WALL LAB BY Ele.zissou
Barcelona
3.3.2020
Wall Lab’s latest edition was held during the month of June, and from Rebobinart we have been in charge of the production of this project.
Wall Lab is a Wallspot programme aimed at artistic experimentation in public spaces and the creation of long-lasting murals. The participating artists of this initiative are usually selected through an open call, but in this edition the selection has been made through a contest. During the lockdown period, Wallspot launched a contest via Instagram, open to all artists who are part of the platform. To participate, they had to submit a mural sketch along with the hashtag #WallspotEnCasa, and finally, from all the participants, Wallspot and Rebobinart selected three winning artists.
Elena González, better known as Ele.zissou, was one of the three winners, and therefore had the opportunity to participate in this very special edition of Wall Lab, managed by Rebobinart.
This artist, born in Salamanca, is an illustrator, graphic designer and photographer. Her style is characterized by the presence of small creatures that have led her to create a wild and magical universe. For this occasion, ele.zissou has painted a medium format wall named Stay Wild. The artwork is formed by a series of characters that depict tenderness but at the same time can generate a sense of concern or curiosity to the viewer, since their faces are neutral, making it more difficult for them to read their expression.
Rebobinart, in addition to being in charge of the project’s production, provided the participants with all the necessary materials to perform their artwork as well as an artistic fee and a video interview along with a photographic compilation to promote the work of these artists.
In the video, Ele.zissou —«illustrator and muralist in progress»— explains that her first mural was on a free wall: she comes from digital work and had never painted by hand, let alone large. Her characters aim to raise awareness about harmony with nature, which during lockdown «sort of came back to life».
Video transcript (translated from Spanish)2 min 30 s
An illustrator and a muralist in progress, because I have done very few murals, but I like it a lot. Almost everything I do is slightly childlike characters, but with a mysterious touch, because they are always very serious and with their eyes like this.
I already knew about Wallspot; the thing is I had never painted murals and hadn't been interested in it, and a friend of mine really encouraged me to paint one: so my first mural was on a free wall. I think it's a very good idea, because for me, who don't really know much about painting murals and am just starting out, it is a good way to practise and to learn with spray or with brushes. I come very much from digital work and had never tried painting by hand; big walls I had never even considered.
What I wanted to convey with my mural and my characters is, above all, that at some point I would like there to be a bit of harmony with nature, because we are wrecking it. During this lockdown, with all of us shut up at home, unable to go out, nature sort of came back to life and we saw it everywhere. I would like to use my little characters to raise awareness a bit, so that people bear it in mind more and try not to pollute so much, to live a little more respectfully towards the environment.
Video transcript, edited for reading: repetitions and verbal fillers have been removed, the text has been punctuated and speakers are identified.
