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Dienstag, 18. Juli 2023

Pathways to EXHALE

The stages of grief. The stages of loss. Grief over losing a connection – connection with another, connection with life, connection with nature – along pathways that lead us into cycles of growth, bloom, and decay. An ode to nature and an ode to life through nature. SNIK, at their best again. Under the simple theme of exploring our connection to nature in the remote Norwegian island Utsira and mainland city Stavanger, the duo explores a deeper conversation and a more subtle pathway to EXHALE. It is a journey within.

Afterthought in Utsira – Photo by Doug-Gillen

The well-established British artist duo Laura Perrett and Nicholas Ellis, better known under SNIK, have stood out in the past decade by approaching street art with a touch of mystical poetry. Away from digital techniques and mastering the craft of elaborately mixing multi-layered and hand cut stencils of ethereal humans, identifiable by tangled hair stands and eyes that speak volumes, SNIK’s distinctive art can be seen in locations as diverse as Aberdeen, Miami and Hong Kong. It is sought after by international urban-contemporary art collectors and galleries, for what sets SNIK apart is the fact that their art strikes a different and much more personal chord while they approach simple topics with depth, such as our connection to nature through the mystery of life and death.

In their latest project EXHALE, documented by film maker Doug Gillen, and captured by photographer Brian Tallman, the duo explored our connection to nature with an “interest in the timeless encroachment of the natural world into our lives, and the poignancy in that intertwinement”, they share. Four murals: three across the island Utsira which has previously hosted thanks to UtsiArt a string of contemporary artists such as Icy & Sot, Issac Cordal, Pichiavo and Borondo, and one fourth and final mural in Stavanger.

Pathways in Utsira – Photo by Doug Gillen

Four murals: Pathways, Afterthought, Exhale and Overcome. Four murals to depict our dichotomous relationship with nature through cycles of growth and loss. Four murals. Four stages of loss to reconnect?

Pathways. Her eyes are wondering, slightly evasive, looking ahead and yet, she remains grounded, connected to nature. She is building a path, willing to grow and travel, and yet she stands still. Her eyes are traveling, but her hair strands intertwine with nature. She may have denied that connection at times, rejected it with a strong eagerness to grow with her own desires and ambitions. At times, it must have angered her. At times, she may have doubted herself too. Maybe she could have found her path for growth on her own. Maybe not. Denial. Anger.

Overcome in Stavanger – Photo by Brian Tallman

Afterthought. A duality. A dichotomy. Ambivalence. Contradictions and negotiations. A split in the portrait, a division in the self. A reminder that our actions on the natural world often come after much questioning, after much bargaining, with and within ourselves. We think that we have done nature right. Have we, really? As an afterthought, we reminisce about our actions and question the ether: have we done the right thing or not. Maybe we can negotiate. Maybe. Bargain.

Exhale. She looks calm. Poised. Serene. Yet she looks sad. Nature is on her mind, and she seems to be taking her time, attempting to establish a personal communion with what is eating her heart and soul. A creature of poetry, she is taking a break from the busy and fast world, away from the distractions, away from the physical and material interactions. She is doing her best to make sense of that connection. She is doing her best to exhale. She is trying. Depression.

Overcome. The circle is closing. The final and fourth mural is painted in the city: the duo have returned from the island. Their cycle is complete. Time to reach the last stage. Time for nature to reclaim its rights. Time for the human to accept the connection, or the loss of it. She looks up, curious and wondering. Nature is all over her. Nature is in her. Is she happy? Maybe. Or maybe she is on the verge of regaining happiness. Acceptance.

Exahle in Utsira – Photo by Doug Gillen

SNIK’s work elevates street art to another level: it is poetic, celestial, and highly comforting to the ones who see more than just lovely Raphaelite figures in muted color palettes. It is subtle and deeply personal, for beyond exploring our connection to nature, EXHALE explores our connection with and within ourselves. It is an inward journey for our very own cycle of growth, bloom and yes, decay.


 

The post Pathways to EXHALE first appeared on street art united states.
by Myriam Shwayri via street art united states

Pathways to EXHALE

The stages of grief. The stages of loss. Grief over losing a connection – connection with another, connection with life, connection with nature – along pathways that lead us into cycles of growth, bloom, and decay. An ode to nature and an ode to life through nature. SNIK, at their best again. Under the simple theme of exploring our connection to nature in the remote Norwegian island Utsira and mainland city Stavanger, the duo explores a deeper conversation and a more subtle pathway to EXHALE. It is a journey within.

Afterthought in Utsira – Photo by Doug-Gillen

The well-established British artist duo Laura Perrett and Nicholas Ellis, better known under SNIK, have stood out in the past decade by approaching street art with a touch of mystical poetry. Away from digital techniques and mastering the craft of elaborately mixing multi-layered and hand cut stencils of ethereal humans, identifiable by tangled hair stands and eyes that speak volumes, SNIK’s distinctive art can be seen in locations as diverse as Aberdeen, Miami and Hong Kong. It is sought after by international urban-contemporary art collectors and galleries, for what sets SNIK apart is the fact that their art strikes a different and much more personal chord while they approach simple topics with depth, such as our connection to nature through the mystery of life and death.

In their latest project EXHALE, documented by film maker Doug Gillen, and captured by photographer Brian Tallman, the duo explored our connection to nature with an “interest in the timeless encroachment of the natural world into our lives, and the poignancy in that intertwinement”, they share. Four murals: three across the island Utsira which has previously hosted thanks to UtsiArt a string of contemporary artists such as Icy & Sot, Issac Cordal, Pichiavo and Borondo, and one fourth and final mural in Stavanger.

Pathways in Utsira – Photo by Doug Gillen

Four murals: Pathways, Afterthought, Exhale and Overcome. Four murals to depict our dichotomous relationship with nature through cycles of growth and loss. Four murals. Four stages of loss to reconnect?

Pathways. Her eyes are wondering, slightly evasive, looking ahead and yet, she remains grounded, connected to nature. She is building a path, willing to grow and travel, and yet she stands still. Her eyes are traveling, but her hair strands intertwine with nature. She may have denied that connection at times, rejected it with a strong eagerness to grow with her own desires and ambitions. At times, it must have angered her. At times, she may have doubted herself too. Maybe she could have found her path for growth on her own. Maybe not. Denial. Anger.

Overcome in Stavanger – Photo by Brian Tallman

Afterthought. A duality. A dichotomy. Ambivalence. Contradictions and negotiations. A split in the portrait, a division in the self. A reminder that our actions on the natural world often come after much questioning, after much bargaining, with and within ourselves. We think that we have done nature right. Have we, really? As an afterthought, we reminisce about our actions and question the ether: have we done the right thing or not. Maybe we can negotiate. Maybe. Bargain.

Exhale. She looks calm. Poised. Serene. Yet she looks sad. Nature is on her mind, and she seems to be taking her time, attempting to establish a personal communion with what is eating her heart and soul. A creature of poetry, she is taking a break from the busy and fast world, away from the distractions, away from the physical and material interactions. She is doing her best to make sense of that connection. She is doing her best to exhale. She is trying. Depression.

Overcome. The circle is closing. The final and fourth mural is painted in the city: the duo have returned from the island. Their cycle is complete. Time to reach the last stage. Time for nature to reclaim its rights. Time for the human to accept the connection, or the loss of it. She looks up, curious and wondering. Nature is all over her. Nature is in her. Is she happy? Maybe. Or maybe she is on the verge of regaining happiness. Acceptance.

Exahle in Utsira – Photo by Doug Gillen

SNIK’s work elevates street art to another level: it is poetic, celestial, and highly comforting to the ones who see more than just lovely Raphaelite figures in muted color palettes. It is subtle and deeply personal, for beyond exploring our connection to nature, EXHALE explores our connection with and within ourselves. It is an inward journey for our very own cycle of growth, bloom and yes, decay.


 

The post Pathways to EXHALE first appeared on street art united states.
by Myriam Shwayri via street art united states

Freitag, 7. Juli 2023

Martin Ron Mural to Celebrate the 10th Year Anniversary of Kirk Gallerys Out in the Open Series

The series has been off to a flying start with the mighty Martin Ron and his assistant Matt Gorrick working on the 600 m2 ‘Olivia and her Heart of Gold’. The creation of this spectacular piece saw the pair work from early morning to late into the night for 16 days. The long Scandinavian summer nights helped the process which culminated in a huge opening party in front of the mural in the heart of Aalborg, Denmark.

The mural encapsulates reflections on resilience and the power of love and hope in difficult times.
In the artists’ words: “In the centre of the composition, Olivia, dressed in red, looks at us defiantly. Her eyes beam with determination and bravery as she holds and clings to a golden heart-shaped balloon. This heart, apparently repaired from a previous puncture, remains inflated, symbolising the ability to overcome adversity and heal our emotional wounds.

‘Olivia and Her Heart’ invites us to embrace our own courage and vitality, to face obstacles with determination, and to not let life’s pricks defeat us. She reminds us that love and hope can be restored. Questioning our limitations to face challenges and to persevere in the defence of our most cherished values.

In addition, she inspires us to find strength in our vulnerability, to mend our damaged hearts, and to stay inflated with love and hope, thus illuminating our path in the search for fulfilment and beauty in life.”

More on the special series coming soon.


Kirk Gallery: website | instagram

The post Martin Ron Mural to Celebrate the 10th Year Anniversary of Kirk Gallery’s ‘Out in the Open’ Series first appeared on street art united states.
by Hannah Judah via street art united states

Martin Ron Mural to Celebrate the 10th Year Anniversary of Kirk Gallerys Out in the Open Series

The series has been off to a flying start with the mighty Martin Ron and his assistant Matt Gorrick working on the 600 m2 ‘Olivia and her Heart of Gold’. The creation of this spectacular piece saw the pair work from early morning to late into the night for 16 days. The long Scandinavian summer nights helped the process which culminated in a huge opening party in front of the mural in the heart of Aalborg, Denmark.

The mural encapsulates reflections on resilience and the power of love and hope in difficult times.
In the artists’ words: “In the centre of the composition, Olivia, dressed in red, looks at us defiantly. Her eyes beam with determination and bravery as she holds and clings to a golden heart-shaped balloon. This heart, apparently repaired from a previous puncture, remains inflated, symbolising the ability to overcome adversity and heal our emotional wounds.

‘Olivia and Her Heart’ invites us to embrace our own courage and vitality, to face obstacles with determination, and to not let life’s pricks defeat us. She reminds us that love and hope can be restored. Questioning our limitations to face challenges and to persevere in the defence of our most cherished values.

In addition, she inspires us to find strength in our vulnerability, to mend our damaged hearts, and to stay inflated with love and hope, thus illuminating our path in the search for fulfilment and beauty in life.”

More on the special series coming soon.


Kirk Gallery: website | instagram

The post Martin Ron Mural to Celebrate the 10th Year Anniversary of Kirk Gallery’s ‘Out in the Open’ Series first appeared on street art united states.
by Hannah Judah via street art united states