SAFARI URBAIN is the name of this series of photographs representing animal portrait makeovers projected on facades and buildings of the French capital. The artist, Julien NONNON, invites us to a new way to wander at night in the city. Watch out! You might come face-to-face with a cheetah wearing a bomber jacket, round a corner!
This multi-field artist is not at his the first throw. Under the banner of Le3 design studio, of which he is the co-founder, he has collaborated on many art projects combining street-art, kinetic installations, digital creations and video-mapping. In 2012, he displayed a tiger running along the soundproof wall of the Parisian ring road, through an innovative process called street video mapping. Thanks to a on-board beamer, he projects his work in any place that inspires him.
SAFARI URBAIN ALL EPISODES from Julien NONNON on Vimeo.
His work revolves mainly on the interaction of his creations with architecture and urban features that surround it. His luminous artwork exposes the matter, irregularities, reliefs, and enhances all these imperfections, thus revealing the beauty of real life.
The city then becomes his field of expression, a place full of possibilities and exceptional encounters. SAFARI URBAIN is in line with this approach and is born of a fierce desire to take the works to the streets, confront them directly to urban wildlife and make them reachable without degrading the walls. Leaving without a trace.
These ephemeral graffitis, short-lived souvenirs for the passer-by, are captured by the artist, named after the streets, mapped and will be printed full size on art paper, thus immortalizing this phantasmagorical menagerie.
This bestiary coming right out of fashion magazines, questions our behavior, our ambivalent desire to be both unique and wanting to belong to a well-defined group.
In our way of dressing, we express our vision of the world, while indirectly revealing our social position and financial power. Fashion is nothing other than a means of communication, of integration and belonging to a group. Thus, the artist denounces, through his anthropomorphic creatures such urban myths and social influence which can lead to conformity.
These fleeting works deserve to be viewed for at least a night or a moment. Be ready, explore, look up! You might catch a glimpse of one of the creatures in your neighbourhood.
www.juliennonnon.com
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