Tag Archives: France

Lek and Sowat Sandcastle for the LaBel Valette Festival

Lek & Sowat - LaBel Valette Festival 2022

Marking the fifth anniversary of the LaBel Valette Festival in France, artists Lek and Sowat have given a new identity to this 19th century castle, by painting all its surfaces and transforming it into a monumental sandcastle.

Located in Pressigny-les-Pins, around one hour from Paris by train, Château de la Valette sits on just under 100 acres of wooded land and is comprised of the castle, a chapel, and two three-storey dormitory buildings. After the colourful works of Okuda (2018), 3ttman (2019), the giant calligraphy of L’Atlas (2020) and the optical illusions of Astro (2021), this mythical duo open the LaBel Valette festival that will take place on August 26 and 27, 2022.

The LaBel Valette Festival, organised by UAC (Urban Art Crew) and U2A (Urban Art Agency), will take place on August 26 and 27, 2022 at La Valette estate in Pressigny-les-Pins.
The two days programme includes graffiti battles, a musical production competition, live painting, workshops as well as a series of music concerts. Full programme here

Check pictures of the work in progress below:

Lek & Sowat - LaBel Valette Festival 2022

Lek & Sowat - LaBel Valette Festival 2022

Lek & Sowat - LaBel Valette Festival 2022

Lek & Sowat - LaBel Valette Festival 2022

Lek and Sowat were struck by the intense history of the ‘Domaine de La Valette’. Firstly belonging to the estate of a Count and a Countess, it then became property of Franco, followed by the Spanish republicans. It was later transformed into a college, then fell into abandonment. And was bought by an individual. The castle holds eventually a strong position of Street Art in France thanks to the LaBel Valette Festival project.

Lek & Sowat - LaBel Valette Festival 2022

Lek & Sowat - LaBel Valette Festival 2022

Lek & Sowat - LaBel Valette Festival 2022

Lek & Sowat - LaBel Valette Festival 2022

Lek & Sowat - LaBel Valette Festival 2022

The artistic duo decided to work around the image of the sandcastle, which refers to the ephemeral nature of Street Art, and pixels, which evoke the aesthetics of the 80s.
Using bright blue and neon colours, they painted 10 000 square meters to transform the castle entirely.
Lek and Sowat ’s Sandcastle illustrates this year’s theme of the festival “Believe in your dreams”: A sandcastle can be erased by the rising tide but is rebuilt thanks to the venue of a new artist.  A sandcastle is fragile, requires attention and commitment. It is imagined, hoped for, then built.

Lek & Sowat - LaBel Valette Festival 2022

Lek & Sowat - LaBel Valette Festival 2022

Lek & Sowat - LaBel Valette Festival 2022

Lek & Sowat - LaBel Valette Festival 2022

Lek & Sowat - LaBel Valette Festival 2022

Lek & Sowat - LaBel Valette Festival 2022

Lek & Sowat - LaBel Valette Festival 2022

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Brest (FR): Crimes of Minds

Crimes of Minds - Sowat

During 3 years the Crimes of Minds project invited local and international artists to create 21 murals across the city of Brest (France), transforming the city into an urban art museum.  To celebrate the end of the project and launch of a book documenting the process, a retrospective exhibition has been organized within 22000 sq meters former warehouse, a perfect opportunity for artists to display artworks but also perform some  live painting.

Featuring Liliwenn (FR),  Jef Aerosol (FR), Guy Denning (UK), Ben Slow (UK),  Finbarr Dac (UK), Da Mental Vaporz (Bom.K, Blo, Brusk, Gris1, Kan, Sowat),  C215 (FR), Morten Andersen (DK), SLY2 (FR), Wen2 (FR), Alice Pasquini (IT), Kool Korr (US), Best Ever (UK), Pakone (FR), Celeste Java (FR), TSF, Antoine Stevens (FR).

Crimes of Minds - Alice    Crimes of Minds - Morten AndersenCrimes of Minds - Ben Slow    Crimes of Minds - Guy DenningCrimes of Minds - Jef Aerosol  Crimes of Minds - Fin Dac  Crimes of Minds - Antoine Stevens
Crimes of Minds - DMV Crimes of Minds

Full set of pics of the exhibition here

Toulouse (FR): Da Mental Vaporz – Squatters

Da Mental Vaporz - Squatters

Back in summer 2011, while they were showing in Toulouse at the GHP Galerie, the Da Mental Vaporz crew couldn’t resist leaving their mark on an iconic building: the former Palais des Congres of Toulouse (exhibition center). Famous for its political corruption and dirty money, the place was being left abandoned following legal disputes and is currently being squatted by a small community of local residents.

During a week-end, all members of the crew Bom-K, Blo, Brusk, Dran, Gris1, ISO, Jaw, Kan, and Sowat revisited the building and gave it a second life. Featuring harmoniously their distinctive style, the prolific DMV crew created a skull headed giant with his heart on his sleeve.

Da Mental Vaporz - Squatters Da Mental Vaporz - Squatters Da Mental Vaporz - Squatters     Da Mental Vaporz - Squatters Da Mental Vaporz - Squatters

Eight months later, while France is being crippled by snow storms and presidential elections delirium, the Da Mental Vaporz have decided to head to sunny horizons down under, boarding their vessel “La Misericorde – Le Venin” with a pirate flag reminder of the  “Squatters”  face. Direction Melbourne, Australia…

France: Caia Koopman – Lost Souls and Sacred Hearts

Caia Koopman 10

California based artist Caia Koopman  is currently exhibited through a series of solo shows across France with the SpaceJunk Galleries.

Using vibrant colours on wood and canvas, Lost Souls and Sacred Hearts present etheral feminine characters combining elegance with vulnerability.

With a fine detail for beauty, Caia Koopman transports us into her mystical and magical world.

Caia Koopman 14 Caia Koopman 18  Caia Koopman 07  Caia Koopman 19 Caia Koopman 09  Caia Koopman 02

View the full set of pics HERE

Caia Koopman – Lost Souls and Sacred Hearts
Spacejunk Galleries until 28 Jan 2012
Exhibition dates and places