An unremarkable wall patch on Goubert Ave has come to life with human form, geometric shapes and colour, as Paris-based artist Skio showcases his mastery over the mural.
Skio’s three-day exhibition near the Tourism office on the beach has been hosted as part of the French Rendez-Vous festival and the fourth edition of Bonjour India 2022 (March-May) that is coinciding with the 75th anniversary of India’s Independence and Indo-French ties.
The wall art depicts the veiled face of an Indian woman amid a montage of geometric patterns, inspired from modern architecture. “The idea behind hiding the eyes of the subject is to accentuate the aspect of anonymity in urban lives, where a mass of people throng a street as strangers”, said Skio, who is among the important upcoming artists.
Skio worked on his painting from a photograph taken on a street in India, preferring cans of spray paint given the size of the wall patch to acrylic-and-brush. “Street art is a big movement in France. Whether the message is aesthetic or political depends on the individual choice of the artist,” he said and added, “There is no dearth of wall space to express our art in cities”.
To mark the conclusion of the show on Wednesday, Skio was felicitated by French Consul General Lise Talbot Barré, Tourism Secretary T. Arun, Tourism Secretary, Priytarshny, Tourism Director and Satish Nallam, Alliance Francaise president.
Skio’s first murals appeared in 1993 in the Nice region, starting with mural letterings before moving on to figurative romantic topics, fed by pop and TV culture. His works that mix geometrical shapes and realistic portraits featuring obfuscated eyes, question mankind’s coexistence in an urban landscape by creating modern and harmonious aesthetics. The artist’s love for the Bauhaus movement and surrealism have evolved into a style, aiming for a delicate balance between geometry, anatomy and colour. His works, involving spray painting, paintbrushes and digital tools range from large formats on city walls to canvases in his workshop, as well as spatial installations, and have been exhibited in numerous festivals all over the world.
According to festival organisers, the street art movement is at the core of the reflection, which redefines equality and expression of all, in the public space of modern societies. While India has a long history and tradition of wall art in numerous regions, exposing to the world the infinite richness of its cultures, France too has a very strong and historical urban art scene, ranging from graffiti to hip-hop dance, and has been proactive in redesigning permanently the face/shape of its cities.
The wall art festival not only presents a colourful journey but brings together French and Indian artists in a mutual passion for wall paintings. It features many events---murals, encounters, contests---across cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Bhopal, and aims to put under the spotlight the core message that equality is not a choice but a necessity.
The Bonjour India fete is being organised by the French diplomatic missions in India, French Institute of India, Alliance Francaise chapters with support of a host of organisations and showcases about 120 events across 19 Indian cities, co-created by French and Indian partners in domains ranging across education, science, literature, cinema, gastronomy, street art, performing arts and photography.
