All posts tagged: Case Maclaim

Réunion Island’s Evolution: Eko and the Graffiti/Street Art Festival That’s Making Waves

Réunion Island’s Evolution: Eko and the Graffiti/Street Art Festival That’s Making Waves

A place you may not have heard of, Réunion Island has quickly become a remarkable hotspot for urban art, largely due to the Réunion Graffiti Festival. This annual gathering showcases a rich range of talent from graffiti and street art communities worldwide, offering something refreshingly unique for this type of festival.

Eko, the festival’s founder, extends an open invitation: “Come to Réunion, see the artists, see the walls, and the beautiful city.”

Born in 1976 on Réunion Island, Eko began his graffiti journey in 1989, inspired by hip-hop culture and gaining recognition under the tag “Saphir.” As one of the pioneers of graffiti on the island, he collaborated with local crews like SRD (Syndicat du Rap Dionysien) and later joined LSA (Le Syndicat des Artistes). Eko’s creative reach extends beyond graffiti to music and performance, and his time in mainland France deepened his appreciation for Réunion’s vibrant culture, which he was eager to elevate upon his return.

HERA. Réunion Graffiti. 6th. Edition. Réunion Island, France. (photo © Nika Kramer)

With respect for his homeland and a vision of global recognition, Eko founded the Réunion Graffiti Festival in 2019. Each year, the festival expands, now including an impressive lineup of international and local artists, community-focused programs, and interactive events for diverse audiences.

HERA. Réunion Graffiti. 6th. Edition. Réunion Island, France. (photo © Nika Kramer)

A French overseas department in the Indian Ocean, Réunion is located approximately 679 km east of Madagascar and 175 km southwest of Mauritius. Known for its stunning volcanic landscapes, including the active Piton de la Fournaise, Réunion is home to about 885,700 residents. The island’s unique blend of French, African, and Indian influences is evident in its culture, cuisine, and language, with Réunion Creole widely spoken alongside French. Since 1946, it has been governed as a French region, making it one of the European Union’s outermost regions and a part of the eurozone. This blend of European governance and Creole heritage gives Réunion its distinct identity, celebrated through its music, arts, and now, street art.

EKO. Réunion Graffiti. 6th. Edition. Réunion Island, France. (photo © Nika Kramer)

Since its inception, the festival has showcased global talent across graffiti and street art practices, hosting more than 100 artists, including renowned figures from countries such as Germany, Argentina, Spain, the U.S., India, Italy, Japan, Senegal, Switzerland, and Togo. This mix brings a dynamic blend of styles, reinforcing the island’s position as a hub for global urban art.

A key feature is Graff Park in Saint-Denis, a dedicated space for free expression where artists—from beginners to veterans—can experiment and showcase their work. Supported by both public and private funds, the festival emphasizes inclusivity, offering community workshops, recreational activities, and sessions that help budding artists learn techniques and connect with mentors.

EKO. Réunion Graffiti. 6th. Edition. Réunion Island, France. (photo © Nika Kramer)

Beyond murals, the festival highlights Réunion’s cultural vibrancy with exhibitions, live music, and dance battles. These programs blend local talent with international flair, complemented by Acts, an outreach initiative that provides regular updates and information on Réunion’s street art scene. This effort helps keep art enthusiasts connected to the evolving urban landscape on the island.

This year, renowned photographers Martha Cooper and Nika Kramer were honored guests, hosting a symposium to discuss their work documenting the hip-hop scene over many decades. New images of Réunion’s street art were captured, and Ms. Kramer conducted interviews with participants, further enriching the festival’s archive and legacy.

Case Maclaim. Réunion Graffiti. 6th. Edition. Réunion Island, France. (photo © Nika Kramer)
Case Maclaim. Réunion Graffiti. 6th. Edition. Réunion Island, France. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Case Maclaim. Réunion Graffiti. 6th. Edition. Réunion Island, France. (photo © Nika Kramer)
PATCHA PAX. Réunion Graffiti. 6th. Edition. Réunion Island, France. (photo © Martha Cooper)

From conversation with Nika Kramer, we learn that a young enthusiastic fan of the work of photographer Martha Cooper was not only attending, but participating in the painting of walls this year at the festival. One of the youngest graffiti writers interviewed for BSA, Patcha Pax shares personally his experience here for BSA readers. Afterward is a full interview with the writer by Nika Kramer.

“I knew Martha Cooper before I met her. I had seen a report about her and the 1UP on YouTube, and my mom gave me Subway Art for Christmas 2022. So when I saw that Martha Cooper was coming to the Graffiti Reunion this year, I jumped for joy! My mom signed us up for the conference right away.

I know what Martha Cooper has done so well that during the conference, I answered the questions that Olivier Cachin asked before she did.

I also was very familiar with the 1UP video that was shown.

Meeting her was incredible because I felt as if I was living through her moments with the vandal graffiti artists, especially the 1UP crew. In my mind, I was running with her and them to secretly paint on the subways. It was like touching the real world of graffiti with my fingertips.

I saw that there was still room on the wall.

I saw MC taking a picture of Miaou, so I decided to take a photo of her and reproduce the drawing on the wall. A photograph captures a moment for a lifetime… it was my way of capturing this moment forever. It is painted forever on the wall. And so every time I see this graffiti, I will think back to that moment when MC was there, that she was taking pictures of all of us. And also of the moment when Sally and you were taking a picture of her in front of my Graffiti of her. It brings back a lot of good memories forever.

For MC’s drawing, I think I wanted to please her by drawing her. It was a gift so that she would be happy”
~ PP

PATCHA PAX. Réunion Graffiti. 6th. Edition. Réunion Island, France. (photo © Nika Kramer)

Nika Kramer interview with PATCHA PAX:

NK: When did you see graffiti for the first time?
PP: I first saw graffiti when I was 7 years old. I loved it straight away. I had to give a presentation in class and I chose the theme of Graffiti. So I asked Eko LSA by message on Instagram if he would be willing to come during my presentation. He accepted. It was the first time I met him.

NK: How did you get into graffiti
PP: I really got into graffiti when I went to see a graffiti festival for the first time, Le Réunion Graffiti in 2021. I saw all these artists painting on huge walls. I asked Eko if I could have one. He replied “train a lot and one day I promise you that you will have your wall”. The next day, I asked my mom to sign me up for drawing classes. Then I practiced whenever I could on paper and my garden wall.

NK: Why did you start writing PAKS?
PP: For my tag, I wanted a name that meant something positive. I searched for the word “Peace” in all languages. I found “Patcha” in Romani (India I think), “Pax” in Latin, and “PAKS” in Polish. So my name is Patcha Pax but I write it PAKS most often.

NK: What do you love about the graffiti scene in Réunion?
PP: In Réunion, I like the fact that there are many different styles of graffiti. I mainly like the lettering, like that of Arêm and Lego. But I also like certain drawings like those of Macak, Bayko, and Ador.

My mother immediately accepted my passion for graffiti because she always says that she prefers to see me express myself on walls outside rather than sitting for hours in front of a television screen. So she left me a huge wall in the garden to paint whatever I wanted.

My grandparents were not interested in graffiti at all, but now, when they travel, they look for graffiti walls in cities and send me photos. On Sundays, instead of watching television shows about cars, my grandpa watches videos about graffiti with me.

PP: So ! I think I answered all your questions. My vacation is almost over. I go back to school on Monday.

I was very sad at the end of the Réunion Graffiti Festival because it was an incredible week.
In 2 weeks I will be at the Run Colorz festival in St Louis so it will be awesome! I will send you photos if you want. I hope your vacation ended well in Réunion and you liked our island.

PATCHA PAX. Réunion Graffiti. 6th. Edition. Réunion Island, France. (photo © Martha Cooper)
LAZOO. Réunion Graffiti. 6th. Edition. Réunion Island, France. (photo © Martha Cooper)
LAZOO. Réunion Graffiti. 6th. Edition. Réunion Island, France. (photo © Nika Kramer)
LAZOO. Réunion Graffiti. 6th. Edition. Réunion Island, France. (photo © Nika Kramer)
SATR. Réunion Graffiti. 6th. Edition. Réunion Island, France. (photo © Nika Kramer)
L1DI1. Réunion Graffiti. 6th. Edition. Réunion Island, France. (photo © Martha Cooper)
L1DI1. Réunion Graffiti. 6th. Edition. Réunion Island, France. (photo © Nika Kramer)
MIAOU. Réunion Graffiti. 6th. Edition. Réunion Island, France. (photo © Martha Cooper)
MIAOU. L1DI1. Réunion Graffiti. 6th. Edition. Réunion Island, France. (photo © Nika Kramer)

Nika Kramer interview with MIAOU:

NK: When did you see graffiti for the first time?
M: I discovered graffiti when I was in primary school, a little before the 2000s.The teacher gave us a lesson on prevention against damage, particularly graffiti. It had the opposite effect on me (ha, ha), On my way to school from home I started to spot all the graffiti, (a lot of “kope” tags at the time). But at that time, in Réunion, it was still mysterious. I didn’t understand much about it.

NK: How did YOU get into graffiti?
M: In 2005, a friend tagged it in my school notebook. I was impressed by his hand style, which was brutal, precise, and aesthetic. I immediately felt in love with this universe: since that day, graffiti has taken an important place in my life. I quickly started drawing, meeting people on the scene, testing the equipment, finding spots, and understanding the history behind this movement.

It was a brilliant passion for the teenager that I was: diving into a mysterious universe, where you had to make yourself known while remaining anonymous, where you had to come close to the forbidden just for the sake of painting,… Something to break the monotony of my days!

NK: Why did you start writing Miaou?
M: Miaou was my nickname as a child, so it was quite natural that I decided to use it on the wall. In the end, it’s cool because it’s also a fun and memorable name, which allowed me to stand out to people who aren’t necessarily from the graffiti scene.

NK: What do you love about the graffiti scene in Réunion?
M: The graffiti scene in Réunion is cool because you can paint in flip flops (ha ha)…
More seriously, the scene is constantly active and has nothing to envy from other countries. I find that there is a very good level on the island, regardless if you are getting up illegally or legally, in graffiti or street art. The fact that there are many players around challenges us to improve and to stay in the game. But this competition is healthy, we all know each other.

MIAOU. L1DI1. Réunion Graffiti. 6th. Edition. Réunion Island, France. (photo © Nika Kramer)
Lokiss. Réunion Graffiti. 6th. Edition. Réunion Island, France. (photo © Nika Kramer)
Lokiss. Réunion Graffiti. 6th. Edition. Réunion Island, France. (photo © Nika Kramer)
Manyak. Réunion Graffiti. 6th. Edition. Réunion Island, France. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Macs. Réunion Graffiti. 6th. Edition. Réunion Island, France. (photo © Nika Kramer)
Manyak, Macs, and Martha Cooper. Réunion Graffiti. 6th. Edition. Réunion Island, France. (photo © Nika Kramer)
Manyak. Macs. Réunion Graffiti. 6th. Edition. Réunion Island, France. (photo © Nika Kramer)
Sitou. Eko. Réunion Graffiti. 6th. Edition. Réunion Island, France. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Sitou. Eko. Réunion Graffiti. 6th. Edition. Réunion Island, France. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Sitou. Eko. Réunion Graffiti. 6th. Edition. Réunion Island, France. (photo © Nika Kramer)
CEET. Réunion Graffiti. 6th. Edition. Réunion Island, France. (photo © Nika Kramer)

From an interview with Nika Kramer, Ceet talks about his life in China and how his chicken character developed.

“So the first time I saw graffiti was in about 1983-84. I began painting in 1988, but my participation with the culture before that was break dancing.”
Nika Kramer: How did you get into the chickens?

CEET: My chicken story started 22 years ago in China. I was in Shenzhen. I couldn’t speak Mandarin, and the Chinese couldn’t speak English, so we had a big problem communicating. So I started to draw everything: what I was doing, everything I wanted to eat, everything I wanted to do. I started to draw everywhere. And I communicated like this for the first time.

And then, step by step, I learned Mandarin. And I live in Hong Kong. Why? Because a company brought me to China to do graffiti work. I came one time, two times, three times, and I stayed longer each time. One day I got the apartment and I stayed there and I lived there. It’s very simple. I like to live there because it is amazing. Many people respect me. I learned a lot about how to paint graffiti using brushes, oil, and sculptures, and I started to have very nice connections with the many people there. This is how I matured my art practice and now and I put my chickens everywhere.

CEET. Réunion Graffiti. 6th. Edition. Réunion Island, France. (photo © Nika Kramer)
CEET. Réunion Graffiti. 6th. Edition. Réunion Island, France. (photo © Nika Kramer)
CEET. Réunion Graffiti. 6th. Edition. Réunion Island, France. (photo © Martha Cooper)
CEET. Réunion Graffiti. 6th. Edition. Réunion Island, France. (photo © Nika Kramer)
CEET. L1DI1. Réunion Graffiti. 6th. Edition. Réunion Island, France. (photo © Nika Kramer)
CEET. Réunion Graffiti. 6th. Edition. Réunion Island, France. (photo © Nika Kramer)
CEET. Réunion Graffiti. 6th. Edition. Réunion Island, France. (photo © Nika Kramer)
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Art in the Alps Pt 2: A Visual Guide to Grenoble’s Street Art Fest 2024

Art in the Alps Pt 2: A Visual Guide to Grenoble’s Street Art Fest 2024

This is part 2 of a series of new works from the 10th Annual Street Art Fest Grenoble, with photographs by veteran photographer Martha Cooper. The massive variety, quantity, and quality of works at Grenoble place it ahead of many festivals, as you can see here. Many of the murals are in context with their surroundings and collaborate with them in a meaningful way. For its 2024 edition, the Street Art Fest Grenoble-Alpes celebrates its 10th anniversary under the direction of Jérôme Catz and The Spacejunk Art Center. Today we focus strictly on the big statements, and there are many.

SETH. Grenoble Alpes Street Art Fest. 2021 Edition. Grenoble, France. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Veks Van Hillik. Grenoble Alpes Street Art Fest. 2017 Edition. Grenoble, France. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Veks Van Hillik. Grenoble Alpes Street Art Fest. 2018 Edition. Grenoble, France. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Etien. Grenoble Alpes Street Art Fest. Edition 2021. Grenoble, France. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Momies. Maye. Grenoble Alpes Street Art Fest. Edition 2018. Grenoble, France. (photo © Martha Cooper)
PichiAvo. Grenoble Alpes Street Art Fest. Edition 2019. Grenoble, France. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Robert Proch. Grenoble Alpes Street Art Fest. Edition 2019. Grenoble, France. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Robert Proch. Grenoble Alpes Street Art Fest. Edition 2019. Grenoble, France. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Sebas Velasco. Sainer. Grenoble Alpes Street Art Fest. Edition 2018. Grenoble, France. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Inti. Grenoble Alpes Street Art Fest. Edition 2020. Grenoble, France. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Case Maclaim. Grenoble Alpes Street Art Fest. Edition 2022. Grenoble, France. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Brusk. Grenoble Alpes Street Art Fest. Edition 2020. Grenoble, France. (photo © Martha Cooper)
SATR. Grenoble Alpes Street Art Fest. Edition 2021. Grenoble, France. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Jan is de Man. Grenoble Alpes Street Art Fest. Edition 2023. Grenoble, France. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Leon Keer. Grenoble Alpes Street Art Fest. Edition 2021. Grenoble, France. (photo © Martha Cooper)
TelmoMiel. Grenoble Alpes Street Art Fest. Edition 2021. Grenoble, France. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Elisa Capdevila. Grenoble Alpes Street Art Fest. Edition 2023. Grenoble, France. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Will Barras. Grenoble Alpes Street Art Fest. Edition 2016. Grenoble, France. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Yann Chatelin. Grenoble Alpes Street Art Fest. Edition 2020. Grenoble, France. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Mr. Wanys. Grenoble Alpes Street Art Fest. Edition 2015. Grenoble, France. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Goin. Grenoble Alpes Street Art Fest. Edition 2017. Grenoble, France. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Goin. Grenoble Alpes Street Art Fest. Edition 2018. Grenoble, France. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Combo. Grenoble Alpes Street Art Fest. Edition 2020. Grenoble, France. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Beast. Grenoble Alpes Street Art Fest. Edition 2019. Grenoble, France. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Guido Van Helten. Grenoble Alpes Street Art Fest. Edition 2022. Grenoble, France. (photo © Martha Cooper)
izzy Izvne. Grenoble Alpes Street Art Fest. Edition 2019. Grenoble, France. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Peeta. Grenoble Alpes Street Art Fest. Edition 2021. Grenoble, France. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Sarty31. Grenoble Alpes Street Art Fest. Edition 2017. Grenoble, France. (photo © Martha Cooper)
My Stencil. Grenoble Alpes Street Art Fest. Edition 2023. Grenoble, France. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Shepard Farey. Grenoble Alpes Street Art Fest. Edition 2019. Grenoble, France. (photo © Martha Cooper)
How & Nosm. Grenoble Alpes Street Art Fest. Edition 2017. Grenoble, France. (photo © Martha Cooper)
SOWANONE. Talk about meta. Here is a mural of New York graffiti stylemaster Dondi from a photo take by Martha Cooper, in this new photo taken by Martha Cooper – about 40 years later. Grenoble Alpes Street Art Fest. Grenoble, France. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Manolo Mesa. Grenoble Alpes Street Art Fest. Edition 2023. Grenoble, France. (photo © Martha Cooper)
KillahOne. Grenoble Alpes Street Art Fest. Grenoble, France. (photo © Martha Cooper)

See PART 1 of Grenoble Alpes Street Art Fest 2024 HERE.

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The Crystal Ship – Collection from Past Editions

The Crystal Ship – Collection from Past Editions

Yesterday, we shared with you the current edition of The Crystal Ship, a Belgian street art festival located in Ostend, which is located in the Flemish Region of Belgium. The collection of images that we presented was taken by photographer Martha Cooper, a frequent collaborator of BSA, during her recent trip to Ostend as a special guest of the festival.

Adele Renault. The Crystal Ship 2022. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)

In line with her usual practice, Ms. Cooper did not limit her work to capturing photos of the murals being painted for this year’s festival edition; she also endeavored to take as many photos of murals painted during previous editions of the festival. We are pleased to present a selection of these murals, painted over several years, with photographs taken by Martha Cooper herself.

Miss Van. The Crystal Ship 2019. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)

This selection of murals is an exciting representation of the diverse and captivating street art that has been featured at The Crystal Ship Festival throughout the years, much of it creating a gallery of contemporary artists whose work is arresting and appealing to a general audience. The dedication and hard work put forth by Martha Cooper in capturing these pieces in all their artistic glory is genuinely commendable. We hope you enjoy this glimpse into the festival’s vibrant history and the incredible art showcased in the public square in Ostend over the years.

BEZT. The Crystal Ship 2022. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Escif. The Crystal Ship 2019. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)
BUCK. The Crystal Ship 2017. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Guido van Helten. The Crystal Ship 2016. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)
C215. The Crystal Ship 2017. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Alex Senna. The Crystal Ship 2022. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Phlegm. The Crystal Ship 2017. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)
DZIA The Crystal Ship 2021. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Joachim. The Crystal Ship 2018. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Husk Mit Navn. The Crystal Ship 2021. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Matthew Dawn. The Crystal Ship 2018. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Broken Fingaz. The Crystal Ship 2022. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Paola Delfin. The Crystal Ship 2019. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Zenith. The Crystal Ship 2020. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Erin Holly. The Crystal Ship 2018. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Hyuro. The Crystal Ship 2017. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)
TelmoMiel. The Crystal Ship 2018. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Case Maclaim. The Crystal Ship 2020. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Colectivo Licuado. The Crystal Ship 2018. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Helen Bur. The Crystal Ship 2019. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Helen Bur. The Crystal Ship 2019. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Iñigo Sesma. The Crystal Ship 2022. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Leon Keer. The Crystal Ship 2019. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)
David Walker. The Crystal Ship 2019. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Franco Fasoli. Detail. The Crystal Ship 2022. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Franco Fasoli. The Crystal Ship 2022. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Maya Hayuk. The Crystal Ship 2022. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Aryz. The Crystal Ship 2021. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Aryz. The Crystal Ship 2021. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)

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BSA Images Of The Week: 01.30.22

BSA Images Of The Week: 01.30.22

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Welcome to BSA Images of the Week. Happy Snow Weekend!

We’re digging out from a ‘Nor’easter’ today in New York, a swirling blizzard of snow and strong winds that created such astonishing contrasts of bare ground and high-pointed drifts that kids and adults were playing together on these ledges, falling to the ground laughing.

It brings to mind the masses of Americans whose prospects and futures have been completely blown away, leaving nothing but bare soil – while bankers and corporate criminals have drifted all the wealth upwards to new stylish heights during the economic storm of the last 40 years. Feel like you are walking through two feet of snow and can never get ahead? Some would like you to think that it’s because of uncontrollable forces like the weather.

Meanwhile, it’s the calm after the storm now and we’re heading out to play in the snow this morning before it all gets dirty. It’s nice to see New York like a clean slate, full of possibility and promise. Let’s go for a walk!

And here’s our weekly interview with the streets in NYC, Miami, and Berlin; featuring ATOMS. Billy Barnacles, Boxer, Case Maclaim, Cupid, Dark Clouds, Jamie Hef, Joe Iurato, Kaynor, Klass, Modus. Smells, Ten! Tom Bob, Tony, and Wane.

Tom Bob (photo © Jaime Rojo)
A perfect Ten! (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Dark Clouds (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Dante in Berlin. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Case Maclaim in Miami for The Bushwick Collective. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Case Maclaim in Miami for The Bushwick Collective. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Case Maclaim in Miami for The Bushwick Collective. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Cupid (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Billy Barnacles (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Atoms (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Wane (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Kaynor (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Modus (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Klass (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Joe Iurato. “The More Things Change”. The Bushwick Collective. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Smells Tony (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Jamie Hef (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Boxer (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Untitled. East River New York. January 2022. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
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BSA Film Friday: 07.09.21

BSA Film Friday: 07.09.21

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Our weekly focus on the moving image and art in the streets. And other oddities.

Now screening:
1. Case Maclaim for WallStoryTown in Bad Vilbel, Germany
2. Sofles / Blood Moon
3. Okuda San Miguel. RONDA
4. Riton x Nightcrawlers – Friday ft. Mufasa & Hypeman (Dopamine Re-edit)

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BSA Special Feature: Case Maclaim for WallStoryTown in Bad Vilbel, Germany

Delabrave coming on strong in the one-minute category with Raül Acuña directing and a concise track progression on a master. Here in Bad Vilbel, Case Maclaim has no bad angles.

Case Maclaim for WallStoryTown in Bad Vilbel, Germany.


With mastery of a differently complex language using only cans, Sofles generates a fantasy with cities in clouds and the reflections of the Blood Moon overhead, a plump and racing belt of graffiti adventures sustaining the action underneath. High marks to After Midnight Film for editing and solid choice of Spooky Bizzle for the soundtrack.

Sofles / Blood Moon


Ever loosening his familiar components of representation, OKUDA reappropriates with skill and humor to create this dual portrait. Intercut with the majesty of flamenco, the strumming, swirling, finger-snapping, hand clapping bailaora lays the foundation for our visual cantanto, Okuda San Miguel.

Okuda San Miguel. RONDA


Riton x Nightcrawlers – Friday ft. Mufasa & Hypeman (Dopamine Re-edit)

The newest anthem that helps you dance your way into the weekend!


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Urvanity 2021: Highlights. A Selection Of Works From The Galleries

Urvanity 2021: Highlights. A Selection Of Works From The Galleries

Madrid’s Art Week – who would believe that it could actually happen? And to prove it, we have the 5th Anniversary of Urvanity defiantly strutting from one end of the COAM headquarter to the other. Taking its original inspiration from graffiti, post-graffiti, surrealism, pop, and that broadly applied “Urban Contemporary” tag, Sergio and the Urvanity team have persevered this year again.

Case Maclaim presented by Ruby Gallery. Urvanity 2021. Madrid, Spain. (photo courtesy of Urvanity Art Fair)

Where others have failed, Urvanity has succeeded and grown and even matured – with more than 25 national galleries and others from as far away as New York, Brussels, and Bogotá. This is not about fanboys and big unsubstantiated claims, Urvanity drives for quality, and it shows.

SANER presented by Swinton Gallery. Urvanity 2021. Madrid, Spain. (photo courtesy of Urvanity Art Fair)

The talks this year revolved around high-caliber artists, gallerists, architects, and curators of projects that have made new pathways and invariably give you insight and inspiration in equal measure. BSA has been proud to sponsor this thinking-persons fair, along with the artists and creators; we even hosted their talks a couple of years ago and loved the folks we met there.

Here are a few images of fine art works evolving from the street practice of a number of artists whose names you may recognize.

PICHIAVO presented by Stolen Space Gallery. Urvanity 2021. Madrid, Spain. (photo courtesy of Urvanity Art Fair)
Laurence Vallières presented by Swinton Gallery. Urvanity 2021. Madrid, Spain. (photo courtesy of Urvanity Art Fair)
Grip Face presented by Limited by Solo Gallery. Urvanity 2021. Madrid, Spain. (photo courtesy of Urvanity Art Fair)
D*Face presented by Stolen Space Gallery. Urvanity 2021. Madrid, Spain. (photo courtesy of Urvanity Art Fair)
Jorge Rodriguez-Gerada presented by Duran Monkey Gallery. Urvanity 2021. Madrid, Spain. (photo courtesy of Urvanity Art Fair)
Belin presented by Duran Monkey Gallery. Urvanity 2021. Madrid, Spain. (photo courtesy of Urvanity Art Fair)
Wasted Rita presented by Ruby Gallery. Urvanity 2021. Madrid, Spain. (photo courtesy of Urvanity Art Fair)

To see the complete list of galleries and the artists exhibited with the available works click HERE

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Portraiture by Case Maclaim and Helen Bur in Madrid for Urvanity 2021

Portraiture by Case Maclaim and Helen Bur in Madrid for Urvanity 2021

Frankfurt-based ultra-talent Case Maclaim is with the Urvanity Art Fair this week, and he has created a new mural in Madrid’s old, historical city center. His work is being shown by Brussells Ruby Gallery, along with that of street artists EverSiempre and Wasted Rita. Still, he just wanted to go big with a tribute to children’s imagination.

Case Maclaim. Urvanity 2021. Madrid, Spain. (photo courtesy of Urvanity Art Fair)

“I gave the viewer a new character of a yet unknown fairy tale,” Maclaim says of the confident kid wearing a mermaid costume. “I have high hopes that it will encourage especially the young audience to come up with their very own story.”

On another wall, tall and thin, on calle Fuencarral 47, artist Helen Bur painted a figure as a tribute to her mother and to the recently departed Street Artist Hyuro. She says she pays homage to these two women – ‘Humilty, strength, elegance & poetry of the subtle.”

Case Maclaim. Urvanity 2021. Madrid, Spain. (photo courtesy of Urvanity Art Fair)
Case Maclaim. Urvanity 2021. Madrid, Spain. (photo courtesy of Urvanity Art Fair)
Case Maclaim. Urvanity 2021. Madrid, Spain. (photo courtesy of Urvanity Art Fair)
Helen Bur. Urvanity 2021. Madrid, Spain. (photo courtesy of Urvanity Art Fair)
Helen Bur. Urvanity 2021. Madrid, Spain. (photo courtesy of Urvanity Art Fair)
Helen Bur. Urvanity 2021. Madrid, Spain. (photo courtesy of Urvanity Art Fair)
Helen Bur. Urvanity 2021. Madrid, Spain. (photo courtesy of Urvanity Art Fair)
Helen Bur. Urvanity 2021. Madrid, Spain. (photo courtesy of Urvanity Art Fair)
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