Although this mysterious man in a bowler hat has officially become the world’s largest surrealist work of art, many passers-by still ignore him every day as they cross Place Rogier. Spanning the 30 floors of the Cardo Hotel’s facade, René Magritte’s famous painting in XXL format has been watching over Brusselsfor over a year. This record-breaking installation, paying tribute to the partnership between the hotel and the Magritte Foundation, is just the first chapter in an open-air museum, transforming the Brussels landscape and redefining our view of the city.
A gigantic tribute to surrealism
Originally an oil on canvas created in 1964 by the famous Belgian painter René Magritte, “The Son of Man” has become a true symbol of surrealist painting over time . A symbol that, 60 years later, stretches across the 30 floors of the Cardo Hotel and covers the 4,000 m² of this vertiginous facade.
This tribute is a real technical feat on the part of the hotel, with the support of the city. The installation is based on sophisticated technology, invisible to the naked eye, allowing passers-by to admire the work in all its splendor, while preserving transparency for hotel guests.
© cardohotels.com
The choice of this iconic work also emphasizes the mysterious aspect of the artist and highlights the concept of “seeing without being seen,“ which was dear to Magritte. This surrealist paradox creates a link between passersby admiring the facade and hotel guests.
A living, open-air museum in the heart of Brussels
Beyond a unique visual feat, this project is part of a long-term partnership between the Brussels hotel and the Magritte Foundation.Indeed, the current work marks the beginning of an artistic series in the heart of the city. The 75 m x 55 m façade will be renewed every three years to welcome a new illustrious creation by the artist.
This new “living museum” transforms Place Rogier, a key location in the capital that marks the junction between the historic center and Brussels’ business district, into atrue space for urban and cultural expression. By installing surrealism on one of the city’s tallest buildings, Magritte’s work reaffirms more than ever Brussels’ identity as the world capital of this artistic heritage.