Category Archives: FEATURE

Narcelio grud take on The Mara Hope in Brazil

August 29, 2015 Pierrick Senelaer Leave a comment

We always get impressed by large scale works and let’s face it, while Usain Bolt keeps running faster and faster than anyone else, street artists keep taking on bigger and bigger projects.

Narcelio Grud, a street artist from Brazil just did that. When we saw what he did, we immediately though about what a bunch of other street artists such as FinDac, Mr Zero and Fat Heat did to the Duke of Lancaster back in 2013.

What makes Narcelio’s work different and interesting is his abstract approach to this marvellous and colourful piece of art.

For those who are lucky enough to live in Brazil, this piece is using the stranded ship Mara Hope located on Iracema Beach alongside the Brazilian city of Fortaleza.

We are thrilled to relay Narcelio’s work on the site as we know he has been following us for a while.

The facts

300 liters of water-based paint were needed
The Mara Hope wreckage, a former cargo ship has been stranded for over 30 years

Well done mate.

First seen on Instagrafite

All photos © Germano de Sousa

FEATURE, STREET ART

Mexican city giant mural by artists’ collective known as the German Crew

August 14, 2015 Pierrick Senelaer Leave a comment

We are always happy to see people dedicated to bringing art into communities that typically remain miles away from it for various reasons, such as poverty.

So when we heard about this project, called “Pachuca Paints Itself”, in central Mexico by an artists’ collective known as the German Crew, we had to feature it on Art-Pie.

Click on the pictures to enlarge

Hundreds of houses painted

The collective spent 14 months turning the steep hillside area of Las Palmitas into something a colossal and very much alive mural. It was an incredible effort to change people’s perception of a neighbourhood previously seen as rather gloomy and rough – art at its best, art to its best use.

“We have painted 209 houses. Every color represents the soul of the neighborhood. It has been a community effort as each household has participated in some way,” said project director Enrique Gomez, who goes by MYBE.

MYBE is a reformed and tattooed gang member who is now focusing all his attention on graffiti art and muralism.

The project in numbers –

– 209 house painted
– 5,000 gallons (20,000 litres) of paint used
– More than 16,000 square feet (1,500 square meters) of murals covered

Even better, we hear that thanks to the huge success of this project, another impoverished area called Cubitos, is next to be painted happy.

BLOG, FEATURE

Clement Beauvais beautiful ink drop

August 5, 2015 Pierrick Senelaer Leave a comment

Solidarités International, an international humanitarian organisation, was looking to mark World Water Day with an awareness campaign that highlighted the scourge of undrinkable water.

That happened back in March this year but got made aware of this only now.. so you’ll excuse the belated post.

We were amazed here by the final effect – ie when the ink gets dropped to reveal the artwork but what we found even mire amazing is how the artist, Clement Beauvais, managed to create it.

The artist indeed needs to create an invisible water paintings on greaseproof paper.

The water beads and sits on top of the paper in clear rivulets.

With an eyedropper, Clément adds a single droplet of ink to the water and instantly darkness surges through the watery shape.

It’s amazing to watch an image loom out of seemingly nowhere.

It’s as much a performance as an artwork, as Clément has to time his drips perfectly to create the right tonal balance.

The main purpose of this Clement’s work was to engage the help of journalists to focus public attention on the issue of water contamination.

Clement certainly did manage that.

And of course, the core message is?

‘Your ink can help make an invisible problem visible’

A bit about World Water Day as it matters –

To mark World Water Day, on March 22nd Solidarités International and its agency BDDP Unlimited will roll out a campaign to build awareness of the scourge of undrinkable water.

Today, it is estimated that 3.6 million people, including 1.5 million children under the age of 5, die every year of diseases borne by unhealthy water, making it the world’s leading cause of death.

Yet the public isn’t aware of it and political leaders do not demonstrate the drive it takes to end the terrible deaths. The campaign calls on journalists to spread awareness of this scourge and appeal to readers to sign a petition that will be personally handed to the French president during the 6th World Water Forum in March 2012.

To evoke the silent and invisible threat of unhealthy water, BDDP Unlimited opted for a minimalist approach that is both visually appealing and surprising, using water and ink exclusively. The spot shows the power of ink to reveal the invisible.

The spot, created by BDDP Unlimited, produced by Hush and directed by Clément Beauvais, a young director, illustrator, musician and photographer. His multiple talents and mastery of various techniques enabled him to both create the drawings and direct the spot.

BLOG, FEATURE, STREET ART

Nevercrew last piece for Wall Therapy

August 5, 2015 Pierrick Senelaer Leave a comment

No need to say much. Just look at this outstanding piece from Nevercrew in Rochester, New-York

Boom.

FEATURE, STREET ART

Meet Plastic Jesus, street artist from Los Angeles

June 23, 2015 Pierrick Senelaer Leave a comment

We only recently heard from Plastic Jesus, a Los Angeles based artist, and while his motivation are clearly political and on that basis can be compared to other street artists such as Banksy, although Plastic Jesus seems to vary a little more his mediums and art forms by often making bold installations which he will spread around the city of LA.

We have included below some of his works.

Reading a bit more about the artist, I quickly realised that we are looking at a “modern” street artist –

1. Mass audience attention thanks to The Huffington Post in particular which listed two works by Plastic Jesus in the end of year round up of “The Best of Los Angeles Street art 2012”, one of them was “No more heroes” featuring disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong connected to an IV drip

2.Concerns about his work ethic and try to harm as little the environment. The artist will even send someone to remove his work should you not like it

3. Does art galleries show, sell prints of his street artworks and he is represented in the UK by Walton Fine Arts located in Knightsbridge

The last point will make cringe the purists street art heads out there.

I have no particular issue with the points above and like the messages Plastic Jesus tries to get accross, what do you reckon?