“The world is my canvas” is a well-known quote in the world of urban art where street artists use paint and various installations to liven up the street scape with creative and interpretive designs of all colours and shapes that bring a vibrancy and energy to neighbourhoods.
The Embassy of Belgium in Canada is contributing to the street art scene in Ottawa with a mural at Lansdowne Park called “Peace Flowers”.
The piece was officially revealed this morning by the Belgium Ambassador to Canada, Mr. Johan Verkammen and his wife, Katleen Billen, in the presence of Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson.
The work, by Belgian artist Tom Cech, evokes moments in history when Canada and Belgium crossed paths and bonded in times of peace and war. His powerful modern art wall (about 24.6 feet x 8 feet) consists of two colourfully intertwining symbolic flowers and two inspiring Canadian figures.
The ‘Peace Rose of Ghent’ was offered to the American and British delegates who negotiated a peace treaty in the Belgian city of Ghent to end the American-British war of 1812. The ensuing “Treaty of Ghent” settled the border between Canada and the United States.
The Remembrance Poppy is one of the world’s most recognized memorial symbols for all men and women who fought and died for freedom. It was Canadian Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae who wrote the famous poem “In Flanders Fields” after presiding over a funeral of a close friend who died in the battle of Ypres (Belgium), describing the red poppies growing over the graves of the fallen soldiers.
The country of Belgium is forever grateful to Canada and its soldiers for the sacrifices made to liberate Europe.
To see the mural in person, head to Lansdowne Park and look for the pedestrian alley connecting Holmwood Ave and Marché Way (Between the Cineplex cinemas and Jack Astor’s Bar).
