Mural of a Cello Player in Fene Named Worlds Best in 2023

A remarkable mural of a cello player has been voted the ‘Street Art Cities‘ Best Mural in the World 2023. Spread over two 9-storey buildings. The mural from SFHIR was painted as part of the Perla Mural Fest in Fene. A small town in northern Spain, it is close to A Coruna on the north eastern coast.

Cello Mural

Using blank space between both buildings, SFHIR has managed to create the illusion of the Cello. It’s outline nestling as if being played by the woman whose shape occupies either side of each building. A mixture of abstract and realism. The piece gives a sense of movement as if caught in the midst of a concierto performance.

SFHIR

Called ‘A Violonchelista de Fene’ it basically means ‘Fene Cellist’. It’s also a piece that pays tribute to graffiti culture. Despite appearing from a distance to be only the musician with her instrument. Look closer and some of the texture is revealed to be a series of tags. A throw back to SFHIR’s graffiti days, when since 1995, he claims to have been “wanted for created illegal art on the streets”. That phrase taken directly from one of his own artworks.

Illusion

Further details make use of the lights in the building. Running alongside the vertical length of the stairwell. The shape of the windows give yet another illusion when turned on at night. Taking the form of a fret board it creates another dimension to this remarkable piece.

Perla Mural Festival

The Perla Mural Festival has received a remarkable amount of Worldwide attention since the mural was painted. It’s uniqueness ensured that it quickly went viral around the world. Then came the Street Art Cities public vote. One which ensured that SFHIR’s mrual of a Cello Player would be crowned the very best of 2023.

Mural Legacy

Only a small festival, all murals followed a musical theme. Three in total and all paying tribute to the areas Perla venue and it’s musical legacy. An important cultural hub in the area that was demolished in 2004. Other murals featured works from Virginia Bersabe and Trece Trazos. Exceptional in their own right but somewhat overshadowed by the furor surrounding the mural from SFHIR.

Galician Music

Bersabe’s work showing a woman in traditional Galician dress playing seashells. Called ‘As Cunchas’ it means ‘The Shells’ in Galician. It is a reference to the more austure instruments that sometimes would be played. Items such as the spoons and even the tambourine. It shows that music can come from the simplest of things. Trece Trazos work meanwhile features a violinist. Playing her instrument she is set against the face of another young woman with flowers in her hair. Called ‘A Violinista Escondida‘ it means the ‘Hidden Violinist’. Again a reference to the lost music hall.

Search for Perfection

SFHIR describes his work as an experimentation. Writing on his website he says that his is “a continuous search for perfection”. Adding that he has “experimented with a multitude of techniques”. Describing his practice as “chiseling each detail in a laborious, almost obsessive way”. This self described obsession has surely contributed to his remarkable mural in Fene.

Street Art Cities

Visiting Galicia to explore some of the murals of the region was Street Art Cities Tim Marschang. Describing the street art scene in the region as thriving. “Street art is slowly becoming part of the Galician identity” he said “Galicia, reina en el arte urbano’ (meaning Galicia, queen of urban art) has a nice ring to it”.

Fene on the Map

As for the impact of the artist and the mural, Marschang compared the reception to that of a rockstar. “People wanted to take selfies and autographs. There was this little line of older ladies and they talked to him like he was their grandson. The locals really embraced the mural and are proud that Fene, a small town is now on the international map. The organizers didn’t know what overcame them with every major TV station coming to town to talk about it. Not bad for a first edition of the festival”.

The Perla Mural Fest in Fene took place in August 2023. ‘A Violonchelista de Fene’ from Spanish artist SFHIR was part of the festival and would eventually win the annual ‘Best Mural’ competition held by the international street art mapping website ‘Street Art Cities‘.

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