Edwin chose the word « Calma » (calm).
Edwin is a rapper and music producer from the neighbourhood known as Trance Vrt . He says we all need moments of calm to reflect and be creative.
The neighbourhood is always busy and noisy and sometimes he needs to stay in his room and find peace.
Alexis chose the word « reencuentro » meaning « reunion »
I painted this mural on a wall I had painted in 2019 when I first came to Venezuela. My old mural was damaged by the weather and I thought it would be nice to paint a new one over it. This mural is right in front of the house we are staying in which belongs to Alexis’ mother Yaneth (who’s on the picture).
Alexis chose the word to express the joy of meeting again, 4 years after our first visit to Venezuela. We painted the wall with our pupils who we taught to paint.
I love the word and what it means but at first I was a little disappointed to have to paint an 11-letter word on a wall that is less than 6 meters long. It forced me to find a way of fitting all the letters and I came up with this structure made of 11 stripes. I used a very geometrical font which I created on the plane and in the end I really like the mural and I’m glad I was given a long word.
I’m back in Caracas, Venezuela, 4 years after my first project here.
I have come back to the same neighbourhood with my friend and assistant Dudu to paint more walls and celebrate the 10th anniversary of Share The Word Project in one of the places we loved the most.
The idea of the project hasn’t changed, we paint words that people choose, and only in unprivileged and marginalised communities.
Petare is the largest favela-like district in South America. It is divided in many different sub-neighbourhoods.
We will be working in San Blas for the next month.
This is my first ever piece in a museum!
I’m very honoured that the Musée des impressionnismes de Giverny commissioned this canvas for their permanent collection.
I was of course absolutely free to create the artwork that I wanted.
This piece is called “ Saisons à Giverny ” (Season in Giverny) and is 150cm x 150cm.
Giverny is a village in Normandy famous for being a place which inspired many impressionist artists. The museum, located in the heart of the village, is as beautiful inside as it is outside with an amazing garden surrounding the building.
I was inspired by the garden to create a painting showing its vegetation at different times of the year. Each quarter of the disc represents one of the 4 seasons. The horses show that the piece is meant to be read clockwise. The canvas doesn’t have a top or a bottom. On the picture the top shows summer flowers because we find ourselves in the summer now. However if the painting is hung at another time of the year, the season at the top should always be the season at the moment when it is hung.
The sun sits in the centre of the painting and the globes revolve in orbit around it. The globes show the position of the earth at each solstice or equinox, the point at which we change seasons.
I want to thank Cyril, Valérie, Denis and Emmanuel from the museum for the great professionalism. Thank you to my mentor Gillou for still being by my side long after having taught me to use spray paint. And I have to mention Wendy who I lost in 2006 and who is my greatest artistic inspiration. She passed on to me her love for patterns, flowers and bold colour combinations. Although she will never see my work, she’s a the heart of it and with me every step of the way.
My new documentary is out!
It was a lot of hard work, hope you enjoy it!
Tahar chose the word “مرح” (« joy » in Arabic). Painted in the slum of Zaatar, Nouakchott, Mauritania.
Tahar – 25 years old – chose the word مرح (pronounced “Marah” and meaning “joy” in Arabic).
Whatever problems he might face in life, the joy that his family and friends bring to him makes his life beautiful.
Here in the slum everyone knows each-other, people go round to other people’s houses all the time for tea and long chats in the shade.
The wooden shacks and sandy ground paved with plastic bags and all sorts of rubbish give a sad impression at first sight. But you quickly realise how joyful and alive this place is with all the social interaction going in.
Maryam – 15 years old – chose the word بارة (pronounced « barah »). There isn’t a word for it in English, but it means « gratefulness towards one’s parents ». Painted in the slum of Zaatar, Nouakchott, Mauritania.
Seb Toussaint 