In the seaside resort of Ostend (West Flanders), various artists have been at work since the end of March as part of The Crystal Ship street art festival. During the Easter weekend, the celebrated Flemish actor Matthias Schoenaerts, who serves as curator, paid a visit to several artists at work.
Flemish superstar Matthias Schoenaerts visits artists at the 10th edition of Ostend’s The Crystal Ship street art festival
Colin Clapson
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Ostend’s The Crystal Ship street art festival is celebrating its 10th edition this year. In recent years, in each edition, an average of ten artists have been involved in creating new murals. But this year their number has risen to 22. Artists hail from both Belgium and abroad. They continue their work and can be seen at work at various locations around the city until 11 April.
“Ostend has a special relationship with painting,” says Schoenaerts. “Just think of James Ensor and Léon Spilliaert. Even Marvin Gaye lived here for a while. Ostend has something unique that you won’t find anywhere else. People also say this is the best-organised project artists have ever taken part in. This isn’t just any old charity project.”
During his tour of various artists, Schoenaerts struck up a conversation with Loomit, a living legend within the European graffiti scene. The artist has been one of the pioneers of graffiti in Germany since the 1980s. The two enjoyed a hot Belgian waffle together.
The grand opening celebrations for The Crystal Ship take place on Saturday 11 April. All the works must be completed by then. Visitors can follow routes past the new artworks, take part in various fun activities and enjoy a Gallery Night at various galleries across the port city. The day concludes with a Silent Disco Party in the Montmartre District in the Langestraat, famous across Belgium and beyond on account of its once particularly vibrant nightlife.