Synopsis

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.

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.

🎬 Street Art Simon
Miracles Docs #6 — A short documentary by Michel van der Burg | Miracles•Media
Co-production: Michel van der Burg (Miracles•Media, Netherlands) & Philippe Renette (S2J School Center, Liège, Belgium) Languages: French (original) — Subtitles: English 🇬🇧 & French 🇫🇷 Duration: 22 min
© 2025 Miracles•Media

Joyeux anniversaire - Happy 94th birthday this Sunday 12 October 2025 , Simon 🎈

News

Updates text (20251013) : minor corrections video subtitles (french, english closed captions), and post text

Citation info : Street Art Simon – CC | Miracles Docs #6 | Miracles•Media | 20251012 | ISAN 0000-0007-329C-0006-G-0000-0000-Q