The Danish city of Aalborg continues its transformation into a vibrant canvas of ideas and stories with the 12th year of KIRK Gallery‘s Out in the Open, the renowned public art program that brings muralists from around the world to the city’s walls. This year, two striking new works by Belgian artist SPEAR and Dutch artist TELMO offer distinct, yet deeply interconnected reflections on community, history, and the power of perspective.
TELMO | Tilsammen – A Visual Marriage of Fragments
Dutch artist TELMO—best known as one half of the internationally acclaimed duo TELMO MIEL—presents Tilsammen, a work that quite literally translates to “to together.” In this evocative mural, the artist explores the concept of unity through visual layering: fragments that initially appear disconnected gradually coalesce into a cohesive whole.
TELMO’s approach leans into abstraction, yet maintains a human warmth, encouraging viewers to peel back visual layers and discover unexpected harmonies. The mural invites contemplation of how disparate elements—whether images, people, or ideas—can come together in beautiful, surreal unison. “Going towards being together,” as the artist himself puts it.
For over a decade, TELMO has honed a style that fuses surrealism with hyper-realistic detail. His recent solo work deepens that vision, using collage-like compositions to present overlapping realities that challenge viewers to reimagine the familiar. Tilsammen continues this evolution, offering an emotionally resonant exploration of connection in a fragmented world.
SPEAR | From Tithe to Taxes – Reframing History Through Art
A few blocks away, Belgian artist SPEAR brings history into sharp focus with From Tithe to Taxes, a mural painted directly onto Tiendeladen—an old tithe barn where, centuries ago, farmers paid taxes to the church in the form of crops. This work is both homage and critique, drawing a direct line from historical systems of taxation to contemporary questions of trust, transparency, and public good.
SPEAR’s mural is a dual composition, with each half serving as a visual metaphor. One side depicts a hand stealing grain from an almost empty sack beneath wilting flowers—a grim portrayal of corruption and misuse of public resources. In contrast, the other side offers a transparent jar overflowing with grain and surrounded by blooming flowers, a hopeful image of openness and responsible governance.
“This mural is a commentary on the ambiguous nature of taxation,” SPEAR explains. “It can either nourish a thriving democracy or erode trust through misuse. Just as the Tiendeladen bridges centuries of history, my painting technique bridges classical art traditions with present-day concerns.”
Known for blending classical painting techniques with urban textures, SPEAR’s work consistently engages in a dialogue between past and present. From Tithe to Taxes is no exception—its allegorical power lies in its ability to reactivate historical spaces as sites of reflection, conversation, and civic engagement.
A Dialogue on the Wall
Together, these two murals encapsulate what Out in the Open does best: transforming public walls into spaces of meaning, conversation, and beauty. Where TELMO’s Tilsammen speaks to the importance of connection and unity through a poetic abstraction of reality, SPEAR’s From Tithe to Taxes delivers a bold, historically grounded commentary on governance and collective responsibility.
Both artists challenge viewers to engage not just with the art, but with the layered stories behind them. In doing so, they remind us that public art is more than decoration—it’s a living, breathing conversation with the world around us.
The post Layers of Meaning: SPEAR and TELMO Unveil Powerful New Murals for ‘Out in the Open’ in Aalborg, Denmark first appeared on street art united states.
by Sami Wakim via street art united states
Keine Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen