Six artists turn the street into their workplace and a canvas for expressing shared concerns. They are united by a common purpose, yet each uses a distinct discipline for self expression. The Revolution Totem urban art exhibition takes art from the city center into neighborhoods, inviting creators to work openly while passersby enjoy the process across different parts of the city.
The Department of Culture organized this initiative, inviting the artists to paint from last Friday through yesterday. The Agatángelo Soler Square on Gran Via becomes the opening point at 12:30 on Wednesday, where the street exhibit begins. Throughout the days, the artists worked on the piece. The four faces of a totem rise 2.10 meters high and 1.20 meters wide, each panel capturing a theme or motif chosen freely by the creators.
Neighbors and visitors can follow the creation in real time, becoming participants in the study. They are welcome allies against the heat, especially in the early morning and late afternoon.
“The concept is an urban art exhibition that moves beyond the city center where it usually happens,” says Victor Lario. He notes that it was a suggestion from the Cultural Council Member and that the curator, Anthony Manresato, aims to move the initiative to other areas.
The Revolution Totem will occupy Plaza Agatángelo Soler until September 30. Afterwards, the plan is to install these six elements in different neighborhoods around the city. “The key is that the totems can be moved without much difficulty so they can travel to other places and also be expandable, ensuring the project does not stay in a single neighborhood.”
The exhibition’s curator hopes the offer will continue. “It has been an experience for people, and they seem to enjoy it, which helps neighborhoods come alive and support Alicante’s transition.”
Artists and their works
Local urban artists were invited to participate in the exhibition, working in various disciplines to bring street art to an unusual format. The idea is to present geometric volumes at the scale of large skyscrapers to reach the streets in a striking way, notes Lario.
The Alicante-based Chilean artist stands out for his use of street posters, blending historical figures with a rock aesthetic. In this project, he collaborated with Eusebio Sempere, Juana Frances, Karl Marx, and Nietzsche on the panels, challenging conventional dress and form.
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The muralist Jaime Lopez, known for his facade art in Benidorm, contributed a mural that resembles melted cheese stretching across a totem, a playful take on urban sculpture.
Paul Gomez, a graffiti and tattoo artist trained in the UMH Fine Arts department, has left his mark in many cities around the world and now contributes to Alicante’s art scene. Garcia Alvarez, a member of Doble13, a cooperative dedicated to transforming space, also participates in the project.
Words and letters play a central role in several works. Yusuf Kordon, a calligrapher and potter, is recognized for his mastery of lettering as seen in the totem created for this exhibition. Finally, Zerezo, a graphic designer and illustrator, brings a colorful aesthetic influenced by fashion, pop culture, and urban art to the project. [Citation: Cultural Department records and participating artists statements.]