In collaboration with artist collective Treepack, Veurne's station passageway underwent a striking metamorphosis in April 2024. What was once a gray, dull passageway has now been transformed into a true work of art, with a capital K. Inspired by famous locals and honorary citizens such as Paul Delvaux and Will Tura, the project aims to refresh the corridor and make it more attractive to travelers. No less than 150m2 offers the first introduction to the city of Veurne.
The project, whose slogan was "So much Veurne! - Exceptional Veurne!", provided plenty of inspiration for the artwork titled "Day Veurne." This transforms the stairwell in the station tunnel into a surreal scene where time seems to stand still. The work is an idiosyncratic interpretation of Belgian surrealism, with clear references to the city and its honorary citizens.
The artwork were designed on behalf of city of Veurne by artist collective Treepack. They collaborated with Belgian artist Sam Billen and street art collective Treepack.
The first part of the design shows a saxophonist, strongly associated with Willem Vermandere, and a painting of a skeleton, a nod to the famous works of Paul Delvaux. In the background is Veurne's market square with the town hall, belfry and church.
In the second part, we see Helena. Helena is holding an autographed record sleeve by Will Tura. The man turning back the clock refers to the song "If he could turn back time" by Will Tura and again emphasizes the relativity of time as in Delvaux's paintings. In the background is St. Nicholas Tower.
Alderman for Culture and Tourism, Jonas Bel reacts proudly: "The station is often seen as the entrance and/or exit gate of a city. With this gigantic work of art, we allow incoming travelers to already show what they can expect and departing travelers can once again summarize everything they were allowed to discover. A true gem!"
The mural of no less than 150m² reflects the joint effort of the city of Veurne and artist collective Treepack to improve both the accessibility of the station and its surroundings. It invites visitors to enjoy the city and acts as a welcoming monument for all travelers. Moreover, it contributes to Veurne their vision for a vibrant and welcoming city.
