After training as a breakdancer from childhood, Brussels-based Mohamed Toukabri turned to contemporary dance. Today, this dancer and choreographer from Tunis is paying a final tribute to hip-hop culture and its relationship with the public sphere, as part of a dialogue with graphic artist Eyes-B. Urban dance allows ostracised individuals of all ages to create their own space in which to flourish and defend their visibility and expression. In addition to B-boying, this performance focuses on graffiti, another pillar of street art that seeps into our day-to-day lives, often in unconsciously. Whether on city walls, in train stations or on trains, we always see these inscriptions, though we cannot always decipher their meaning. Mohamed Toukabri introduces us to this rich and inspiring culture by simply allowing his unique life story to speak for itself.

Moving Self-Portrait 

Mohamed Toukabri + Eyes-B

Gare des Guillemins

Dancer Mohamed Toukabri and graphic artist Eyes-B will meet you in their alternative photo booth at Liège-Guillemins train station. They invite you to create your own moving self-portrait, a depiction of you that contrasts with the static, neutral nature of a snapshot. You’ll be able to slip into the shoes of a graphic artist and a hip-hop dancer, by combining your body with your choice of rap music, lighting, a camera with long exposure, the light painting technique, a torch used as a spray-paint can and a wall that serves as a space for dancing and writing or drawing your image. When you bring it home, this unique picture will remind you that it’s not appearance that matters, but self-expression!