Joe Ficalora and the Bushwick Collective crew took over the streets of Bushwick again this year to entertain the locals, the visitors, and everybody else with his annual block party. When you look at the variety and quality of murals produced on these streets regularly, you realize that it’s a splendid fusion that you rarely find in organized festivals.
Maybe it’s just us talking, but these artists are not usually hamstrung by organizers’ dictates or those of advertisers – they just let their imaginations go. Yes, there are still beefs, and there are battles between styles and histories and all the baggage that writers and artists carry. But in general, this is a somewhat mediated part of street culture, with an opportunity for you to shine if you have the skillz.
We published a handful of the completed walls on BSA HERE; now we bring you the rest…
Give up on who they are? This new woman is Athena, the Greek goddess of war and civilization, merged with Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom and the arts. Of course. Now you see it. And the faithful lush and furry wolf/German Shepard at her hand, who points his ears forward and ready to rip out the neck of his prey? He is similarly treated with Uriginals’ deconstruction of the portrait – organic forms sheared by geometric ones, blinking and winking at you, clapping and spinning, commanding the powers of nature, their fractal-formed facades as mysterious as it is forward.
With its free sampling across cultures and significance, a nervous twitching of screen-jumping eye candy and associations, it’s a brilliant reclaiming of the classics on this 138-square meter wall for a real estate company client. This is not fashion; its art – this is full-on gamer goddess of power – fed through a few filters. The kids are going to love this one.
When we consider the role of the citizen in society, the interdependence of every participant eventually comes into play. It determines what direction we go, despite what your neighborhood anarchist might have you think.
Similarly, as one is studying the numerous elements at play in the natural world, the dynamics of interdependence among all the actors is even more apparent and evident. The whole is only possible by collaboration, and the result is often spectacular – perhaps because trees don’t have egos. Or do they?
Study this new illustration-style ecosystem by artists Fabio Petani and Luogo Comune (Jacopo Ghisoni) in Turin, and you’ll think about the showy prowess of the tree during all the seasons and the industrial guile of the insects that are always at work. Not to anthropomorphize too much, but the natural world seems full of characters – like the people you see on city streets. It is an ecosystem formed from need, often mutual.
“Plants need insects, just as insects need plants to be able to feed, find shelter and reproduce,” the artists say in a statement – and they explain that the collaborative process of painting together is an additional layer to the story.
“This theme is further explored from the formal point of view by the artists who have worked in synergy, creating a composition where the two styles mix, interact and compensate each other.”
On the Campus Einaudi and working with the ToNite Project, Petani and Comune say that their compositional interpretation is entirely considered and pertinent to the ecosystem as an interaction between plants and insects. “Here, insects play a non-secondary role compared to the plants represented and are juxtaposed in the composition as necessary otherness for the flora.”
Just for fun, here’s a list of the artists we brought to that first auction in April 2008 – any of them sound familiar? Anera, Armsrock, Borf, Celso, C.Damage, DAIN, Dark Clouds, Deeks, DiRQuo, Elbowtoe, ELC, Fauxreel, Flower Face Killah, Gaia, GoreB, Haculla, Infinity, Judith Supine, Jp, McMutt, MOMO, Noah Sparkes, Royce Bannon, Skewville, Swoon, Dan Witz, and WK Interact.
How many of these names are still in the game? Some have faded, some have accelerated, and there are many new names bandied about on New York streets; It’s a constantly changing tableau.
Here’s our weekly interview with the street, this week featuring: Matt Siren, City Kitty, Hijack, Li-Hill, Raddington Falls, Rose Cory, HOACS, Voxx Romana, Jet, Nite Owl, HEFS, and HAVOC.
“Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before.” … The Raven. Edgar Allan Poe
Artist Rich Thorne aka Richt is lucky to be from a UNESCO world heritage site. A river port town of 25,000, his hometown of Barnstaple in North Devon, England has a “biosphere status”; a category reserved for places of great natural beauty.
So it made perfect sense when the multidisciplinary artist who is now based in Bristol, UK was chosen to create the first mural in the town. With a background in commercial, corporate, and individual art projects in illustration, painting, toy design, and animation, he has a well-developed sense for what audiences like. He also has up-close familiarity with the UK graffiti scene in the early 2000s.
This month Richt is participating in the new exhibition opening at Urban Nation in Berlin, another city to add to his list of public art projects and commissions in Barcelona, Amsterdam and London. For today, we are showcasing this new public art mural for his hometown in Barnstaple.
“Returning to my home town to engage young people through art feels very significant to me,” he says, adding that he hopes the new mural can bridge a local conversation on the value of art to inspire positive action. Judging from the workshop he did with local kids to practice their graffiti tags, Richt is also part of that positive inspiration.
Our weekly focus on the moving image and art in the streets. And other oddities.
Now screening: 1. MuralFest Kosovo 2022 2. PichiAvo in Linz, Austria 3. Graffiti TV 103: Ler2
BSA Special Feature: MuralFest Kosovo 2022
Doug Gillen’s register has dropped to something deeper in this new video at the Kosovo 2022 MuralFest that he does for his brand FifthWall TV. As ever, he seeks to connect you with the people who are working to engage their city with art in the streets. Adopting the theme “Offline” – the same as the 2018 Moscow Artmossphere International Urban Art Festival that we co-curated – the MuralFest artists are reconsidering life and community in a way that is free from the electronic platforms we have all been communicating on. It makes sense because art in the streets began here with the people and with the city.
MuralFest Kosovo 2022 via FithWall TV
PichiAvo in Linz, Austria
A quick soundless timelapse of the PichiAvo magicians doing their mural at Promenade Galerien in Linz in Austria.
Graffiti TV 103: Ler2
This episode of Graff TV features graffiti writer Ler2!
There is a discernible difference between mural festivals created as commercial endeavors and those led by artists, like the Murart 22 in Ontiyent in Spain. It captures the city’s light and the alignment with the culture. Here we see Sebas Velasco musing over a local waitress whom he and photographer Jose Delou met over a meal one night in this city.
A perfect figure to represent the night glow on the outskirts of Ontiyent, Claudia is cast in the cooler tone of industrial neighborhoods, the warmth vanished under this street lighting. Known for his unique portraits, Sebas reveals her delicate features under the hum of cool gas station lights. The compelling result is balanced and elegant, well within its element.
We’re looking forward to more thoughtful work from Murart 22 with artists Mantra, Marina Capdevilla, Lidia Cao and DULK.
“ROBERT PROCH – SKETCHES” : a collection of all the preserved drawings and sketches created by the artist in the years 2003-2018.
We had the opportunity to hang around with artist Robert Proch in 2015 at the No Limit festival in Boras, Sweden. Unassuming and bright, the artist was creating a painting on a massive wall that seemed to us to be insurmountable. He excitedly and with great ease jumped on the cherry picker and dove into the explosion he had sketched – pouring color and gesture into his futurist composition, bending and twisting the axis, capturing the flying energy and elements that appeared to jump off toward the viewer.
Later at dinner in a private home, it was a pleasure to speak with him. A warm, polite, and thoughtful guy – you would not necessarily know that his internal art view was so expansive, except to see his darting eyes perhaps, which didn’t appear to miss anything.
Robert Proch. “Sketches 2003-2018”. Robert Proch Foundation. (photo courtesy of the Robert Proch Foundation)
Taken from us all too soon, Proch already had made such an impression artistically in the street art/mural art/fine art worlds as someone who had a true talent and a drive to go where he wanted to. In light of this, we’re pleased to see this new collection of his sketches published by his family and friends, with all proceeds going to the Robert Foundation. We agree with them when the family says, “Let Robert’s art not be forgotten and keep bringing us happiness and joy.”
“The publication contains over 600 works, which were the starting point for the creation of paintings, murals, and animations. Arranged chronologically, they show the artistic evolution of Robert Proch and make it possible to distinguish periods that shape his work. All works are presented in their original format and colors, faithfully reflecting the uniqueness and style of Proch’s work.”
We’re pleased to share this book with the BSA family and are glad that we can help Robert’s family and foundation to bring his work to an appreciative audience.
Robert Proch. “Sketches 2003-2018”. Robert Proch Foundation. (photo courtesy of the Robert Proch Foundation)Robert Proch. “Sketches 2003-2018”. Robert Proch Foundation. (photo courtesy of the Robert Proch Foundation)Robert Proch. “Sketches 2003-2018”. Robert Proch Foundation. (photo courtesy of the Robert Proch Foundation)Robert Proch. “Sketches 2003-2018”. Robert Proch Foundation. (photo courtesy of the Robert Proch Foundation)Robert Proch. “Sketches 2003-2018”. Robert Proch Foundation. (photo courtesy of the Robert Proch Foundation)Robert Proch. “Sketches 2003-2018”. Robert Proch Foundation. (photo courtesy of the Robert Proch Foundation)Robert Proch. “Sketches 2003-2018”. Robert Proch Foundation. (photo courtesy of the Robert Proch Foundation)
To coincide with world environment day the artist reveals ‘Transboundary Haze’.
“The main drivers of transboundary haze are man-made fires,” says street artist/fine artist Ernest Zacharevic in a statement about his new ‘Transboundary Haze’. “Palm oil and acacia, which are used for pulp and paper products, are burned. It results in a variety of ecological, economic and health effects.”
Leaving you to participate in this crossword in Malaysia, the street piece anticipates a rise in temperature along with the haze phenomenon this summer and demands that the topic be addressed during upcoming elections.
The Lithuanian artivist has used his talents to raise awareness of environmental issues previously and is hoping this new one will raise the level of awareness. “Living in Malaysia, the transboundary haze has become a natural part of life,” he says.”It’s a regular occurrence for many and from what I can see, it seems like people are just trying to learn to live with it rather than finding ways to prevent or solve it.”
“The government should enhance air quality governance, and strengthen the recognition of environmental rights,” says Greenpeace Malaysia campaigner Heng Kiah Chun, with whom Zacharevic worked on this new project. “Having a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment is a human right.”
Filipino wheat-paste street artist Brayan Barrios has been placing his work on the streets of Manilla since the 2000s and shares with BSA readers some of his recent work today. Illustrated in a hatched hand technique that may remind you of linotypes, Barrios creates one-off pieces that he places in doorways, on corrugated walls, abandoned lots and other marginal areas of the city. These are all his neighbors and he is documenting their lives.
An artist and activist, Barrios always has issues of social justice on his mind. He uses his posters to pay tribute to people in the community who inspire him, sharing a personal insight into the hardships of life and the character of the city. We asked him to tell us about his work on the streets and margins of Manilla.
BSA:The people whom you depict on your work are ordinary humans doing their work, resting or reading. Are these people whom you know personally. Did you ask them to pose for you? Brayan Barrios: Some of my subjects are people I know personally – like the woman with the sewing machine — a late community leader, and the child freeing a bird – whose mom is also a community leader. They are people I would regularly encounter during my volunteer work in Payatas, a community in Quezon City known to be the dump site and junk capital of the metro. Most of my subjects are studies from either photos I took or random sketches.
BSA: Could you please describe your technique for creating your work? BB: My ideas always come from the most common doings of the basic masses, especially the workers and peasants during my experience of interacting with them. I would brainstorm around such ideas and then draw them directly on what we call here a “Manila paper” which is somewhat similar with kraft paper and then paste them on the good spots where more people can see them.
BSA: By representing these individuals on the streets with your portraits of them are you giving them a place in society or celebrating their existence? BB: I chose these ordinary people from the grassroots sectors to celebrate their existence as a vital part of the society. In my recent works, subjects are reading books or newspapers to fight grave disinformation and an historic revisionism campaign perpetrated by the current and upcoming regime. I also love putting up images of working class like the one in the window, sipping coffee with the call to abolish Endo Contractualization on his shirt.
BSA: Are all the wheat-pastes in one city or do you travel the country to put art up elsewhere? BB: My recent works are around different cities in Metro Manila. But I would love for my artwork to be seen by people in more sitios, barangays, towns, or cities around the Philippines and beyond.
BSA:Your country just elected a new president. He’s from the same family that ruled the Philippines for many years. The outgoing president could be described as a tyrant. Do you use your art to express your disapproval of how politicians are handling the problems of your country? BB: Definitely. I take it as both a responsibility and an honor as an artist to use my work to expose and fight tyranny and all other forms of oppression, and most importantly, cherishing the people’s struggle.
A great beginning to summer with the Bushwick Collective Block Party this weekend – an enduring event that features ever larger hip hop names performing right on the street amidst a sea of street art and graffiti that still characterizes this Brooklyn neighborhood. Long gone are the naysayers and those who thought this international democratic people’s art movement was in the purview of a few tastemakers and gatekeepers. Joe showed that this form of creative expression was meant by the people to be for the people, and every year thousands traipse through to enjoy it.
Here’s our weekly interview with the street, this week featuring: Cycle, Faile, Lexi Bella, HOACS, Roachi, Duel, Trace, Zaone, Ligama, Carrasco, Minus, Foursome Crew, Feroz, Gerik Duenas, Rich Vagos, Loste, and HEFS.
Remember those paint-by-numbers kits that Mrs. Measley used to keep on the top shelf of her hallway closet next to a couple of handmade quilts and a moth-eaten cardigan? During the winter months, the lady who lived in the apartment upstairs used to have one on her kitchen table by the window for some lovely afternoon painting – filling in the appropriate shape with the color corresponding to the number printed inside the form. Somehow you knew what the picture was when she was finished, but it was easier to see if you stepped back a few feet and sort of blurred your vision.
You may want to use that skill when viewing the new Invader show in Brussels opening this month at MIMA, the Millennium Iconoclast Museum of Art. The French street artist is known for creating popular characters in the style of vintage 8-bit video games on walls in cities around the world. It is an early video game reference that is nostalgic for a particular age group of people who long for those simpler times before streaming surveillance and facial recognition.
A few years ago, the artist created his digital reference for his rounded square pointillism called Rubikcubism. Presented as a feat achieved by manipulating the popular kid’s toy from the 1980s, the artist recreates famous artworks and movie scenes as ‘canvases.’ The obliqueness of the image recognition also echoes the anonymity of the street artist, who steadfastly hides behind the Invader name after a few decades of illegal installations of tiles stuck high above the street.
With “Invader Rubikcubist” the museum is bracing for a hugely successful summer show with the exhibition featuring the first sculptures presented from the series and a few special new sections like Rubik Bad Men, devoted to the figure of the villain, and Rubik Masterpieces, an homage to masterpieces of art history.
Street art welcomes all manner of materials and methods, typically deployed without permission and without apology. This hand-formed wire piece …Read More »
BROOKLYN STREET ART LOVES YOU MORE EVERY DAY
