What if every man you encountered was a crocodile? That’s the striking image of Les crocodiles – Krokodilen Mural. Here on Rue du Canon – Rue aux Choux stands a powerful piece of art. It makes you think about street harassment.
This mural is part of Brussels’ Comic Book Route. The route has over 50 mural paintings. Les crocodiles – Krokodilen Mural differs. It tackles a very real social issue.
The artwork replaces men with crocodiles in various scenes. These crocodiles represent potential predators. The mural illustrates sexism. It highlights harassment women face daily.
Thomas Mathieu created the Crocodile project. He was inspired by Sophie Peeters’ film “Femme de la rue”. He also saw initiatives like Paye ta shnek and Hollaback. In 2013, Mathieu started a blog. It was called “Le projet crocodile”. People shared their stories of street harassment. He illustrated these experiences. The drawings were black and white. Only the crocodile men had color.
Mathieu drew inspiration from Chantal Montellier’s comic “Odile et les crocodiles”. In it, men are crocodiles. They attack a woman.
In 2014, Mathieu released an album called “Les crocodiles”. Later in 2019, he worked with Juliette Boutant. Together, they created “Les crocodiles sont toujours là”. It is about sexist and sexual harassment. The book divides stories into five parts. They cover public spaces and the police. Other parts include work, home, and gynecological violence.
The album is for those 15 and older. It contains very violent stories. The authors want readers to empathize with victims.
The Crocodile project became popular. It also faced criticism. One exhibit in Toulouse was canceled. City officials found the content vulgar and immoral. Some people said Mathieu was not the right person. They thought he was profiting off women’s stories. Mathieu said he was even accused of using the project to attract women.
The crocodile men sparked debate. Mathieu responded by saying not all men are crocodiles. Not all crocodiles are mean but harassment is common. Sexism affects everyone.
He and Boutant explained on their website. It is about sexism between men and women. These stories are not rare. They show a societal problem.
Arnaud Pinxteren inaugurated the mural. He said it is more than art. It has a social mission. This mural adds to the Comic Book Route. It shows how art can fight injustice. It speaks against daily attacks on women.
Les crocodiles – Krokodilen Mural is more than a picture. It’s a statement. It’s a call for change. It uses comic art. It confronts tough issues. Take a moment to reflect on its message. Consider its impact on our society.