In Hasselt, Belgium on 26+27 April, the city will be given over to the festival devoted to new graphic design and creativity, Beyonderground. Helsinki-based artist Janine Rewell has already been busy working all week to create a mural at the event’s City Hall – which is just a taster of what will be happening in this ‘Graphic City’.

This weekend, visitors are invited to experience the rhythm of graphic design and art. Since early April, graphic artists have been using the city of Hasselt as a blank canvas, and now it is time for the artworks to be revealed. There are three routes around the city that will take people on a creative journey to 49 artistic hotspots, through converted vacant buildings and artist residences to witness the graphical installations.

The processes of creativity and the results thereof are to be honoured during Beyonderground, in the numerous exhibitions, discussions, workshops and talks. 

Just two aspects of the programme include Janine Rewell presenting her finished work on Friday 26 April (17:30), with illustrators Niklas Ekholm and Jungmyung Lee (Kokoro & Moi) performing an interactive performance on Saturday 27 April (12:00). Viewers can participate in the creation of the work which will be accompanied by improvised music inspired by the illustrations.

Burst of Nordic talent

Amongst the talented line-up is an abundance of Nordic creativity bursting forth into Belgium over the course of the two days, including:

Bureau Bruneau: the office of Ludvig Bruneau Rossow, a multidisciplinary designer based in Oslo.

BVD: design agency based in Stockholm.

Janine Rewell: Helsinki-based illustrator and graphic designer.

Kokori & Moi: Creative agency based in Helsinki founded by designers Teemu Suviala and Antti Hinkula.

Playtype: an online type foundry established by the Copenhagen-based design agency, e-type.

Some of these artists, we have already mentioned on this site through our collaborations with the Amsterdam-office of Agent Pekka and the Finnish Cultural Institute for the Benelux (a partner organisation for the event), as well as when we shared our love for Nordic illustration in the fantastic Wrap magazine. And of the others, we are pleased to make your acquaintance! Maybe see you at the weekend for a chat over some Belgian fries?

There are still tickets available for the event, along with more information, from the Beyonderground website.

Image: Janine Rewell © Agent Pekka