Mixed media collage. Series of 3: The Holy Family, The Shepherds and The Kings. 

Just as Ensor or Breughel used reinterpreted bible scenes to depict daily life and their intimate surroundings, François created a triptych of the Nativity scene in his beloved Brussels.

Using his trademark analogue and hand-cut collage technique, he combined black and white studio photography and a colour photo taken on site. To accentuate the disparity of the scene, and add a hint of surrealism, François coloured the sky red, leaving the viewer with the question: is this real?

This series is a link between the city and its citizens, connecting stories of the past and contemporary life. The first image references The Holy Family. Standing in front of the “Petit Chateau”, a reception centre for political refugees, the image creates a clear parallel with Mary, Joseph and the infant Jesus fleeing to escape persecution. They would find sanctuary here in a contemporary retelling. The second image represents The Shepherds seen in front of the Farm in Park Maximilien, a tiny rural farm in Brussels’ city centre. In the third image, The Kings are seen standing in front of the Great Mosque of Brussels. They are described as coming from the east, which nowadays is equivalent to a large part of the Middle East, hence the choice of the Mosque.