graffiti

Chicken Dust – a new mural in Bushwick

| Florence EMA Blanchard

I just came back from New York where I worked on a few different projects. Despite the blazing heat I managed to reclaim an old wall I had painted in 2007 in Bushwick on Humbolt street. Special thanks to Ed and the people from Enrique Mini Market for helping out! x

P1140619' IMG_5990'IMG_5963'IMG_5951' P1140511'

Bronx Graffiti Workshop

| Florence EMA Blanchard

While in New York I worked on several occasions with Aspira of New York, an organization which aims to foster the social advancement of the Puerto Rican/Latino youth community. They organize annual city youth conferences in the Bronx which are very popular and for which I was asked to provide graffiti workshops. I found this old handout I made to explain how to do build a graffiti piece from just keeping proportions right, to adding 3D, highlights and background at the end. The following photos are from 2007.

P1100551_EMA

IMG_3134_EMAIMG_3130_EMA  IMG_3136_EMA

Unclear Ground/Terrain Vague – Pilori & Winterlong Galerie (Niort Fr)

| Florence EMA Blanchard

‘Unclear ground/ Terrain vague is an installation currently on view in Niort (Fr) at the Pilori Museum until the 29th of October. This show is curated by Winterlong Galerie, and is a collaboration between Kid Acne and Ema.’

‘Unclear Ground takes inspiration from creating something out of nothing and seeing beauty in the mundane. From derelict factories, to abandoned wastelands and disused railways – for the past 2 decades both Ema & Kid Acne have utilised these forgotten spaces to create their art, injecting them with a splash of colour and giving them a new lease of life. This collaborative installation mixes various media including painting, silkscreening  and sewn fabrics. The title refers to the uncertainty experienced in creating a new piece of work – exploring the unknown to find something new.

Combining influence from graffiti, science fiction and comic books, this exhibition invites us to explore the world around us, proving the age old saying – “seek and you shall find”. ‘

The installation includes a video by Jipé Corre, and a soundtrack by DJ Cherrystones.

NEW YORK CITY GIRLS at RAKKAUTTA & ANARKIAA

| Florence EMA Blanchard

Back in 2005 I met Yseult Digan, a French film director, street artist and music producer from Paris. Yseult contacted me because she was looking for protagonists for a documentary project about empowerment of female New Yorkers in urban subcultures. For 2 years, she went back and forth between Paris and New York to follow the lives and works of 7 New Yorkers including myself, shooting and editing sequences until completion of her project in 2008.

The film is titled ‘New York City Girls’ and was selected at RAKKAUTTA & ANARKIAA festival which will happen this month in Helsinki (09/17-09/27). I pasted the synopsis and trailer below.

French Touch Selection / Director: Yseult Digan

New York City Girls

Often, the urban said scenes are predominantly male occupation. The ”street” was considered for a long time as a dangerous playground where girls were excluded. Today, we fi nally see young ladies who by means of work and perseverance offer quality propositions and new approach of their discipline.

”New York City Girls” is a journey in the heart of the city. Through several portraits of women living in New York, we discover their respective universe; graffi ti, skateboard, breakdance, handball, bike messenging, fashion and music. Far from the feminist demands, those young followers of urban culture live their passion simply, without asking the question of a possible legitimacy of gender other than their talent.

Beyond the cultural aspect, ”New York City Girls” is also a social documentary; Due to the diverse cultural background of the characters, this film is a eulogy of social diversity. These women are the emblems of what is New York today; A cosmopolitan city where the cultures meet and exchange to create a new lifestyle.

Trailer available below.