Artists Paint for Peace in Shoreditch with Events Leading up to International Peace Day

International Alerts ‘Talking Peace‘ festival has been getting into full swing throughout the month of September with a whole range of artists giving their time and talent to help start a conversation about peace as part of the #Art4peace campaign.

Launched at the beginning of the month with events in Hoxton Square and Old Street Tube station, a lot of the work produced will eventually be put on show at the Hoxton Gallery and sold in order to raise funds for peacemaking activities in the UK and around the World. The concept is simple, talking with each other breaks the ice, and if conversation can be kickstarted with a shared love of art then conflicts could be solved as people begin to realise that their differences aren’t so great after all.

Kicking off the festival in style Lana Alana painted the windows in Hoxton Square and also created a piece as part of the Old Street Tube Station event/ Photo courtesy of International Alert — Kicking off the festival in style Lana Alana painted the windows in Hoxton Square and also created a piece as part of the Old Street Tube Station event. Photo courtesy of International Alert

With live painting in the Peace Booth at Old Street Station proving a huge success the activities moved on to Shoreditch where a takeover of the famous Shoreditch Art Wall, a paint jam in Shoreditch Yard and live painting in the Queen of Hoxton meant that painting for peace was the order of the day.

Speaking to Inspiring City about why she wanted to be a part of the festival, artist Andrea Tyrimos said “Art can be something very interactive and thought provoking and I’m honoured to be a part of something which will at least get more of us thinking about how peace can be achieved.” While Italian artist Maggio, painting on the Hoxton Rooftop explained how for her there’s a sense of inner peace when creating an image. Not only that, once the final image has been produced it’s impact can still be felt by others who may “feel a sense of serenity and therefore peace”.

So what better way to celebrate the art and of course the artists by seeing some of the work which has been produced over all three locations…

Shoreditch Art Wall – 13-19 September 2014
Local street artists Pang, Ben Murphy and 616 combined to paint the art wall panels on Great Eastern Street resulting in an extravaganza in black and white, something we’ve come to expect from these artists. Not so long back Pang and Murphy collaborated together with Sophie Mason on what this blog described as a “surreal masterclass”. The resultant immersive experience was called ‘Morella‘ and set the bar for what would be created on the art wall. This time joined by 616 the trio excelled themselves over a few high intensity days worth of painting capturing the imagination of the many passing motorists and passers by, overlooking as it does a prime stretch of road in the area.

Benjamin Murphy painting the Shoreditch Art Wall. Photo courtesy of Daniel Lucas

Pang and Ben Murphy painting the Shoreditch Art Wall. Photo courtesy of Alex Cannizzo

Art4Peace Paint Jam – 19 September 2014
Taking place in Shoreditch Yard just around the corner from the Art Wall on Great Eastern Street, the event combined live art and music with the likes of Captain Kris, TonyBoy, Tony Riff, Saki & B, Himbad, The Real Dill, Ricky Dep and Jeba all taking part in an evening of spray paint and music· The general public were invited to pop along and view the works on display with these well known street artists painting big panels for peace.

Artists combine in Shoreditch Yard to Paint for Peace

The Real Dill in action at the Paint Jam

Saki and B live painting at the jam with Tony Boy

Queen of Hoxton Rooftop Live Painting and Conflict Kitchen – 20-21 September 2014
One of Shoreditch’s hippest venues the Queen of Hoxton played host to live art and World food over the weekend of International Peace Day on 21 September 2014. Conflict Kitchen has been a key part of the festival with the same principle applied to food as to the art, breaking bread with a stranger in many societies is a powerful means of creating bonds of loyalty and kinship. For the art though, popular artists Kef, Artista, Maggio, Andrea Tyrimos and Hannah Adamaszek combined to put on a live painting show whilst revellers enjoyed the view from rooftop and the food from the kitchen.

Hannah Adamaszek live painting on the roof courtesy of International Alert

Hannah Adamaszek and the all important eyes

Kef getting the attention of the media on the rooftop

Kef live painting in the Queen of Hoxton

Conversation cards were there to help get people talking

Andrea painting in the full glare of the media

Andrea Tyrimos adding detail to her painting

Andrea Tyrimos finished piece 'Battle Wings' — Andrea Tyrimos finished piece ‘Battle Wings’. According to Andrea “The image of a child soldier holding a gun, while wearing fairy wings, underlines a loss of innocence and the ever increasing need to be ‘talking about peace’. The fact that it’s on street art poster echoes the propaganda and indoctrination that often takes place during conflict. It feels like conflict and war have become the norm, the fact that this piece is one of my #Brick paintings and camouflages itself into the background reflects this”

Maggio adding some colouful detail to her painting of the Goddess of Peace on the rooftop

Maggio next to her almost complete painting on the first day. “Peace for me is when my reality matches with my outer reality”.

For a video of the event, check out this cool little summary from Lazy Eye Productions

The Talking Peace campaign from International Alert has been taking place during the month of September. The art created as part of the campaign will be on show at the Hoxton Gallery from 24 September 2014 until 3 October 2014.