Brussels unveils giant flower carpet inspired by Hokusai masterpiece

No Comment Video. Brussels unveils giant flower carpet inspired by Hokusai masterpiece Copy/paste the link below: Copy/paste the article video embed link below: Updated: 13/08/2026 - 17:09 GMT+2 Brussels has transformed its historic Grand Place into a giant floral version of Japan’s Great Wave off Kanagawa, using around 500,000 dahlias laid out over 1,300 square metres of cobblestones. Volunteers worked through the morning of Thursday, 13 August, placing the flowers by hand on a numbered carpet to gradually reveal the design inspired by the famous woodblock print by Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai. Visitors gathered around the square to watch the work take shape and photograph the finished sections. Japanese Ambassador to Belgium Takeshi Osuga also joined the volunteers, placing flowers on the carpet as Japanese sponsors supported the event. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The design is part of the 24th edition of the biennial Flower Carpet, a once‑in‑a‑decade celebration in Brussels that marks the 160th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Belgium and Japan. It brings together Belgian and Japanese cultural traditions, with the pattern created by Japanese artist Hiro Sugiyama and his collective Enlightenment, who describe the work as “Neo‑Hokusai”, a modern reinterpretation of Hokusai’s masterpiece. Volunteers worked from a small reference image, with each colour assigned a number to ensure the pattern was reproduced accurately. The finished carpet, measuring 70 metres long by 24 metres wide, will give visitors a new way to see one of Japan’s best‑known artworks, framed by the historic buildings of Brussels’ Grand Place. The installation will remain on display until Sunday, 16 August, with a nightly sound and light show from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. Brussels Japan Ephemeral art flowers Culture Top stories Now playing Next Brussels unveils giant flower carpet inspired by Hokusai masterpiece Now playing Next Putin watches Russian navy drills off Russia's Sakhalin Island Now playing Next Russian drone strikes passenger train in Odesa region, killing driver Now playing Next Latest news bulletin | August 13th, 2026 – Midday Now playing Next Soaring stingray numbers off California beaches drive record injuries Now playing Next Timelapse of partial solar eclipse seen from Royal Observatory Greenwich Now playing Next Japan slams Putin following first visit to disputed Kuril islands Now playing Next Mount Etna eruption: Catania airport closes, ash cloud reaches Libya Now playing Next 'I think we will keep it,' Trump says about control of Hormuz strait Now playing Next Japan slams Putin following first visit to disputed Kuril islands Now playing Next Solar eclipse plunges large swathe of Spain into total darkness Now playing Next Music brings cultures together In partnership with Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan Now playing Next Trump’s vaccine overhaul could fuel mistrust and leave Europe vulnerable to disease resurgence Now playing Next Russian forces strike second passenger train in Ukraine's Odesa region Now playing Next Euronews Culture's Film of the Week: 'The End Of Oak Street' - Putting the Jurassic World franchise to shame Now playing Next Aerial footage captures total solar eclipse over Spain ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT No Comment Colombia: "scene of horror" as Pereira rescuers search rubble No Comment Half a million visitors flock to Spain’s path of total solar eclipse No Comment Rare eclipse plunges parts of Europe into darkness No Comment Quake leaves Colombian towns in ruins as Valle del Cauca counts dead Europe News Hikers in awe as solar eclipse turns sky red over French Pyrenees Europe News Tourist guides raise the alarm as Europe braces for another heatwave USA Trump hails 'wall of steel' blockade, says US will keep control of Strait of Hormuz Europe News Solar eclipse plunges parts of Spain into total darkness in first such event in a century Grand Voyager Grand Voyager | Exploring Switzerland and its wonders Europe News Extreme heat: Half of Europe's population exposed to temperatures exceeding 30C Culture news ‘The Office’ star British actor Lucy Davis reveals incurable cancer diagnosis Europe News Germany beefs up its intelligence services as threat from 'foreign powers' rises ADVERTISEMENT Lifestyle Fragrant fortunes: Doha's Teeb Al Hazm plans London debut as Gulf perfumes gain wider appeal Europe News Mount Etna eruption: Catania airport closes and ash cloud reaches as far as Libya Tech News British driver sets speed record in hydrogen-powered car Health news E-scooters ‘public health challenge’ as number of injuries involving kids soared 15 times in UK Europe News Two killed in Kherson as Ukraine hits Russia's Black Sea naval base No Comment Colombia quake rescuers save woman after 36 hours trapped in rubble Europe News Europe readies for total solar eclipse- So, what will happen in the once-in-a-generation stellar spectacle? 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