Pictured-Mural by artist Eloise Gillow titled Sisters, Mountains created in 2022, location in Pressigny-Les-Pins, France.
WALL LOCATIONS UNVEILED FOR NUART ABERDEEN 2023 MURALS
The first of the walls to be transformed by Nuart Aberdeen 2023 – and which artists will work on them - have been unveiled by Aberdeen Inspired.
They range from large-scale unmissable works to intimate pieces in a range of locations which will be the focus of the award-winning festival, from Thursday 8 June to Sunday 11 June.
The buildings to be worked on include the side of the Primark building at Rennie’s Wind, Annan House on Poynernook Road as well as walls in Flourmill Lane, Crooked Lane, Thistle Lane and Rose Street.
More walls and artists are set to be announced in coming weeks, with those under consideration including Aberdeen International Airport’s car park, flats at Whitehouse Street and the side of Atholl House.
In a flurry of activity leading up to the Nuart Aberdeen festival weekend, the walls will become rich visual treats, all on a theme of “Rewilding”.
Adrian Watson, Chief Executive of Aberdeen Inspired, said: “There is always a sense of anticipation about which walls are to be the blank canvases for the hugely talented artists which Nuart Aberdeen attracts every year.
“We have submitted our planning application for the walls to be the focus for this Nuart and the range and scope is truly impressive.”
“I cannot wait to see what this year’s talented artists create for the people of Aberdeen and the transformation they will bring to these corners of the city. At its heart, Nuart Aberdeen is about strengthening the connection of people and communities to the city through art. That is a fantastic legacy to leave.”
The Aberdeen Inspired boss also praised the wall-owners who had come forward to be part of this year’s festival.
“I can’t thank enough the property owners who answered our call for walls to be part of the festival. Their support shows just how well-loved and how much of a positive impact Nuart has on the city,” he said, adding Nuart Aberdeen provides a major economic boost, attracting visitors to the city centre and its shops, restaurants and hotels.
Nuart Aberdeen, now widely seen as the best street art festival of its kind in the world, has become a major tourist attracting, bringing tens of thousands of visitors and locals into the city centre It is a not-for-profit event supported by partners Aberdeen Inspired and Aberdeen City Council, delivered by Reed Projects.
Councillor Martin Greig, culture spokesman for Aberdeen City Council, welcomed the submission of the planning application for walls for Nuart Aberdeen 2023 as a milestone moment towards the arrival of the festival next month.
Martin said: “It will be great to host Nuart Aberdeen artists once again this summer. Their imaginative murals and designs will add so much to different communities and areas around the city.”
Several artists have already chosen the available walls they wish to work on, with the others to choose closer to the festival. Not every wall with planning permission will be worked on as artists decide which are best for them. Other walls are still to be put forward for planning permission.
The location of walls put forward and the artists who have chosen them so far are at:
- Thistle Lane – Artist SNIK: UK contemporary duo SNIK are returning to Nuart, having previously created works at the now demolished Market Building.
- Rose Street – Artist Escif: Spanish mural artist Escif has been on the street art scene since the late 90s, much of his work developed in his home city of Valencia, but also at the Power Station Museum in Shanghai and the Palaise de Tokyo museum in Paris.
- Primark building, Rennie’s Wynd- Artist SWOON: Brooklyn-based Caledonia Curry, whose world-renowned work appears under the name Swoon, will be create a rare piece for the festival. She is the first woman to gain large-scale recognition in the male-dominated world of street art.
- Crooked Lane – Artist Jamie Reid: Perhaps best known for designing album covers for The Sex Pistols, Jamie co-founded the radical political magazine, Suburban Press, and will bring his unique style of cut-up graphics and slogans to Aberdeen.
- Crooked Lane – Artist Aida Wilde: Iranian-born, London-based printmaker/visual artist and educator, Aida last created a piece for Nuart Aberdeen in 2021 and will return to add a new work to the mix.
- Flourmill Lane – Artist Eloise Gillow. UK-born Eloise has earmarked two walls on Flourmill Lane at the rear of the Bon Accord Centre. Currently based in Barcelona, Eloise creates imagery that invites the viewer to reflect on where and how they find vitality, moments of slowing down and reaching into a deeper undercurrent of connection to themselves, each other, and the natural world.
- Poynernook Road – Artist Murmure: French street artist duo Murmure will showcase their signature style to Aberdeen. Made up of Paul Ressencourt and Simon Roché, Murmure explore themes in a fun and poetic way to share their vision of the world.
- Other walls with artists still to be confirmed are at Aberdeen International Airport, Whitehouse Street flats, Union Point and Atholl House.
Anyone wanting to get a flavour of the festival before visiting can view the current Nuart Aberdeen murals here. Plan a self-guided tour route here.
View the full artists biographies and previous mural work here.