This personal work is about the city I was born, Charleroi. Also called « PAYS NOIR » in french or « BLACK COUNTRY » in english due to his mining history. This is the city where I'm actually studying Graphic design. It's history is quite impressive and famous for the coal industry.
This illustration was created by succession of layers and graduation of colors in a minimalist style, resulting in refined & squarrish forms. The compositions of the image are represented by city's emblems like Lucky Luck next to Queen Astrid Park or the marsupilami at Boulevard Gustier on north, some characters from famous cartoons drawn by city's studios. The blazon of the football club RCSC, the Charles II square and his fountains. But the greatest recognition of Charleroi still remains the mines and miners.
Known as « the ugliest city in the world » due to his industrial past, the changes in the town begin to be apparent. New face for the environment and we recently can start to contemplate the beauty of this particular landscape.
By strolling in Charleroi and its surroundings, you'll immediately notice many slag heaps that form the landscape of the « PAYS NOIR ». As you can see, I made a little reference in the title of the project.
Photos of Charleroi by Fabrice Marlier
