Behind the scenes photo taken by Philippe Renette while Liège artist Nico Hyer is working with spray paint making the street art mural ‘Simon’ in the garden of the S2J School Center in Liège, Belgium, Oct 2024.
English – 🇬🇧 Street Art Simon — Episode #6 of Miracles Docs — captures the emotional unveiling of a mural created by artist HYER honoring Holocaust survivor Simon Gronowski at the S2J School Center in Liège, Belgium. Through Simon’s testimony and message of hope, the film celebrates resilience, remembrance, and the enduring beauty of life.
Français – 🇫🇷 Street Art Simon — épisode #6 de la série Miracles Docs — retrace l’émouvante inauguration d’une fresque murale réalisée par l’artiste HYER en hommage au survivant de la Shoah Simon Gronowski, au Centre Scolaire S2J de Liège. À travers le témoignage de Simon et son message d’espérance, le film célèbre la résilience, la mémoire et la beauté de la vie.
Intro
Unveiling of the street art mural created by HYER , a tribute depicting the story and credo of Simon Gronowski, in the Garden of Remembrance and Memory of the S2J School Center in Liège, Belgium, on Saturday, May 17, 2025.
Saturday 17 May 2025, Simon Gronowski arrives at the Station Liège-Guillemins — invited for a surprise event at the S2J School Center in Liège, Belgium.
Surprise
After climbing the stairs to S2J school’s hanging garden, Simon has his first encounter with this street art mural on the S2J school’s garden wall, and with the Liège artist HYER.
Inauguration
In her opening speech Antonia Hicter (Principal, S2J School Center) recounted on the history, rationale, and team of this mural project, and the memorial work — the duty of remembrance at S2J .
Next, Philippe Renette (Teacher, S2J School Center) described Simon Gronowski’s impact on the school, the students, and the teachers during Simon’s regular school visits over the past 12 years. Philippe Renette further explained how this inauguration of the mural also marked the first step in the development of S2J’s ‘Jardin du Souvenir et de la Mémoire’—the Garden of Remembrance and Memory. Renette concluded by describing this work of art ‘that reads like a book, that is, from left to right, and that unfolds like a tracking shot in a movie’.
Simon Gronowski
Simon Gronowski in his speech focussed on the main points of his history and his message:
The Nazis killed my mother, my sister, in the gas chamber, at Auschwitz-Birkenau. And my father, died, just after the war, in July 1945, in despair.
And I myself, at 11 years old, the Gestapo took me, threw me into a prison, the Dossin barracks in Mechelen.
And after a month of internment, they deported me, in the 20th convoy, and by some miracle, I jumped off the train, and I escaped.
A miracle. I was 11 years old. … I do not bring today, nor previously… in this school and elsewhere… a message, of negativity, or sorrow.
I bring a message, of hope and happiness.
Never forget, life is beautiful.
But it’s a daily struggle. You have to fight every day. Because no one is sheltered from life’s trials.
Misfortune can happen to anyone. We can lose a loved one, in a road accident for example, or through illness. When it happens, when misfortune happens, you have to face it with courage.
I’m not saying I’m courageous, by the way, but I say this for everyone, one must overcome. Fidelity to the deceased person, is to live fully and happily.
And despite today’s tragic events. I keep my faith in the future , because I deeply believe , in human kindness…
Long Live Peace And Friendship Among Men !
Simon concluded – “to let off steam a little” – with two of his favourite pieces of music , playing on a keyboard.
Street Art Simon • Miracles Docs #6 • CC ⚙ 🇬🇧🇫🇷 • 20251012
Notes
Unveiling of the street art mural created by HYER, a tribute to Simon Gronowski in the Garden of Remembrance , S2J School Center (Jardin du Souvenir et de la Mémoire , Centre Scolaire S2J) , Liège, Belgium, Saturday 17 May 2025.
Thanks to Simon Gronowski, the S2J team, and especially former student Maxime Louis for his last minute helping hand with the keyboard.
Inauguration 19 February 2019 of the Espace Simon Gronowski — a tribute to Simon Gronowski — in the hanging garden of the S2J School Center in Liège , Belgium.
Speech by director Marc Belleflamme and Simon Gronowski in the special presence of Mr. Boonen from the Territoires de la Mémoire, and Ms. Verrekt (administrator) and Mr. Grosch (president) of the Board of Directors.
Film : Michel van der Burg (Miracles.Media) thanks to the S2J school community , in particular Philippe Renette (co-producer).
Simon Gronowski visiting Liège, Tuesday 19 november 2013 for a series of three testimonies that day at the Saint-Sépulcre school — now the S2J School Center.
Simon is holding the German newspaper Der Welt of Saturday 16th Nov 2013 featuring a portrait of him with Koenraad Tinel by Dieter Telemans in the article ‘Feinde wie wir’ (Enemies like us) by Felix Stephan.
Still of the short film featuring magical moments of that day, entitled Simon Stompin’ at the Saint Sépulcre, at the Miracles site.
Today , I have been working again on that video (produced in 2022), creating a transcription of the soundtrack (French) and an English translation for captions to add in the video.
That video I plan to use , together with the video I worked on yesterday for captions, in the context of a new documentary on the street art mural created by Hyer at the S2J School Center this year.
Simon Gronowski Space • Michel van der Burg • Miracles•Media • @1MEMO 20250831
#surprise #Espace #Simon #Gronowski #school #Liège #S2J #street #holocaust #war #education #miraclesmedia
Citation info : Enemies Like Us • Michel van der Burg • Miracles•Media • @1MEMO 20250901 • TakeNode 2423511f-03f4-4268-afe3-85aa533ec67a
Surprise for Simon Gronowski, when director Marc Belleflamme unveils a plaque, announcing the inauguration of the ESPACE Simon GRONOWSKI (Simon Gronowski Space) 19 Feb 2019 at the hanging gardens of the S2J School Center, Liège , Belgium.
Still of the video ESPACE Simon GRONOWSKI, I have been working again on today, creating a transcription and english translation for captions to add.
Notes
ESPACE Simon GRONOWSKI | 20190220 | French , with English subtitles*
Updates
* 20250831-2307 – Subtitles – French and English have now been added as captions in YouTube video – Click CC for captions.
Citation info : Simon Gronowski Space • Michel van der Burg • Miracles•Media • @1MEMO 20250831 • TakeNode dcbaecd1-2dfc-4f20-bd00-0d372e848a49
Unveiling of the mural created by HYER , depicting the story and credo of Simon Gronowski in the Garden of Remembrance of the S2J School Center (Centre Scolaire S2J) in Liège, Belgium, on Saturday, May 17, 2025.
Music video
Music video created with a tracking shot, and Simon Gronowski’s musical improvisation during the ceremony, by Michel van der Burg (Miracles•Media) in cooperation with Philippe Renette , co-producer , teacher at S2J School Center.
Credo
Moi, Je garde ma foi en l’avenir, car je crois moi profondement en la bonté humaine… Vive La Paix Et L’Amitié Entre Les Hommes !
I keep my faith in the future, because I deeply believe in human kindness… Long Live Peace And Friendship Among Men !
Simon’s Credo • Michel van der Burg • Miracles•Media • @1MEMO 20250518 • TakeNode f8a73334-ee85-4f13-810a-381863407115
Notes
Citation info : Simon’s Credo | Miracles Moment #4 | Miracles•Media | 20250521 | ISAN 0000-0007-36B4-0004-6-0000-0000-J | TakeNode 2c2513ca-9580-4098-993a-78573db1d6be
PEACE & LOVE … VIVE LA PAIX ET L’AMITIÉ ENTRE LES HOMMES …
Still of upcoming music video : Together watch this street art mural created by HYER , depicting the story of Simon Gronowski, unveiled in the presence of Simon Gronowski, who is playing his favorite song in the Garden of Remembrance, the school garden of the S2J School Center in Liège, Belgium, Saturday, May 17, 2025.
#miracles #credo #love #peace #music #premiere #mural #Simon #Gronowski #HYER #school #Liège #S2J #street #art #jazz #entartete #art #holocaust #war #education
Citation info : Simon’s Credo • Michel van der Burg • Miracles•Media • @1MEMO 20250518 • TakeNode f8a73334-ee85-4f13-810a-381863407115
