Month: July 2020

By Emma Regolini

July 24th, 2020

Renowned for his detailed ceramic visuals, Portuguese visual artist Add Fuel (short for Add Fuel to the Fire), Diogo Machado has continued to expand his appetite for tile-based art across the world.

Leaving university with a degree in Graphic Design, Add Fuel spent a few years in design studios in Portugal, a short stint in Munich and then honing in on his focus and craft in 2007.

The visual and aesthetic origins of his mosaic-tile details originate from cartoons, skate culture and urban visual culture. Intrigued by the possibilities of incorporating these topical inspirations into symmetrical patterning and tessellations, Add Fuel began to build on the design language we see from his work today.

Add Fuel’s approach to Portuguese ceramic and tile design blends traditional and contemporary decorative elements and references. The layering of compositions creates a trompe-l’œil visual illusion.

The artist’s unique process and visual approach creates a dialogue between the history of ceramics as an art form in Portugal and his contemporary visual references. When speaking with Juxtapoz, Add Fuel explains the importance of ‘Azulejo’ tile mosaics around the 13^th century.

Azulejo is a form of Portuguese and Spanish painted tin-glazed ceramic tile-work. Azulejos are found on the interior and exterior of churches, palaces, houses, schools, and nowadays, restaurants and bars.

Azulejos ornamental art form and geometric canvas opens up the opportunity to work use these elements has a canvas for creative expression as Add Fuel has done over time.

The level of visual and physical craftsmanship involves a considerable research process. Add Fuel’s work is adaptive in that it can tell as story though a mural, in a gallery or a real tiled space.

By Emma Regolini

July 17th, 2020

Basketball courts are the perfect canvas for large-scale murals as well as creative and recreational activism.  These spaces are often meeting points and cultural hubs for members of the community.

Founded in 2014 by Dan Peterson, Project Backboard focuses on transforming neglected court spaces into large-scale artworks for the community.

After Peterson began to notice the decaying state of some of the courts in his community, he began small improvements and touch-ups, eventually collaborating with local artist Anthony Lee on a Memphis court refurbishment, which became the birth of Project Backboard.

Peterson told Colossal that he prefers to work with local artists from areas who have a connection to the park or city where the court is located.

Project Backboard has expanded from Memphis to St Louis, Los Angeles, Baltimore, New Rochelle and New York. Using courts as a canvas for public art means that that it is accessible to all members of the community and has the power to transform neglected spaces.

We’ve pulled together some of our favourite court murals by Project Backboard and others from around the world…

By Emma Regolini

July 10th, 2020

Efdot, also known as Eric Friedensohn is U.S. based artist and creative mind known for his figurative hand-drawn works. His minimalist, abstract-meets-figurative style has allowed him to work solo or collaborative across mediums worldwide

Drawing inspiration and nuance from artists including M.C. Escher and Keith Haring, Efdot has been able to establish a signature style and apply it to branded projects with WeWork, Google and Skillshare among others.

Efdot’s latest community-building project Muralists, is an online platform feature stories and advice from muralists around the world. In an age when ‘go-big-or-go-home’ outdoor messaging and murals have the power to start conversations and create change, Muralists is an exciting platform to see grow.

We asked Efdot a few questions about his creative process during the pandemic as well as advice for his younger self and other artists.

If you could give one piece of advice to your 18 year old self what would it be?

I’d tell my 18-year-old self to not be afraid of putting your art out there for fear of judgement. And don’t be afraid to focus on a specific niche of creative work. That’s how people will remember and support you.

What advice would you give to a young creatives wanting to freelance/source clients?

Start out by building a solid portfolio to show potential clients. Focus on quality AND quantity. If you have a product that is unique and memorable, it’s just a matter of time before clients reach out to work with you. Patience and persistence is the key.

Respect the people you’re working with, but also respect your own needs and rights.

What was the impetus for starting Muralists?

I noticed a lot of artists wanting to get into painting murals, but they didn’t have too many helpful resources or opportunities to learn.

In 2018, I started collaborating and having conversations with different muralists to study their processes. I wanted to share their work, experience, and knowledge of others in the field, along with the things that have served me as a muralist. Everyone’s practice is different, so having a platform that can share the nuances and narratives of each artist is really awesome.

We are just getting started with the Muralists project, and will be launching a podcast very soon called “Extra Paint” to share deeper conversations with our featured artists. You can find it at www.muralists.com.

Has your creative process changed while working through the pandemic?

Yes, definitely. I have been making fewer murals and collaborating in-person less. This is because most of my commercial mural projects have been postponed as businesses are shut and big events are not really happening. But I am still making art, in the form of donation-based murals, drawings and paintings, limited edition prints and baseball cards.

Is there a dream project that you would like to work on?

I would like to design and paint a skate park. I can see it having a ton of awesome skateable sculptures and murals in it as well.

What are three key learnings/lessons from your contract with WeWork?

1. Everything can be a collaboration, and therefore be made stronger.

2. I learned various tools and techniques that allow for my work to explore different media. I consider myself a multidisciplinary artist and feel that I can create works for a multitude of spaces/environments.

3. Research makes more impactful art. Art typically exists within a specific context, and, through research, you can make your art resonate deeper with an audience or serve as an example of a particular time or place.

What is your dream mural location?

I haven’t painted a mural on the side of a building larger than three stories tall. I’d like to do a large mural like this in the next year. I’m not super picky about the location as long as there are a good amount of people around to actually see and enjoy the mural.  If I had to choose a city I’d say Barcelona… They have a great art/design scene I’ve always had a dream to live there.

Can you describe your work/style in three words?

Clean, Bold, Optimistic