Residents and their stories decorate public places in Mechelen
A series of portraits of ordinary citizens of Mechelen shows the diversity of the city and reveals touching stories
Making the city what it is
The portraits depict 16 different people, from long-time residents to newcomers to refugees who have made the city their home. They include, for instance, Harry (pictured), a blind piano tuner and archivist at VRT; Louis, who sees hope for the planet in sustainable agriculture; and Farida, a single mum who fled the war in Syria with her son.
“It’s all about Mechelaars who have a story and who live in the city,” said city councillor for diversity Gabriella De Francesco (Groen). “A city ismore than buildings and streets. It’s people, their stories and the places they inhabit that make the city what it is.”
Sometimes a photo features two people, such as Jan, 63, and Mamoun, 27, who formed an unlikely friendship in a café. “We could never imagine any of these stories by just looking at the photos,” De Francesco said. “Many of these are quite moving stories that not only show how diverse Mechelen’s population is but how beautiful their characters are.”
The portraits will be visible for six months, and a map of all the locations can be found online. All of the stories can also be found at the website or downloaded in one brochure. Cycle tours also launch next month.
Photo ©Lavinia Wouters/Stad Mechelen
