The Pompei Street Art Festival features a familiar selection of events, tours, panels, workshops, performances, murals, and eye candy that you have come to expect from these public/private events meant to spark interest in a city, its downtown, its economy.
But the difference here is that the city of Pompei provides a link to ancient graffiti, the citizens of ancient Pompei used chalk and sharp tools to write on walls to express and communicate with each other and of course, it offers a link to the Romans and to the richest archaeological site perhaps in the world. It would be difficult to overemphasize its importance after the discoveries of Pompeii and Herculaneum, not only because of the scholarship that followed it but its influence over the 18th century in both France and England; the neo-classical style, of contemporary renditions of the imagination of the classical world. Buried under ash in 79CE, the history of the excavated city influences the environment, the architecture, the mosaics, water towers, schools, temples, taverns.
So without narration, we first gaze over the murals produced during this festival. One may reflect on that influence of centuries past on every artist participating here, and wonder how this is informing their choices, their techniques, their sense of place in history. We look forward to bringing you the second edition of this fresh new festival in 2022.
After three weeks of collecting plastic from nearby beaches, the fountain sculpture is completed with the hopes of bringing attention to the environment. The collection of plastic was done in conjunction with Plasticfreeit. The Cian team is composed of Carlos, Max, Rata, and Marcel.
A new cultural eruption in the heart of Pompei, Italy, the first edition of the Pompei Street Festival in September included frescoes and free music and many opportunities for people to experience contemporary life in this city famous for its buried and revealed history.
Portuguese street artist Mrkas here ties the two together with his mural inspired by a sculpture in Pompei’s archeological park, the site of the ancient Roman city Pompeii buried by the lava of Mount Vesuvius in 79 BC. The elevated street depiction elevates the blindfolded faces in the Centaurus basement; inspired by the works of Polish sculptor Igor Mitoraj.
Southeast of historic Naples and its forms smoothly draped or otherwise, MrKas appropriately brings his virtuosic application of color and light to add dimensional realism to the new wrapped faces. It’s natural for him, a fan of 3D and hyperrealism – and here in Pompei, his new work is positioned properly between classical antiquity and the current fashion of art in the streets.
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