In the recent years, Kyiv has increasingly become an international street-art center. But a new urban art project seeks to take that status to a new level. Launched on 16 March 2016, ArtUnitedUs purports to be “the biggest ground-breaking urban art project which will unite 200 of the best artists through mural art and the promulgation of maintaining peace on Earth.”
The project’s initiators are Ukrainian cultural figures Geo Leros, Iryna Kanishcheva, Waone Interesni Kazki and Ilya Sagaidak. On their website, they state that the artists were united by the desire to direct the forces of creation towards peace, no matter where it would be in Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine or Abkhazia. According to them, now is a time when propaganda of aggression and brainwashing generate tensions around the world. This is why a line-up of prominent international street artists will work together to raise public awareness and attention to the problem of war, aggression and violence. 200 walls around the world will be painted, but the project is not only about producing a series of murals, but instead, creating an entirely new history. The organizers are confident that murals are a tremendous weapon and that art will save the world.
Read also: 10 must-see Kyiv murals
The first 100 works will be created on the territory of Ukraine, and the second 100 around the globe, creating a “ring of peace.” To date, three murals have been already created in Kyiv.
“Labyrinth” by Rustam QBic
The first one was by the Russian street artist Rustam QBic at Dmytrivska 62/20. His mural Labyrinth mural depicts a character wearing a crown shaped like a labyrinth over his head who guided by scarab beetle compass, who tries to find a way out of a massive maze of life challenges. According to the artist, the mural reflects on the meaning of this journey, a journey we all undertake at some point in our lives. This mural is already one of the top-10 murals around the world created in March 2016, according to streetartnews.net. All photos by ArtUnitedUs.
About traveling, by Artem Proot
The mural by Kyiv artist Artem Proot at Anri Barbusa 11 is about traveling into the worlds that make us better, give us interesting meetings and open many new opportunities. He was assisted by a 12-year old boy Oleksii, who is diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Oleksii sometimes even skipped school for the occasion. Now the organizers of ArtUnitedUs will look into the opportunity to engage children with disabilities into the process of creating art in Ukraine.
By Liqen
The Spanish artist Liqen created a huge mural showing a crowned blue man holding an unusual woman-flower. A cat that has caught a mouse is hiding beneath the chair. The mural is situated on vul. Bratyslavska 12.
We can expect many interesting works ahead, as the project has already attracted an impressive lineup of 200 artists from across the globe, including 2501, 2Alas, Aaron Glasson, Aec Interesni Kazki, Add Fuel, Adnate, Agostino Iacurci, Alexei Kondakov, Alexey Luka, Alexis Diaz, Andrew Hem, Ana Marietta, Artem Proot, Aryz, Britcev Alexander, Bik Ismo, Bohdan Burenko, Case McClaim, Cyrcle, DALeast, Deih, Edgar Saner, Elian, Emmanuel Jarus, Ernesto Maranje, Eversiempre, Evoca1, Faith47, Fatum, Fin Dac, Fintan Magee, Franco Fasoli Jaz, Fikos Antonios, Gaia, Grebeniuk, Grino, Guido Van Helten, Herakurt, Hyuro, Ilya Chichkan, Ino, INTI, Jade Rivera, James Bullough, Jonny Alexander, Jura Kanevski, JR, Kenor, Li-Hill, Liqen, Lucy Mclauchlan, Mata Ruda, M-City, MOMO, Moneyless, MTO, Nunca, NeSpoon, Okuda, Os Gemeos, Paola Delfin, Pastel, Phlegm, Reka1, Retna, Ricky Lee Gordon (Freddy Sam), ROA, Rone, Rustam Qbic, Saner, Sasha Kurmaz, Smates, Sebastian Velasco, Saddo Raul, Sego, Senekt, Speto, Sten & Lex, Storaz, Soke, Smitheone, Vero Rivera, Vova Vorotniov, Zio Ziegler, Waone Interesni Kazki and others.
Follow news about the project on the site, fb page, and by the hashtags #ArtUnitedUs in fb and twitter.
