Zenith

<div><br>Zenith created ‘Humain’ in his hometown Antwerp, in 24 hours he painted a huge hand on a blind wall (50 meters high) of the Provincial Institute for Hygiene in the Kronenburgstraat, where covid-tests from all over the province are analyzed.</div><div><br>“It’s called ‘Humain’ because people are central. In the past period we have noticed that we especially need each. The word “humain” also includes the word “main” or hand in French “</div><div><br>“I chose a hand because first of all it means connection. We are hands on each other. Although we shouldn’t be doing that now, ”he continues. Secondly, it is a reference to the Antwerp myth of Brabo that cuts off Antigoon’s hand. Antigoon repressed Antwerp. Third, it refers to our colonial past. Belgians have cut off the hands of oppressed people in our colonial past. ”</div><div><br>“I deliberately did not make offensive work,” says Schoenaerts. “I don’t want to attack or blame anyone, but it can help to have a conversation about that past</div>

Humain

Does

Zenk One

<div>BEYOUTIFUL:
<br>across the iconic MAS museum you'll find this collaboration on some old brick wall. Don't misread, the quote in the middle says 'beYOUtiful', letting people look for their inner glow instead of finding fake beauty on social media....
<br>If you look up you'll see a double portrait of "Gert &amp; James" who run a popular talkshow from a boat nearby, see if you can spot the "Evanna" somewhere ;-)</div>

Beyoutiful

Defo

<div>Surface cracks and deep scars. Tangible pangs: Our world is riddled with them. It hints at breaking, splitting, snapping, but this giant rock never caves to its torment. This is an homage to our home and the infinite stone it’s yielded us. I’ve photographed these so-called defects all over the world, then magnified and painted them somewhere else on the planet. This is a form of gratitude, announcing there’s glory in imperfection, triumph in pain and echoed connections everywhere.<br>The third wall in the series represents the light in the darkness, the transformation of pain into power and the mirroring nature of opposites.<br>It was a pleasure and an honour to work with the OG and style legend from the legendary BCP crew from Brussels @defomanone . Integrity, loyalty, commitment and passion is what you embody. Always feel blessed to work with people who walk the walk.</div>

Fissures & Flaws III

<div>Muur werd voorzien van isolatie waardoor mural verdween in maart 2023</div>

No pressure no diamonds

Steve Locatelli

<div>"&nbsp;Fissures and flaws. Surface cracks and deep scars. Tangible pangs: Our world is riddled with them. It hints at breaking, splitting, snapping, but this giant rock never caves to its torment. This is an homage to our home and the infinite stone it’s yielded us. "<br>Zenith photographed these so-called defects all over the world, then magnified and painted them somewhere else on the planet. This is a form of gratitude, announcing there’s glory in imperfection, triumph in pain and echoed connections everywhere.<br><br>Corona has rocked our core and proven our frailty again....death is all around.... hence the skull you can detect through the cracks. It’s a colorful one though.... representing the hope that the suffered losses inspire us to reflect on how we lived and how to grow from this.<br><br>One love to all the health workers around the world putting their life on the line to save others. The green on the wall is for you, it symbolises your work garment</div>

Fissures & Flaws

Staynice

Zenkone

<div>Zenith and co came back to this spot and left some fresh colors over their own 'Lovers/haters' work from way back.<br><br>(July 2017)</div>

Know your worth

Chase

Bue the warrior

<div>The iconic trio Buck returned to Antwerp after years. All 3 live most of the time abroad: Chase in Los Angeles, Bué in Mexico and Zenith travels most of the time, but the district of Berchem with their newly appointed alderman of street art Kris Gysels invited them.<br><br>They painted this collab: Open your mind before your mouth in one week.<br>Why exactly this text? “Because nowadays people say their thoughts too often before they have thought. There is a lot of virtue signaling (when someone gives his opinion about something to show his moral superiority, ed.) And parochial thinking, certainly in Flanders, "says Chase, who does not reveal his birth name.&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;<br>"We have already made this work as 'Buck' in Sherman Oaks in Los Angeles (where Chase has been living for almost 25 years, ed.) And thought it was great to do it together again." The three friends see each other not so often anymore: Bué lives in Mexico with his family, Schoenaerts is the only one who still lives in Antwerp, but is busy with his international acting career.<br><br>TIP: the work is best visible from the Posthofbrug nearby</div>

Open your mind before your mouth

Rizon

Old school

Lovers/Haters (GONE)

Think outside the box (2017)

<div>If you enter 'Costa' a local meeting point for young and old (free restrooms yes!), you can find one of Zenith's oldest pieces in the back. Notice the colors still pop of this old "neon style" painting. Zenith grew up in this neighborhood, but most of his work has disapeared.</div>

Neon 

<div>Covid put a stop to 'light, camera, action', so Matthias Schoenaerts returned to his old passion and spray cans. After the top actor previously painted a stylized “Think Outside The Box” for The Crystal Ship, he now started working again in Ostend.
<br>
<br>Under the name Zenith he found inspiration in the cracks and problems in our society, but also in the colonial past and Leopold II. The cracks are also reflected in his other work in Antwerp and Paris. Did you know that Matthias Schoenaerts has been painting walls since he was a teenager? It took him all the way to Paris and New York.
<br>
<br>He painted a decapitated horseman very similar to the statue of King Leopold, his blood-drenched legacy stirred in the footsteps of the BLM movement. The headless horseman symbolizes the fallen king.<br>---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br>Covid legt de camera’s stil, dus haalt Matthias Schoenaerts zijn oude passie en bijhorende spuitbussen weer boven. Nadat de topacteur eerder al een gestyleerde “Think Outside The Box” schilderde voor The Crystal Ship, ging hij nu opnieuw aan de slag in Oostende.</div><div><br>Onder de naam Zenith vond hij inspiratie in de barsten en problemen in onze maatschappij, maar ook in het koloniaal verleden en Leopold II. De barsten komen trouwens terug in zijn ander werk in Antwerpen en Parijs. Wist je trouwens dat Matthias Schoenaerts al sinds zijn tienerjaren muren beschildert? Het bracht hem helemaal tot in Parijs en New York.<br><br>Hij schilderde een onthoofde ruiter die erg lijkt op het standbeeld van Leopold, zijn bloedovergoten erfenis raaakte de gemoederen in navolging van de BLM beweging. De ruiter zonder hoofd symboliseert de gevallen koning.</div>

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