MALAGA LOVES ART!
There are always opportunities to grab creative inspiration in life. But, some are better than others. Getting out of your comfort zone and into a new environment can be a great catalyst for new inspiration. Travelling is more than a mere journey from one place to another; it's a chance to feed the creative soul and unlock the hidden inspirations that the normal day-to-day, perhaps, can’t. When we put ourselves in new environments, we naturally become more observant. New sights, sounds, smells etc. New ‘inputs’ everywhere that, in turn, might help inspire our future creative ‘outputs’. So, in need of a few new inputs, I was lucky enough to be invited to Malaga in Spain, to see what I could discover…
D*FACE & SHEPARD FAIRY
Rolling through the streets of sunny Malaga in a taxi, my eyes dart from wall to wall, as the impressive street art that decorates the city whizzes past. A city full of colour and one that clearly loves, and really appreciates art.
There was a piece of work in Malaga that I knew I wanted to see. And, classic me, I hadn’t researched where exactly this piece was. But, as fate would have it, as I got out of the taxi outside the Centro de Arte Contempraneo, I looked up and there it was!
Two giant murals by two of the biggest artists in that field. D*Face and Shepard Fairy/Obey. Being right outside the Centro de Arte Contempraneo, they clearly chose their canvases very wisely as these two pieces of work can be seen from all over Malaga. Oh, and it also, made my life a lot easier finding them.
MALAGA CAC.
Leaving the bustling streets of Malaga, I spent the next couple of hours in the calm of the Centro de Arte Contempraneo. There were so many interesting pieces on show. A mix of paintings, photography, sculptures and installations from a wide range of artists. Renowned artists such as Andy Warhol, but also other artists, whom I was newly discovering like Michel Francois, Atanda Adebayo, Janaina Tschape and many more. A whole feast of new creative inputs that I was craving.
STREET ART.
Malaga's streets are a canvas where history and contemporary creativity collide. The city's commitment to street art is unmistakable, and every alley, square and building façade serves as a testament to this vibrant art form. With time to spare before I had to leave the city on another mini adventure, I embarked on a self-guided tour of Malaga's street art scene, discovering hidden gems around every corner.
As you can see from the images, there were colours and textures everywhere. Sadly, I only caught a small glimpse of what the street art in Malaga has to offer. But, what I did see was definitely inspiring. There is everything from more traditional Spanish-style murals to stencil art, posters and paste-ups and, one of my favourite styles, classic old-school graffiti lettering. There were a few pieces that stood out to me though, while on my creative wander around the small bit of the city I was exploring. They were by an artist called TV Boy, and not only are they very cool but they made thinking of the name of this blog very easy!
PICASSO!
As I was walking through one of the many park areas that line the streets of the city, I came across the final hidden gem on my whirlwind tour of Malaga. A sculpture by none other than, Picasso. Let’s face it, you can’t really come to Spain, searching for creative inputs without seeing some work by, arguably the most famous Spanish artist of all time. It was a highly appropriate way to finish my flying visit to a city that I can’t wait to visit again!
I love searching out new sources or inputs of creativity! And exploring a new city always sparks something. But, Malaga, is a surprise art haven! From D*Face and Shepard Fairy's street murals to the eclectic Centro de Arte Contempraneo, every corner sparked creativity. With streets, you could wander for days and never see everything. A canvas alive with endless cool pieces of work, and a chance Picasso encounter in the park to finish my whirlwind visit – pure artistic magic! Malaga, you're a masterpiece, and I’ll be back!
Thanks for reading! Until next time…