Originally published on Street Art United States
Italian street artist PixelPancho is currently in Hong Kong where he just completed this massive mural for the 4th edition of HKwalls.
“For humans, the only war worth fighting for is the war against their own extinction” is what is written in Chinese under this wonderful piece, in which the artist aims to bring awareness of the fragile conditions of our planet and his disappointment in humans beings.
PixelPancho is known for his decaying machine-like creatures using an earthy color scheme to reflect a more ancient feeling. When asked about these decaying robots, his answer was: “My interest in robots, androids and all machine-like creatures derives from the thought that men are heroes that project on these machines their desire for immortality.”
Pixelpancho
Born in 1984 in Turin, Pixelpancho was introduced to drawing by his amateur painter Grandfather. His passion for art and design led him to enroll in the Albertina Academy of Fine Arts in Turin, and then in the Academy of Fine Arts in Valencia, Spain, where he majored. During this period he became familiar with graffiti and street art and started using spray paint cans and markers on outdoor surfaces, quickly standing out from the classic paper and canvas media used by most other students.
In his travels from his hometown of Turin to Valencia, Pixelpancho took every opportunity to make himself known on the streets. With the use of different mediums such as tile, wall painting and sticker/poster art, his work soon reached and decorated the walls of many European cities. The time spent in Paris, Amsterdam, Warsaw, Vienna and other cities for graffiti jams and gallery exhibitions also allowed Pixelpancho’s style to evolve from the depiction of simple robot characters to the more complex compositions that characterize his art today.
The narrative in Pixelpancho’s work is driven by a forgotten world sitting under a blanket of dust. In his universe, broken and dented robots are found decaying on the ground, their iron and rusted copper bodies falling and laying about as if discarded into oblivion. Although the scale of his work varies, his surreal realm is the constant thread that pierces through contemporary and historical references. The strength of the physical dimension and of the gestures that humanize his robots are particularly noticeable on the walls of abandoned buildings in cities throughout Europe, the U.S. and Mexico, and are all part of an interconnected structure of stories, as in all of his murals, paintings, and sculptures
HKwalls
HKwalls is a non-profit arts organization that aims to create opportunities for local and international artists to showcase their talent in Hong King and internationally through the medium of street art and street culture. We celebrate creativity and freedom of expression; actively work on connecting and building relationships with artists, the community and organizations worldwide through high-quality public art, and making sure the creative process is accessible to all.
HKwalls holds an annual street art festival in Hong Kong during Hong Kong’s art month each March, as well as year round programming that focuses on artists career development and raise awareness through the arts.
PixelPancho: web | facebook | instagram
HKwalls: web | facebook | instagram
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