Mexican modern folkloric muralist Spaik participated in the Bloop Festival in Ibiza during the month long proactive music festival that is now in its fifth year. With a general ethos that “Art is for Everybody”, Bloop invites a number of artists each year to create works all over this town that for two decades has gained the international reputation as a party place with superstar djs, natural beauty, and sun-soaked hedonism.
Spaik at work on “Nochixtlan” for Le Mur. Paris, France. July 2016. (photo © Pierre Lecaroz)
So it is interesting that this year’s theme is “No Fear”, and the festivals’ manifesto points to cross-cultural scourges of relentless cell phone addiction, job insecurity, and unrealistic body types portrayed in fashion advertising . Looks like the honeymoon for pleasure-seekers is over.
Spaik “Nochixtlan” for Le Mur. Paris, France. July 2016. (photo © Pierre Lecaroz)
Spaik interpreted the “No Fear” theme with the same symbol of a massive colorful eagle that he used the previous month at Le Mur in Paris. Known for its association on the Mexican flag perched on a cactus with a serpent in its mouth, here in Ibiza the eagle flies freely through a tunnel in this country that Mexico declared independence from in 1821.
Interestingly, Spaik depicts a slightly more political eagle in Paris at the famously curated wall with references to the PEN party, the state of Oaxaca, and a small little rat with a Mexican sash – looking rather fearful. So we are not sure if “No Fear” can extend around the world, as hopeful as the Bloop festival manifesto may be, but Spaik definitely has created two impressive works that would please many in the Mexican mural-making tradition that addresses social and political issues.
Spaik “Nochixtlan” for Le Mur. Paris, France. July 2016. (photo © Pierre Lecaroz)
Spaik “Nochixtlan” for Le Mur. Paris, France. July 2016. (photo © Pierre Lecaroz)
Spaik at work on“Flying Eagle” for Bloop Festival. Ibiza, Spain. July 2016. (photo © Spaik)
No fear, bro. Spaik “Flying Eagle” for Bloop Festival. Ibiza, Spain. July 2016. (photo © Spaik)
Other Articles You May Like from BSA:
For the ninth straight year, BSA will bring Nuart to our readers – artists, academics, collectors, instructors, curators, fanboys/girls, photographers, organizers, all. Not sure who else has been cove...
The scale! The hand coloring! The reclaimed cabinetry! Brooklyn Native Swoon has been, for weeks, laboring in London in preparation for her solo show "Murmuration", which opens today at Black Rat Proj...
A paper published last autumn by HEC Paris and Columbia Business School finds that artists are more likely to be professionally successful if they network widely - and that their innate talent as...
Urban exploring and sustainable art-making are not such strange relations in this new project by Gilf! and BAMN, two of the new socially conscious breed of Street Artists we continue to see. Known for...
Our weekly focus on the moving image and art in the streets. And other oddities. Now screening : 1. Back to Skool with Professor Sofles BSA Special Feature: Back to Skool with Professor So...