BUTTERFLY

Last year I joined British artist Nick Walker on a special mission, as he wanted to  develop his vandal series with a Paris focus.  From accompanying him on Paris rooftops to get some inspiration, to following the different steps of the creative process, it’s been a very exciting journey and here are some behind the scene pics.

Full set of pics by Butterfly here

On June 23rd Nick Walker will be releasing The Morning After Paris print version, an edition of 150, available in person only at Opera Gallery Paris.

TMA Paris printer proof by the artist.

The Morning After Paris – Print release
23 June 2012 at 2 pm
Opera Gallery Paris
356 Rue Saint-Honoré 75001 Paris, France.

For those outside of Paris, there will be a lottery in place.
Please email info@theartofnickwalker.com with ‘TMA Paris Lottery’ in the subject line to participate. Winners will be contacted shortly after the release.

Imagine an abandoned four storey supermarket in the North of Paris occupied by squatters, then deserted again. On August 12, 2010, French graffiti artists Lek (RAW crew) and Sowat (DMV) discovered the place much to their delight.

For a year, in the greatest of secrets, both artists continuously wandered in this 430,000 sq ft monument to paint murals and organize an illegal artistic residency. They invited forty French graffiti artists to collaborate, from the first to the last generation of the graffiti movement. Together they built a Mausolee, a temple dedicated to their disappearing underground culture. There’s always been a constant battle between street art and graffiti,  and this project clearly puts graffiti back on.

On 12 April Lek and Sowat will share their experience through an installation and video. Advance copies of the book documenting the entire visual process will also be available prior to the official release.

Due to the nature of the place, very few people have seen it in person. After crossing a train rack, going through a narrow corridor full of rubbish and climbing a 13 ft high metal gate with spikes, the access is by no mean easy. Traces of previous occupants are still visible: abandoned burnt cars, variety of objets scattered accross the four floors, as well as remains of the supermarket signage. Leveraging found material in-situ such as cling film, surreal installations and murals adorn the building.

Further pics here

More info on mausolee.net