She’s a concept-driven creative with a thing for movement and mood. He’s a photographer with a skater’s eye and a fine-art soul. Together, Johana Vee and Daniil Lavrovski live in Brussels and are active in its vibrant creative scene. Daniil grew up in Bruges but moved to Brussels for a change of pace…and for love. Rooted in skate culture, his work reflects that energy. Johana is a concept and visual creative focused on digital campaigns, a model and a lover of dance and performance arts. Sometimes they create solo, sometimes together—always inspired by the city’s pulse. We caught up with them to talk skate culture, underground scenes, The Standard, Brussels opening and what makes Brussels constantly surprising.
Johana: It’s a city blooming with culture at almost every corner. It might look a bit chaotic or rough on the outside—just like most big capital cities. But once you look past the chaos, you learn to embrace all the elements this place has to offer. From cafés, bars, parties, vintage stores, flea markets and the infinite communities that keep shaping Brussels culture… it really comes down to a magical place with something for everyone, no matter how niche your interests might be.
Daniil: It’s a city that embraces imperfection, and there’s so much character in that. The city breathes authenticity and is full of people beyond imagination. It’s raw, unpolished and comes as it is. It’s one of those cities where you can keep bumping into new gems.
Johana: Just when it feels like I’ve seen it all, I end up discovering a whole new scene in the city. That’s still true after a decade of living here. Pay close attention to the people, ask questions, listen to their stories and stay open to new experiences. You’d be surprised where you can end up by staying genuine and creating real human connections in Brussels—I mean that in the most magical way possible.
Johana: Brussels has a truly vibrant underground culture in so many ways. It’s a city where you can find something for everyone. It’s super raw—you can be whoever you want to be. People don’t care how you look or where you come from, and that gives you a certain freedom to express yourself without fear. That’s also why so many artists live here.
Daniil: Living in Brussels made me realize how rich the underground culture really is. It’s hard to find a place this unfiltered.
Johana & Daniil: It means the North Quarter is waking up. What was once a neighborhood full of empty office spaces and passersby is becoming a new haven for people looking for a different vibe. The area is coming to life.
Johana & Daniil: The building’s design fits right into the big city energy of the North Quarter. Honestly, we can’t imagine a better neighborhood for it.
Daniil: From a photographer’s point of view, the North Quarter has always felt different. The tall buildings, reflections, shadows, people passing by—it’s always been a pleasure to observe and capture. Seeing a place like The Standard in the middle of it all just feels right.
Johana & Daniil: We actually do! The North Quarter played a part in the early stage of our relationship.
Daniil: On the other side of the water, at Allée du Kaai, there used to be a DIY cultural hotspot. It was a repurposed warehouse complex that housed several cultural organizations, a DIY skatepark and other initiatives. They hosted parties, art workshops, performances and more.
Johana: We used to meet up there to hang out with friends and skate while we were still getting to know each other. A little later, at that same spot, I ended up accidentally crashing a stick-and-poke workshop. The class was missing a teacher, and coincidentally the friend I was with happened to be a stick-and-poke artist. Long story short, that’s how I got my first tattoo.
Daniil: It’s a shame the place got demolished, but thankfully it made way for a new, big skatepark that will be enjoyed by generations to come.
Daniil: It’s made me look at my surroundings differently. There’s so much inspiration in how unpolished things are. My photography style has shifted with the city—I’ve embraced the imperfections. But the disorder also made it more important to keep my work and life structured.
Johana: The city has introduced me to so many communities I didn’t know much about before. Artists, ravers, skaters, queer folks… there are so many bold characters. Being exposed to them taught me a lot about identity, self-expression, confidence, self-love and liberation. Those are things I try to bring into every creative process.
Daniil: For me, there are two elements: one that attracts me visually and one that sparks curiosity. I’m naturally drawn to light and shadow, but Brussels has so much more to offer. If you really look—really look—there’s so much happening at once. So many different kinds of people, and they all have stories to tell. Sometimes it’s heartbreaking, other times it makes you laugh. There’s always something.
Johana: Definitely the people and their style. There’s nothing more striking than walking through the city and seeing someone in a great outfit, totally owning it. Sometimes I’ll see someone wearing something I’d never think to try myself, but they make it look amazing—and suddenly I see the beauty in it. People can be so inspiring.
