"Ons heil, ons leven en onze verrijzenis"... that's what the inscriptions on the walls of the Gasthuiskapel in Aarschot say. The chapel was built in 1905 for the 'Grauwzusters' or Franciscan sisters that ran a hospital there from the 17th century on, and was designed by Pieter Langerock. The nine neogothic windows in stained glass were realised by Gustave Landon from Ghent. Now this chapel is the heavenly home of cultural events of all kinds, and recently of a lingerie photoshoot featuring Anna, a promising angel from the Netherlands.

... vang je de maan voor mij", goes a song by Wim De Craene, called "Breek uit jezelf". Shanghai indeed unveiled itself as a city of wonders. The robust historical heritage of the colonial buildings on the Bund, the modern architectural stunts by the side of the Huangpu river in Pudong, the crowded streets and the marvels of the Shanghai World Expo 2010... they all added up to a marvellous experience. And although we didn't break out of ourselves after this week in Beijing and Shanghai organised by LivingStone Gateways, we absolutely understood much better ourselves and the things that bind us to all beings on earth, whether they be Chinese, European or Inuit. Well, let's say: to almost all beings ;o) 

Last saturday promised to be a cloudy and even stormy day, but when I gathered Pauline for a spring shoot in the park, prospects turned good. The" Groot Park" in Lovenjoel, in the valley of the Molenbeek, once was the playground of the noble family de Spoelberch. The last descendants of this dynasty, Jan de Spoelberch (1766-1838) and Maximiliaan de Spoelberch (1802-1873) shared a real passion for dendrology, and planted a number of rare trees. In the Salve Mater park (that also houses a now derelict psychiatric institution) you'll still find unique oaks, cypresses, lime trees, ashes, beech trees, zelkova and a magnolia grandiflora... but the rarest beauty that day of course was Pauline. Wheather even permitted us to make a short trip to Brussels, where her radiant beauty shone through the lanes of the "Park of Brussels" and on the Baron Horta Fountain.

"Grau, theurer Freund, ist alle Theorie,
Und grün des Lebens goldner Baum."
(Goethe, Urfaust)
Faust, despairing at the vanity of scientific, humanitarian and religious learning, turns to magic for the showering of infinite knowledge. He suspects, however, that his attempts are failing. Faust makes an arrangement with the devil: the devil will do everything that Faust wants while he is here on Earth, and in exchange Faust will serve the devil in Hell. Faust has a few excursions and then meets Margaret (also known as Gretchen). He is attracted to her and with jewelry, the devil draws Gretchen into Faust's arms...
Meet Cindy F and Johan Bos in a few pictures reminding of Goethes story... photographed in the Castle de Renesse in Oostmalle, Antwerp.