Imagine rails twisting and turning. They rise from the ground like dancers in steel. This is Calligraphie ferroviaire. It is a sculpture that celebrates the railway. It’s a tribute to its impact on Belgium.
Calligraphie ferroviaire was created in 2002. It was a collaboration between François Geeraerd and Daniel Steenhaut. The sculpture came about through a competition. Brussels Environment and the European Sculpture Foundation organized it. The goal was to revitalize an old railway line. This line in Woluwe-Saint-Lambert became a green promenade.
The artists used old railway tracks. They shaped them into something new. The tracks are bent and welded. They sit on oak beams. These beams rest on a ballast base. Calligraphie ferroviaire consists of two sections of rail. They face each other. The rails lift off the ground. They curve into the air. It’s like a flowing script. The curves meet. They form a couple joined by a hand.
Daniel Steenhaut’s website details the process. The old rails were shaped in Quaregnon-rivage. This was at the EAV workshops. The sculpture is 18 meters long. The artists wanted to humanize the rails. The rail is freed. Its curves amplify. The calligraphy becomes readable. From these curves, a man and a woman meet.
The sculpture highlights train travel. It shows how it connects people. Unlike car travel, trains foster encounters. Calligraphie ferroviaire speaks to mobility and the environment. It reminds us of the railway’s contribution.
Next time you are here take a closer look at Calligraphie ferroviaire. Notice the curves and bends. Think about the journey of the rails. Consider the connection between people and places. Calligraphie ferroviaire invites us to reflect. It’s about movement. It’s about relationships. It’s about the history beneath our feet.