This time last year I was invited to take part alongside 8 other European artists in China to create a large scale murals for Wallskar Festival in Nanxian.
Staying in a "small"city of about 9 million people who the majority of had never seen Europeans in the flesh, was a massive culture shock and the most amazing experience. Being followed by groups of people down the streets, selfies and asked to hold babies was the norm
The festival was around a 15 minute drive just outside of the city where a small rural village was being transformed into the festival site pretty much over night. Alongside all the buildings being painted there was live music and lots of food
My main mural focused on 2017 being the year of the cockerall - One of the twelve signs of the Chinese zodiac, the Rooster is a Chinese symbol of honesty, as well as physical and moral fortitude. It is of the yang attribute and signifies fortune, luck, fidelity, protection as well as bossiness.
After further research I found that when a red headed rooster is seen on a roof of a house it symbolises protection for the habitants of that house.
We spent a total of 5 days on site, creating artwork every where in this small village with people asking us to decorate their houses..dream come true!
Everybody i encountered were so humble and happy to welcome us to their country however i will not be able to drink rice wine ever again.
BONZAI- UK
SATR - CHINA
JOYS _ ITALY
SHEEP- CHINA
NEIST - FRANCE
MALAKAI- SPAIN
NEIST & ASEB - FRANCE
