Shozy – The Clock Tower as a Reflection of the Past

A mural by Shozy that reinterprets the Clock Tower, an emblematic monument of Nou Barris, as a symbol of the passage of time and the district’s urban memory.

The artist: Shozy

Renowned for his 3D painting techniques, Shozy is a Russian artist specialising in optical illusions applied to public space. His work has been seen in cities such as Moscow, Sharjah and Berlin, where he has developed mural interventions that play with perception, volume and visual depth.
Through mural art, Shozy transforms flat surfaces into visual stages that alter the reading of urban space, inviting viewers to engage with the work through movement and changing points of view.

The artwork: “The Clock Tower”

Location: Carrer Platja d’Aro, 19, Trinitat Nova, Nou Barris, Barcelona.

Shozy’s mural takes the Clock Tower as its main reference. Built in 1953 in Trinitat Nova, it was considered for decades one of the neighbourhood’s key symbols of identity. Located in Plaça de l’Àrie, next to Carrer de Palamós, the tower set the rhythm of everyday life with its chimes and served as a visual and auditory landmark for local residents.
For many years, the clock was maintained with the direct involvement of the neighbourhood, reinforcing its community value. Despite periods of disuse and deterioration, the Clock Tower remained deeply embedded in the collective memory until its demolition in 2013, leaving a significant symbolic imprint on Nou Barris.
Building on this legacy, Shozy reinterprets the tower through a composition based on 3D painting and optical illusions, placing it at the centre of the visual narrative. The mural activates urban memory and re-signifies a vanished architectural element, transforming it into a perceptual experience that connects past and present and strengthens the link between heritage, identity and public space.

NOU Sentit Urbà: urban art in the Nou Barris district

This intervention is part of the 18 artistic actions of the NOU Sentit Urbà project, promoted by Barcelona City Council and produced by Rebobinart, with the collaboration of the Nou Barris District and local neighborhood communities.
The project recovers collective memories and local identities through murals, installations, and participatory processes, addressing themes such as older age, sustainability, migration, neighborhood women, vernacular architecture, or sport as a force for cohesion. Each intervention adds a piece to Nou Barris’ shared story, reinforcing the value of memory and the role of urban art as a tool for social transformation.