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We’ve just arrived in the coastal city of Oostende and the smell of paint is hitting the shores like a fine fresh day.
This year we are expecting some epic murals by Case Maclaim (DE) , Crystal Wagner (USA) , David Walker (UK) , Escif (ES) , Helen Bur (UK) , Jaune (BE) , Leon Keer (NL), Lonac (HR) , Marina Capdevila (ES) , Miss Van (FR) , Mohamed l’Ghacham (ES) , Paola Delfin (MX) , Tom Herck (BE) and Wasted Rita (PT).
The Crystal Ship, Oostende 2019. Photo credit Alex Stanhope / GraffitiStreet
The Crystal Ship, Oostende 2019. Photo credit Alex Stanhope / GraffitiStreet
The streets of Oostende already hold a pretty diverse and spectacular host of murals due to The Crystal Ship Festival, curated by Bjørn Van Poucke, over the last three years. It’s great to see old favourites on our expedition around the city, like old friends bringing back great memories.
Elian, The Crystal ship 2019. Photo Credit Alex Stanhope
First off we catch Case Maclaim up in the sky busy painting a huge wall outside our hotel on Ron’s Pub, what a treat! The photo realistic image is taking shape and we can’t wait to see his trademark hands take form.
Case Maclaim, The Crystal ship 2019. Photo Credit Alex Stanhope
Case Maclaim, The Crystal ship 2019. Photo Credit Alex Stanhope
Case Maclaim, The Crystal ship 2019. Photo Credit Alex Stanhope
We continue our search and like a beacon to a ship we can’t miss the huge wall by Spanish artist Marina Capdevila. She’s painted one her characteristic senior ladies, supporting a cocktail in her right hand. A fantastic fun piece and we can’t wait to see the final mural.
Marina Capdevila, The Crystal ship 2019. Photo Credit Alex Stanhope
Marina Capdevila, The Crystal ship 2019. Photo Credit Alex Stanhope
Marina, The Crystal ship 2019. Photo Credit Alex Stanhope
Helen Bur has been leaving characters across the city, a great unexpected find in some places! …
Helen Bur, The Crystal ship 2019. Photo Credit Alex Stanhope
Helen Bur, The Crystal ship 2019. Photo Credit Alex Stanhope
Helen Bur, The Crystal ship 2019. Photo Credit Alex Stanhope
Helen Bur, The Crystal ship 2019. Photo Credit Alex Stanhope
Helen Bur, The Crystal ship 2019. Photo Credit Alex Stanhope
It’s great to see lots of street art enthusiasts and bloggers running around the city. Older murals now become land marks, like an A to Z map, to find this years artist location. Signs within the city have also been re-directed by Wasted Rita across the city, a great way to get lost!
Wasted Rita, The Crystal ship 2019. Photo Credit Alex Stanhope
Wasted Rita, The Crystal ship 2019. Photo Credit Alex Stanhope
Wasted Rita, The Crystal ship 2019. Photo Credit Alex Stanhope
Wasted Rita, The Crystal ship 2019. Photo Credit Alex Stanhope
We spot a huge installation by Tom Herck titled “Wreckage in a bottle”. We see a folded war ship of a 5 euro bill in a giant milk bottle. This refers to a documentary the artist recently watched, that stipulated a grenade can be acquired for 5 euros. The extremely low sum is alarming. Food and basic necessities are rising in price, while the price of weapons is dropping. To indicate this imbalance, the artist opted for a milk bottle, as milk continues to rise in price. The milk bottle then symbolises food and drink.
Tom Herck, The Crystal Ship 2019. Photo Credit Alex Stanhope
We make our way over to see stencil artist Jaune’s skateboards, a fantastic project collaboration with PUSH skateboard academy and The crystal Ship, raising money for a skatepark in Banjul, Gambia. The limited Edition decks are available at the EXPO18 gallery, Ijzerstraat 18, 8400 Ostend, during the Easter holidays from 12 April onwards between 1400 and 1800.
Jaune Expo, The Crystal ship 2019. Photo Credit Alex Stanhope
Jaune, The Crystal ship 2019. Photo Credit Alex Stanhope
The dictatorship of art is the theme, and its certainly dictated our day today! What a fabulous start!
Photo Credit Alex Stanhope / Graffitistreet
