 Elf Art? Or just a happy coincidence? The public transport in Athens has been free for the last two weeks due to the economic, political and social crisis. So I decided to ride the trains. The idea was to carve out a trail of interesting observations as I zoomed across the city in various modes of transport. Unfortunately, I got sidetracked with another issue. But that didn't stop me spotting a few really strange little scenes that I thought I'd share.  "Water to Wine" installation  This is why you carry a camera on you at all times (phone camera) - nativity scenes on the streets of Athens There's an interesting project by Spanish artist ELTONO that involves walking, observing and creating art with what you find. Check it out here http://www.eltono.com/es/projects/promenades/
ArtReach is a non-profit organisation working towards the development of the arts in Swaziland, and the lack of overall arts education and creative opportunities. By providing a platform for expression and learning through creativity and the arts, ArtReach aims to particularly address the personal and social issues faced by youth and other marginalized groups in Swaziland. I was fortunate enough to get invited along to one of the Yebo! Artreach mural projects with the hope of applying some azulejo (tiles) techniques. We spent two days painting four walls surrounding a butchery in Lobamba, Swaziland. The butchery resembled a prison to begin with so the colour explosion we left behind was a pretty dramatic change. Hordes of children leaving school also presented me with the opportunity to whip up an impromptu stencil workshop, with varying results but certainly enjoyment all round. I'd like to think that this kind of intervention is given the attention it deserves when it comes to aid budgets. If only the arts, or creative expression, were seen as a priority in the "development" sector. Yebo! are doing a fantastic job and from small acorns grow big oak trees. Big, bright blue and pink ones... from the series "Ollos Que Non Ven" - a critical bystander's reflection on the Spanish preferred stock "preferentes" scandal.   For more from this series, take a look at "Ollos Que Non Ven"
For a quick overview in English of the preferred stocks crisis, take a look at this video from the series "Ollos Que Non Ven" - a critical bystander's reflection on the Spanish preferred stock "preferentes" scandal.   For more from this series, take a look at "Ollos Que Non Ven"
For a quick overview in English of the preferred stocks crisis, take a look at this video from the series "Ollos Que Non Ven" - a critical bystander's reflection on the Spanish preferred stock "preferentes" scandal.   For more from this series, take a look at "Ollos Que Non Ven"
For a quick overview in English of the preferred stocks crisis, take a look at this video from the series "Ollos Que Non Ven" - a critical bystander's reflection on the Spanish preferred stock "preferentes" scandal.   For more from this series, take a look at "Ollos Que Non Ven"
For a quick overview in English of the preferred stocks crisis, take a look at this video 
Some of the first available images of a (very) temporary street exhibition this month. Perhaps "ephemeral" would be a better description, as very few are up for more than 2 or 3 days.
There's something great about that though. There's a sense of freedom in creating something that you know for "almost" certain will be destroyed. You no longer have the fear of damaging anything, or even of getting it wrong - you can simply do it again next time. Which, of course, doesn't necessarily mean that you don't do it right. If anything that audacity gives you a heightened sense of creative freedom, which in turn brings out the best in you. To be continued... ;)
My latest project "Ollos que non ven" has been directly inspired by a now very famous French street artist called JR. I'd seen some work he did in the slums of Rio de Janeiro but it wasn't until a friend sent a video link of him being awarded the TED prize, and the presentation that followed, that I realised how to go about setting up my new initiative.
Here's the video.
So, although the project I'm undertaking is slightly different in the way I've decided to present it, what JR and his art did was to open my eyes all of a sudden to the potential of street exhibitions. Why not exhibit in the street? It's certainly the best place for people to see your work. It's certainly the most "democratic" way of presenting art to the public.
If you want to get involved in the Inside Out Project, take a look at their website here. |
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