During an artist residency in Turnhout, my sister Meie and I discovered a long garage wall covered in graffiti tags. A Belgian friend told us about Margriet Hermans and how much she meant to the city. Although we did not know her work beforehand, the stories about her warmth, humour and remarkable career immediately inspired us to create this colourful tribute.
The mural captures Margriet with her unmistakable, joyful smile. A vintage radio refers to her career in music and broadcasting, while the vibrant colours celebrate the energy she brought to so many people. The words “Voor altijd in ons hartje” were inspired by a local resident who stopped while we were painting and spoke about Margriet with genuine affection.
What started as a spontaneous, self-initiated mural quickly became a shared neighbourhood moment. Passers-by stopped to talk, encourage us and even bring us drinks and biscuits. Created voluntarily with support from Make Street Art Great Again, the mural transformed an ordinary row of garage walls into a lasting public tribute to a much-loved Turnhout icon.
