laura, 23 (Image: © Milena Milic for Orient Express Reporter II, Brussels 2012)
Street art plus Russian dolls makes Saturnia by Sara Conti. These giant paper dolls are appearing in full colour all over Brussels, mesmerising passengers. The Belgian artist uses this graphical universe to express herself on various locations and themes, one paper at a time. 'I usually improvise on where I will stick the collages in Brussels...they make a difference in a very masculine world,' said Conti in a recent interview (Image: © Milena Milic for Orient Express Reporter II, Brussels 2012)
South American artists from Tallarin Con Banana (Image: © Milena Milic for Orient Express Reporter II, Brussels 2012)
(Image: © Milena Milic for Orient Express Reporter II, Brussels 2012)
(Image: © Milena Milic for Orient Express Reporter II, Brussels 2012)
(Image: © Milena Milic for Orient Express Reporter II, Brussels 2012)
This gallery is part of the penultimate edition of cafebabel.com’s flagship project of 2012, the sequel to ‘Orient Express Reporter’, sending Balkan journalists and photographers to EU cities and vice versa for a mutual pendulum of insight. Many thanks to cafebabel Brussels