Created for Walls of BoHo 2025, discover the full map here

In the 2025 edition of Walls of BoHo, Nils Westergard painted a striking black-and-white mural in Borgerhout that embodies this year’s theme of 'connection'. Known for his hyperrealist-surrealist style and intricate stencil work, Westergard chose to focus on hands—symbols of touch, solidarity, and exchange.

The mural depicts three hands reaching toward one another: the hand of the mayor, extended in civic presence; the hand of the building’s owner, who also runs the local business El Chiko and welcomed the project with openness; and the hand of a young girl, captured in a moment of wonder as she watches another artist at work. Together, they form a triangle of connection between politics, community, and the next generation.

Although Westergard works exclusively in black and white, he emphasizes the universality of this palette: “Even though I only work with black and white, I can still represent all shades. This way, all the different skin tones are connected to the same color.” By stripping away color, he reveals the shared humanity beneath diversity, turning Borgerhout’s walls into mirrors of inclusion.

This mural is more than an aesthetic gesture—it is a ritual of belonging, painted in stark tones that paradoxically reveal infinite shades. It reflects Walls of BoHo’s mission to transform the neighborhood into a living gallery where art is both intimate and collective, rooted in local identity yet resonating far beyond Antwerp.