SIMON COOLS FIERLAFIJN

"Ibéria: Le matin d’un jour de fête"

My work
I try to intuitively capture exceptional moments, spaces or atmospheres – both in documentary and fiction film. I draw inspiration from events, places, and phenomena that are hard to put into words – the intangible. I look for moments when my personal ideas resonate with the viewer. That shared recognition between creator and audience forms the foundation of my work.

This project
My creative process often starts with contrasts: it’s precisely the tension between opposites that leads to surprising insights and new layers of meaning. While visualising Le matin d’un jour de fête, I translated the light, festive tones into their opposite – a dark space. The music clearly evokes a joyful morning, but I was more intrigued by what might have happened the night before.

Anecdote
When I hit a creative block, I take a step back on purpose. I dive into unused footage, looking for hidden storylines I may have shelved earlier. Or I go out into the world to find new inspiration in places, people, or experiences that move me. The card set Oblique Strategies by Brian Eno and Peter Schmidt is a great help in that process!

Simon is a filmmaker trained at Sint Lukas, with Brussels as his creative home base.

ANNELIES JACOBS

“La Péri (Fanfare)” & transitions

My work
My work lives at the intersection of illustration and fine art. For me, drawing is a way to slow down – to pay close attention to subtle nuances in colour, shape and texture.

I’m fascinated by the richness of forms and colours found in nature, which is why I prefer drawing outdoors whenever the weather allows.

This project
After doing some research on Debussy, I started listening to the music, sketchbook in hand, and let my drawing flow intuitively. For each section, I chose a colour palette based on the mood: in the lively and upbeat parts, I saw bursts of green, red and orange quickly shifting; while in the more melancholic moments, everything took on shades of blue and purple.

Anecdote
In addition to nature, I often draw inspiration from literature and mythology. Before studying illustration, I studied languages and Western literature – a passion that continues to enrich my work as an illustrator to this day.

Annelies graduated a few years ago as an illustrator from Sint Lucas Antwerpen.

NOORTJE LENAERTS

“Gigues”

My work
I often find inspiration in my everyday surroundings, but just as much in architecture – and I love flipping through my collection of books. I always start a new project by jotting down and sketching initial ideas – anything goes, nothing is wrong. After that, I dive deeper into the subject, start refining and selecting, and gradually a clear direction begins to emerge that I can build on.

This project
Listening to the music triggered a flood of images and emotions: joy, chaos, calm – even a touch of fear. I sat in the sun with headphones on, pencil in hand, and played Gigues on repeat. Just listening and sketching without overthinking – the images came naturally.

Anecdote
On tough days, I try to get myself to work anyway – and often, something worthwhile still comes out of it. Doubt and uncertainty are part of my process. Taking breaks helps too: stepping back gives me a fresh perspective and new energy.

Noortje studied illustration at Sint Lucas Antwerpen and now works as a designer. In addition to commissioned work, she also creates personal projects, such as screen prints and animations.

RIK MAES

"Rondes de printemps"

My work
I make coloured pencil drawings, larger charcoal pieces, and more recently, oil pastels. For animations, I start with quick sketches to help shape the storyboard. I don’t work from beginning to end – it’s more like cutting and pasting until everything falls into place. It may seem a bit chaotic, but I’ve found that you only start to understand a film’s rhythm during the making process.

This project
The music has a touch of mystery, but also cheerful fragments. I immediately imagined scenes of nature and spring. While sketching, I wasn’t always sure what the images meant. But soon it became clear that a story was needed to tie everything together – the music demanded it. So I added my own interpretation.

Anecdote
I really do get inspiration from anything – from old NASA archives to random encounters in everyday life. What keeps fascinating me is placing the unknown in a familiar setting: that way, you can bring a fantastical world to an audience without drifting too far from reality.

Rik is from the Kempen and studied illustration at Sint Lucas Antwerp. He works extensively with animation, which he discovered as a way to bring his drawings to life.

AARON MÜLLER

“Ibéria: Par les rues et par les chemins”

My work
What I love most is creating worlds and characters that are hard to define. To spark ideas, I often use a kind of stream of consciousness. When I close my eyes and let my imagination run free, I almost always picture moving characters: walking, flying, roller-skating, driving a car… as long as there’s motion.

This project
The piece I visualised is Par les rues et par les chemins. Debussy was inspired by his impressions of southern Spain, but I happened to be on a ski trip – and I found the snowy mountain landscape and the elegance of certain skiers endlessly inspiring. So, for Debussy, my animation begins with a skier.

Anecdote
I had planned a trip to Málaga to find inspiration, but it got cancelled. That’s when I thought of one of the Debussy quotes we were given at the start of the project: “When one cannot afford to travel, imagination must take its place.” And I thought, “It doesn’t get more perfect than that.”

Aaron recently completed his Master’s in animated film at LUCA School of Arts in Brussels.

SOFIE VERMEIR

"Ibéria: Les parfums de la nuit"

My work
I’m most inspired by things I come across in everyday life. As a teenager, I once found a postcard with a print by Ando Hiroshige, and I completely fell in love with his use of colour – his work still inspires me to this day. When starting a new project, I first listen to the music on repeat and jot down everything that comes to mind. Then I look for colours and photos that help me build a visual story. From there, it’s a lot of trial and error!

This project
The first thing that came to mind was old Disney animations – the music feels like a journey through time. The part I animated, Parfums de la nuit, gives me a warm, mysterious feeling. That’s exactly what I wanted to convey. I also played the music for my students, curious to hear how they would interpret it – and it sparked a fascinating classroom discussion.

Anecdote
I recently graduated as a teacher, so you’ll usually find me among the Brussels kids in Molenbeek. Alongside teaching, I work as an illustrator – and occasionally, I bake a cake or two.

Sofie graduated five years ago in animated film at RITCS.