Aristides Ureña Ramos - Mural artist from Italy/Panama

Read our interview with mural artist Aristides Ureña Ramos from Florence, Italy. He realizes murals in Panama on a regular basis and told us about his work, oscillating between Italy and Panama. You can find more about his art on the following website: proudelas.blogspot.com



How come that you`re into StreetArt?
>> I think it was very easy for me, as I am a multi-disciplinary artist and therefore it was a logical and direct consequence.

Describe your own style in a few words.
>> I consider myself as a manipulator of habits. I intend to melt styles and to create a potpourri of “attempts” which help me to bring out my ideas. That is why I step out of the stylistic problematic and concentrate all my energy on the finishing of my projects.

What is your perception of the street art- scene in the city where you`re living?
>> I live in Florence, Italy and I’m also spending much time in Santiago de Veraguas, Panama. These are two completely different realities, but full of contradictions that stimulate me to adapt the culture of beauty of my hometown and realize it also on other places. Right now, I am working a big mural piece which is going to beautify the city.

Are there artists who had (or still have) influence on your art?
>> For sure! The renaissance frescos of Florence – not only the most famous ones, I’m also very inspired by the 15th century murals done by unknown artists. They knew very well how to adorn ambiances. And, of course, renaissance painters Andrea del Sarto and Domenico Ghirlandaio.

What meaning does (urban) art have for you?
>> I think that projecting oneself into arts is about enjoying and delighting the public, which makes one to undergo the artistic experience as a great adventure. The point is that your creations are born and then evolve with their public. That’s a dialogue which puts our certainties to a hard test, resulting in the maturing – and many times changing – of our convictions. And I think that it is a good school of life.

Simer, graffiti artist from Nicaragua

Check out the interview with Simer, graffiti artist from Nicaragua, and see some of his pieces done at various locations in Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala. You'll find more on his blog: simelogik1

How come that you`re into street art?
>> I started to do street art because I was bored by conventional art and thought of creating new, more open alternatives in my life.

Describe your own style in a few words.
>> Wild mosaics.

What is your perception of the street art- scene in the city where you`re living?
>> Very good, there is much quality and many talents.

Are there artists who had (or still have) influence on your art?
>> In the past, when I started, I was influenced by my friends.

What meaning does urban art have for you?
>> Expressing as much as possible on the streets, considering that everybody can see it, no matter if rich or poor. It is there for all social classes.

Urban heartbeat artists will expose at Neurotitan Gallery in Berlin

In summer 2012, Urban Heartbeat will be presented at Neurotitan gallery in Berlin, Germany, as a multimedia exposition. The exposition will feature photo and video material of the events that took part in every country, as well as portraits of the involved artists and their work.

Click HERE and get a 3D-view of Neurotitan gallery.
(picture by neurotitan gallery, 06.04. - 10.04.2011,
Inkygoodness Character Totem Show & Ryan Quincy "THAT WAS THEN...THIS IS FOREVER")

Being a gallery and an art shop at the same time, central Berlin-located Neurotitan gallery is the hub for the activities of the association Schwarzenberg e.V. It has a very unique concept which reflects the artistic and cultural diversity of the German capital Berlin, and doesn’t submit to mainstream. Neurotitan mainly supports artists and musicians who are moving in between experiments, subculture and establishment and thereby offers them the opportunity to present their works to the public. Part of the concept of Neurotitan is its big network of international artists, who range between avant-garde and subculture, but generally are acting outside of the frontiers of the official art market. Neurotitan sees its main function and target in crossing this border, as long as it justifiable from an artistic point of view. Precondition is always the conceptual collaboration with the exhibiting artists.

The first exhibition at Neurotitan gallery took place in 1996. Until today, the 300 square meters have been used for approximately 80 expositions. Additionally, the gallery provides space for concerts, readings, performances and cooperation’s with various festivals.

We would like to thank Neurotitan gallery and the association Schwarzenberg e.V. for providing us with the opportunity to show the great street art talent that exists in our region in the facilities of one of the most renowned spaces for urban art in Berlin.

Interview with Cisco Merel, urban artist from Panama

Check out our interview with Francisco Merel from Panama. Many thanks to Cisco for answering our questions! To get to know more about him, visit his website: www.ciscomerel.com

How come that you're into Street Art?
>> In the mid Nineties, with the influence of skateboarding, everything started like a game. Bit by bit I got involved more seriously. I wanted to do paintings but the colors where very expensive. So I went to a Hardware store, bought some cans and started experimenting without having any limits set by an easel.




Please describe your own style in a few words.
>> I don‘t define myself with any particular style but my last works are more a mix between the abstract and the figurative with a lot of colors.

What is your perception of the Street Art - scene in the city where you're living?
>> The scene is very small, but I think the movement is increasing little by little. Now there are better paintings and information about what’s going on is spreading. There are no complaints anymore if people see you painting.

Are there artists who had (or still have) influence on your art?
>> Yes! More than artists, I would mention friends of mine that have marked my professional as well as my personal life. From Panama: Sumo; from Los Angeles: Demon Slayer; from California: Above; from New York: Ripo, from France: DaCruz; and from Rio de Janeiro: Ment, Bruno Big and MGA.

What meaning does Urban Art have for you?
>> Meeting people, sharing, travelling and discovering new places, to be able to transmit what I have inside me and to do every day what I like to do most: painting.