2017 17

As a fan of Amy Winehouse, it has always been so tempting to paint her portrait in her local area of Camden (North London). The wall, located on the side of Nemesis Studio, is curated by Nelly Bazacs and is repainted once a month by a new artist. I had the pleasure to create my own version of Amy, holding a golden microphone and laying on her side.

“Amy” – Zabou – 3x7m – London, UK – 2017

Photo credit: (1, 3) Zabou, (2) Nelly Bazacs

For the first time I flew to South America, more precisely to central Colombia. The atmosphere of the Quindío region is magic and the wild nature very impressive. I was invited amongst other local and international artists to paint as part of the CapFest festival organised by LisergicoLab, and supported by the region and the Alliance Française.

Firstly we settled for the small town of Genova located high up in the mountains. With a small group of artists we painted the houses of the local inhabitants, who were enthusiastic about the city’s first murals. My design represents the cropped face of an old Colombian man, which interacts with the window when open/closed.

“El Abuelo” – Zabou – 2x2m – Genova, Colombia – 2017

Watch the video

As the Quindío is one of the largest producer of coffee in Colombia, this is the theme I picked for my second mural located in the city of Armenia. More precisely it focuses on the notion of “Chapolera”, who represented the strong and beautiful paysant woman working in the fields. My mural is composed around a Colombian woman with a fierce look and the bunch of coffee plants she is holding.

“La Chapolera” – Zabou – 7x6m – Armenia, Colombia – 2017

Photos credit: Zabou (1, 2, 3, 4) – Santiago Gomez (5, 6)

During the last couple of years I have been repainting multiple times the side wall of the The Bell, a friendly pub in East London. The structure of the wall is composed of various frames and half columns which make it complicated to work with, I have to be creative every time to adjust to the space. The theme selected for this new mural is ‘Alice in Wonderland’, a story I use to read when I was little and that I still appreciate greatly. The entrance door of the pub is being used as the door where Alice goes through to enter Wonderland, following the White Rabbit running away in fear of being late. On the left side, lays a small bottle with the words ‘Drink me’.

Down the rabbit hole… Descente dans le terrier du lapin blanc…

“Wonderland” – Zabou – 6x4m – London, UK – 2017

Photo credit: Zabou

This year I’ve explored some new surfaces, I painted a rooftop a few months ago and I’ve just completed a mural on a large canal boat. The artwork depicts an underwater scenery with plants, fishes and a diver exploring the deep waters. The diver is seen holding a perch with surprise, while nearby a pike is chasing a rudd. The boat will be travelling near and across London over the next few years so you may be able to spot it!

“All Aboard!” – Zabou – 12x1m – London, UK – 2017

Photo credit: Zabou

From Hamburg I flew straight to Paris for a project organised by the association Garidell14. With four other female artists, and despite the rain, we painted a 50m wall and gave a spray painting workshop to local children.

My artwork, entitled ‘CREATE’, depicts a woman holding a marker with one hand, and a spray can with the other. Her body fits in the stretched format of the wall and creates a powerful and magical sensation of floating for the audience.

“CREATE” – Zabou – 13x3m – Paris, France – 2017

Credit photo: (1) (2) Zabou – (3) (4) Garidell14

I travelled to Hadera in Israel with the association Artists4Israel, who brings international and local artists to beautify the country. The project was the first of its kind in the city and it was received really well by its inhabitants.
On this occasion I painted two murals, both in community centres which provide activities and a friendly space for children.

“Education is Power” – Zabou – 9x5m – Hadera, Israel – 2017

“Urban Dreams” – Zabou – 6x5m – Hadera, Israel – 2017

The ‘MUR Mulhouse‘ welcome local and international artists to paint on a large public space in the city centre of Mulhouse, France. I was the 42nd artist but the first female artist to paint on the wall! Hopefully the first of many.

  Photo credit: Zabou (1,2,3) & Thomas Itty (4)

Last week, Spike Lee filmed Grandmaster Flash in front the tribute mural I painted last year when visiting the USA. The video promotes the 60th Grammy Awards ceremony, and celebrates New York as the city of music.

The mural of Grandmaster Flash was painted last September with the help of the TAG Public Arts Project in the South Bronx. The artwork, inspired by a photo by M.Daoud, pays tribute to the origin of hip-hop and the legendary DJ.

Watch the video below:

Cyprus is one of my frequent painting destinations, with great joy I travelled there once again for Street Life Festival celebrating its 10 year anniversary. I painted at this occasion two giant murals, one in Limassol city centre and one in the small town of Athienou.

The first artwork, painted on a building with large windows with bars, depicts a man hand-cuffed with birds flying off. I was inspired by the space to create something about prison and freedom. Despite being chained, a person’s spirit can be free.

“Free” – Zabou – 12x8m – Limassol, Cyprus – 2017

The second mural, painted in Athienou, depicts a little girl laid down, holding her backpack where her cat is peeking out, and listening to music – with a walkman! How old school. I wanted to paint this feeling of being by oneself, feeling good and taking the time to think, to breathe, to relax.

“In My Head” – Zabou – 22x3m – Athienou, Cyprus – 2017

I painted my first rooftop at Angel Comedy, in London (UK), as a side project from the iconic portraits created on the outside of the venue. The artwork depicts a woman sleeping and crawled into a ball, not quite fitting into the space. A drone captured the elevation from the rooftop to the sky, where the environment seems to be crushing her.

We’re so small…

“Crushed” – Zabou – London, UK – 2017

It’s been a while I wanted to paint Salvador Dali and his crazy moustache! I realised his portrait based on a famous photo of the artist showing off his facial hair while looking intensely at the viewer. In addition, one of his ‘soft watches’ is seen melting on the floor. The portrait is located on LukeJacob‘s shutter in East London, UK. It’s mostly visible at nights and on Sundays.

“Salvador Dali” – Zabou – 3x2m – London, UK – 2017

I recently visited Vitry Sur Seine near Paris where I painted this tribute portrait to one of the greatest French singers, Edith Piaf. The artwork is based on a photo of a young Edith looking up to the sky, as if she was dreaming. I hope this can be an inspiration for others.

“Edith” – Zabou – 3x4m – Vitry sur Seine, France – 2017

Back in La Butte aux Cailles in the 13e district in Paris to paint my favourite wall once again. This piece is a tribute to street art, colours, paint – that conveys a strong message: no more blank walls! 

“Add More Colours” – Zabou – 4x3m – Paris, France – 2017

Back in Camden town for the first mural of 2017! The Real Art of Street Art provided me with this wall just off the main high street. This portrait is inspired by a photo by Derek Ridgers of a punk/skinhead girl in London (1981). Camden is, historically and still today, home to a large punk and alternative community.

“Little Punk” – Zabou – 2x3m – London, UK – 2017

Photo credit: Zabou