Street artist Fanakapan recently completed series of murals in the streets of East London. Using a shiny silver inflatable 3D style, the artist painted a silver balloon dog, a duo of clown characters holding a smiley balloon , and a tribute to Peanuts fictional characters by Charles M. Schulz’s comic strip featuring a flying helium balloon of the bird Woodstock and Snoopy.
When Banksy confirmed on Instagram a new mural in Dover last Sunday, it created an internet frenzy (covered). We popped by to have a closer look at the biggest unauthorised work by the elusive artist in the UK .
As usual with the artist, location and message are key. Dover being a strategic location as a ferry port in South East England, and first port of entry and link between the UK and Europe. The mural has been painted on a building of a disused amusement arcade, at a crossing junction between York Street and the A20,where all the lorries drive by to the ferry port, while a large derelict sign ‘Welcome to Dover’ greets trucks on their way in.
According to reports, Banksy created the work under cover of scaffolding. As the building is earmarked for demolition as part of a waterfront regeneration project, locals thought nothing of it. The three storey mural depicts a workman on a ladder chiselling one of the twelve stars of the European Flag, as a symbolic of the Brexit political process with the UK leaving the EU.
Attention to detail is remarquable, from the shading of the ladder and the stencilled lifesize workman, to the trompe l’oeil effects of the cracks in the European flag achieved by two layers of crisp lines, as well as the chips of the star falling off to the ground .
Since appearing on the day of the French presidential elections on 7 May, the mural has generated a great enthusiasm and pride from local residents and travellers curious to see it in person or photograph it, while a a few opportunists also started to chip some paint pieces from the ladder and scribble ‘The Clash’ on it.
When reality goes beyond fiction: with all the visitors, it appears that the council has instructed city workers to cut the grass around the unauthorised mural for a better photo opportunity ( cover photo), while CCTV and police are doing some random rounds to protect it from vandalism.
However there is also another sad twist: the owners of the building, the Godden Family, property developpers in the Kent coast, are planning to sell the mural for £ 1 million (source: Telegraph ) The Godden family said in a statement: “We can confirm that we are exploring options for the retention, removal or sale of the piece.” The family added that it “will look to benefit local charities with proceeds from any sale of the piece”.
Sad times indeed. So get there to see it in person while you can.
With the historical Presidential election in France divided with candidates including Far Right, we followed anonymous activist artist < + + as he campaigned prolifically as the 12th candidate. His pasters feature his signature peaceful and poetic futuristic creatures and guardians of an imaginary micronation, also known as totems or TTM on a monochrome blason, playing on the duality of night & day, while the slogans ‘Recognize!’ and ‘Vote!’ raise awareness to take action against intolerance and extremism.
As the UK heads towards a general election and Britain prepares to leave the EU, a three-storey version of the European Union flag appeared painted on to a residential building, on Saturday morning, near the ferry port off the A20 in the Kent seaside town of Dover. The mural features a monochrome stencilled image of a man chiseling off one of the 12 stars. The anonymous artist later confirmed his ownership by publishing two photos of the painting on his Instagram feed and website.
Photo: Banksy’s website
After its successful first instalment in Dresden, ‘MAGIC CITY – THE ART OF THE STREET‘ is now coming to the Olympia Hall in Munich, opening on the 13th April 2017. This one of kind touring and evolving exhibition, built as a dream city with all its urban features, from streets to cinema and playground, is showcasing over 60 international street artists as well as local graffiti writers. Visitors can wander through the streets and learn more about the different public art forms, and interact with the immersive installations.
Curators Carlo McCormic and Ethel Seno declared that their goal was to create a “playground for the imagination”, in a new hybrid form. Starting with an initial ‘ white walls ‘ gallery setting , the streets are getting more and more covered with artworks and installations as the exhibition evolves and continues to tour.
A pictures gallery from legendary photo-journalists Martha Cooper and Henry Chalfant, as well as Graffiti writer Daze, who bombed the New York subways in the mid-1970s and writer FINO’91 who grew up in the 1970s in the American sector of divided Berlin serves as a chronological introduction and education about the graffiti art movement.
The public can get immersed within 3D anamorphic installations by Leon Kerr, Truly, Replete, The Yok & Sheryo. When looking up, twin brothers Skewville ‘dogs have invaded the alleys, while shopping trolleys have been transformed into a playful seating duo. Asbestos ‘Lost’ posters advertise items never to be found. Activist artists like Icy & Sot, Biancoshock and Ori Carino & Benjamin Armas present works about the refugee crisis in Europe while SpY and Shepard Fairey highlight the surveillance society.
The city also contains a square with a colourful carrousel by crochet queen OLEK, a phone booth installation by Ernest Zacharevic as well as a red light district decorated by AIKO. Walking along the streets, visitors interact with the wooden panels by ROA, enjoy large murals by HERAKUT, Tristan Eaton, MadC, Ron English, get surprised by Brad Downey’s installation made of found material and get immersed within the miniature world of Isaac Cordal.
Magic City also features a cinema with documentaries like ‘Saving Banksy’ and a selection of movies curated by Jaime Rojo and Steven P. Harrington at Brooklyn Street Art.
New additions to Magic City in Munich are stencil godfather Blek Le Rat (FR), Faith 47 & Imraan Christian (ZA), Bond Truluv (DE), Christy Rupp (US), Gregor Wosik (DE), ‘gif-fiti’ artist INSA (UK), Jordan Seiler (US), Motomichi Nakamura (JP), calligraffiti artist Niels Shoe Meulmann (DE), Slinkachu (UK), The London Police (NL), and WON ABC.
For the full programme, from the official opening on 13 April, workshops, meeting artists on site like Niels Shoe Meulmann, The London Police please visit MAGIC CITY
Let the fun begin !
MAGIC CITY MUNICH
Olympia Park
From 13 April 2017
butterflyartnews.com 