The Street Artist “Blub” in Venice.
The Street Artist “Blub” in Venice. In 2019, the Florentine artist made a mark on the historic city with his small-scale “Paste-Up” works. This post covers his prefered method of working, artistic intentions and presents a series of my own images of his striking artwork; taken over Xmas 2019 in Venice. Prefering to hide his identity, Blub’s artwork that first originated in 2013 in Cadaqués, Catalonia, and has since expanded to numerous prominent European cities.
Derived from the series “L’Arte Sa Nuotare” (Art Knows How to Swim), the artwork showcases renowned historical and cultural icons submerged underwater, adorned with diving masks. These pieces epitomize his most acclaimed art, immersed in water, which held particular significance to the historic city of Venice; with its issues of rising sea-water levels, the slow sinking of the city and the control of extreme episodes of high surge tides (acqua alta), by the MOSE barrier system. The artist’s personal message however, is for him deeper: its about resilience and the idea that, even in difficult times, art provides the means to “swim” through challenges.
Each new subject is originally born out a canvas painting, transfering his artwork onto posters; that are handmade on thin paper and pasted onto typical Italian service boxes (both wall mounted and free-standing) – a technique that doesn’t harm the architecture; unlike the classic “spray” graffiti. He believes that his work integrates effortlessly with the surroundings; while infusing a sense of playfulness and reflection.
Introduction
Extracts from an undercover interview with Italian Artist Blub, by Tiana Kai.
My own series of images taken during Xmas 2019
A celebratory poem
Links (internal-external)
“I see water as a metaphor of challenges in human life and to illustrate the fact that the art survives and swims on regardless of whatever happens“. Blub.
“Although we may find ourselves in a sea of difficulties, in life we always have the resources to learn to swim. Art is one such resource. Water is my element. Life is born from water, it is the hidden side of matter. When you are immersed, the moment stops and there is no weight, while thoughts flow in a suspended dimension. For this reason, I repropose the characters who have transmitted an example of greatness capable of surviving even today, right under the water, timeless”. Blub.
The Street Artist “Blub” in Venice – Introduction
In 2019 over Xmas week, I was photographing in Venice and came across some of his striking work scattered across the city. To me at the time, they referenced climate change causing global sea-level rises and the notion of Venice, slowly sinking into the lagoon. Also Venetian’s ability for survival and adaption over the centuries.
They were small scale paper works, pasted onto typical Venetian service boxes recessed into walls. I was pleased to capture some of these uniqe works as they were already starting to degenerate in he cold and damp climate and some had been partially torn. I photographed them head-on and excluded the background to maximize their impact. They certainly reminded me of the transient nature of graffiti and street art, in Venice’s damp winter climate and flood tides. Strangely, few of these 2019 Venetian street images have turned up on internet photo-sites in the following years and those that have are images are not of particularly high quality.
I was unaware that apparently, his original artworks were or had been exhibited in a gallery on the Giudecca, at around that time. The artist sees deeper issues, elucidated in a rare interview presented below, and taken from his own website.
You can see a full range of his “underwater” artworks on his own website found in the links section below.
Extracts from an undercover interview with Italian Artist Blub, by Tiana Kai.
(These were comments relating to his main Florentine work (?2014) and not specific to Venice. See links section below.)
What does your “L’arte sa nuotare” (“Art knows how to swim”) work really reflect?
I like for people to have their own interpretation of what the scuba masks on these icons mean. For me, I had a vision. Before I paint I normally rely on these visions that appear in my mind. I perform instinctively, which creates the best art. Then maybe I think about the piece and things can further materialize from there.
L’arte sa nuotare, meaning art knows how to swim, is about two ways one can live life, like eros and love, or life and death. We can choose to be stuck with fear due to the crisis, or we can choose to take it as an opportunity to overcome our limitations while being confidence in the future and in our potential. So, even though it seems like we are all underwater it is time to learn how to swim!
Renaissance art in Florence is still strong and hides today’s art that is alive and contemporary, so by using icons of the past with diving masks the theme presents a mix between the past and the contemporary world. There is no need to deny the past in order to look at the present, but at least acknowledge it.
What makes you happy about the art you create?
What makes me happiest is when I see thank you notes from shop owners after I stick prints up in front of their shops or doorways. I also love when I overhear people say “Blub makes people smile”. Sometimes I see tape on my art from people trying to preserve it or fix it if it was torn, it is nice to see strangers trying to ensure the work remains intact.
My own series of Venetian Blub-Works, taken during Xmas 2019.
“Santa Claus”
“Battista Sforza and Federico da Montefeltro”
“Salvador Dali”
“William Shakespeare”
“Vivaldi”
“Bhudda”
“Madonna and Child”
“Venus”
Although the above image is entitled “Venus”, to Venetians the lagoon waters are steeped in mysterious legends. The arts of Renaissance Venice, teem with sea-creatures.
Chief among these are mermaids and mermen – graceful hybrid beings human from the waist up, but with the lower body and tail of a fish, dolphin or sea serpent. Mermaids, lured sailors to their doom, Dragons guarded hidden treaures, and strange Sea-Monsters battled with the Gondoliers!
There’s even a book about them!
The Mermaids of Venice: Fantastic Sea Creatures in Venetian Renaissance Art (Studies in Medieval and Early Renaissance Art History) Hardcover – Illustrated, September 2, 2010
by A. Luchs (Author).
Derived from his “Venus”, here’s my interpretation on the “mermaid theme”. A single original photograph, together with three other horizontally and vertically reversed images; were combined to form a new composite. A new image appears showing the mermaids and another strange creature – a diver-bull hybrid!
Finally, here’s a short celebratory poem on Blub’s Venetian Street Art
In Venice, where canals weave tales,
Blub’s art on walls prevails.
Submerged in water, timeless and grand,
Icons of culture in this aquatic land.
From Rialto’s bridge to hidden lanes,
His underwater world remains.
A silent nod to rising tides,
In Blub’s art, the city hides.
Gondolas glide, reflections dance,
In Blub’s scenes, we find a trance.
Diving masks and ancient lore,
Beneath the waves, they explore.
Each mural whispers history’s song,
In Blub’s world, they all belong.
A bridge of time, a splash of hue,
Venice reborn in shades of blue.
Links (internal–external)
WEBSITE: BLUB – STREET ART IN FLORENCE Welcome to Blub’s Art Store. Hand signed canvas or papers prints and original artworks You can see many other versions of his underwater art.
“Water is my element. Life is born from water, it is the hidden side of the matter.When you are immersed, the instant stops and there is no weight,while thoughts flow in a suspended dimension…For this reason, I propose the characters who have transmitted an example of greatness that still survives today, right under the water, timeless.”
Dhai_ Studio via di San Niccoló,44r (red number) Florence + 39 3355884262 [email protected]
As far as I could find, the only interview with the artist (?2014): Undercover Interview With Italian Artist Blub – Tiana Kai)
Graffiti and Street Art in Venice. A multifaceted phenomenon intertwining history, culture, artistic expression and social commentary. It has served as a unique form of expression and communication, making it an integral part of the city’s identity. This post also showcases a distinctive collection of my favourite modern Graffiti/Street Art images, highlighting both local Venetian and worldwide issues, photographed over the span of four decades. It’s a real visual treat!
Using stunning composite imagery, Ian Coulling creates a new visualisation of the Venetian urban landscape in three posts.
Depicting Venice – Ian Coulling
Depicting Venice 2 – Ian Coulling
Depicting Venice 3 – Ian Coulling
The Street Artist “Blub” in Venice. The Street Artist “Blub” in Venice. The Street Artist “Blub” in Venice.