Street Art: Atip’Art revamps Macouria

Every day, to go to their school, some of the students of the Madly Marignan school in Macouria pass in front of a wall decorated with a huge iguana. This year, on the occasion of the fifth edition of the Atip’Art street art festival, they had the pleasure of meeting Dgip, who created it. A beautiful moment of exchange according to Nicolas Quillot, alias Scimo, from the Muzé Laru collective.

These meetings with the public, school or not, just like the participatory workshops or artist residencies, are part of the DNA of Atip’Art. The festival was born at the initiative of the municipality of Macouria, explains Scimo. « The concept was to create together an event which would make it possible to create frescoes on walls but also to offer workshops for the general public and schools. We had the opportunity to go to middle school, to Matiti high school… This year, we are in Saint-Agathe. »

14 artists took part in the event which took place from October 5 to 18 : Emi, Dgip, Brady, Azer, Scimo, Sensei and Ynot of the Museum collective Laru, Sanngel, Mawalum, Yelow, Yeswoo, Arest, Jomad and Andrew as guests.

At the Madly Marignan school, CM2 students and their teacher Sandrine Arvigne imagined, with Scimo, Azer and Sensei, “ Amazon-inspired games “. In three sessions, they decorated the school courtyard with games and animals on the ground.

My husband took photos to send to the children and show them what the city has become!

Danièle, resident of the neighborhood for 28 years

A few streets away, at the Saint-Agathe residence, this Friday the artists gave the last brushstrokes under the gaze of the residents. Installed on her balcony, Danièle doesn’t miss a beat. « I’ve lived there for 28 years and I think that’s what they do. For me, Building C is the most magnificent! And then this, she indicates, extending her arm towards a more distant wall, how beautiful is it ! It looks like a cluster of flowers. » But turning to the left, Danièle sees the entrance to the residence and changes her mind again. « The most beautiful thing, I think, is this, at the entrance. Even my husband took photos to send to the children and show them how the city became ! »

This gives a second life to the neighborhood

Mélissa, manager of the Sainte Agathe Spot

Mélissa Anton, responsible for the Sainte Agathe spot, in collaboration with the Macouria management, shares Danièle’s enthusiasm. « It’s a good initiative that changes the neighborhood ; it gives it a second life. We had a good time with the artists, we’re even a little sad that they’re leaving… » When asked what she prefers, Mélissa, like her neighbor, lists all the frescoes in the neighborhood.

Coming from Paris, Jomad and Andrew created one of the frescoes at the entrance. For their first visit to Guyana, the two artists, she from Martinique and he, an American of Vietnamese origin, were seduced by the multiculturality of our territory. “ It seemed interesting to us to create a dynamic around a meal that brings together all the communities », Indicates the duo.

Facing this feast, a graceful Indian dancer smiles at the visitors. “I wanted to represent an Indian dancer because I myself am of Indian origin, says Brady, who created the work. I think we are not represented enough. It’s my way of giving a nod to my community and, even though I was born in Guyana, of not forgetting my roots. I think unconsciously I represented my mother. »

It’s my way of giving a nod to my community and, even though I was born in Guyana, of not forgetting my roots.

From now on, at the Saint-Agathe residence, the names of the buildings are decorated with drawings in the style of children’s picture books : C for schoolbag, G for graffiti… Small touches that connect the buildings together and created by Scimo.

Invited by Muzé Laru, Sangel and Mawalum collaborate for the second time. This time, the two young women chose to paint a deconstructed face mixed with elements of nature, with Kali’na symbols.

Not far from there, Emi, whose designs are now well known to art lovers in Guyana, opted for a mix between real and unreal. « As the base is a cylinder, I thought it would be nice to make it like a wall that opens onto an imaginary world, a bit cartoonish, with elements reminiscent of Guyana : a domino, a carnival mask, a cock of the rock, and an atipa to give a nod to the festival ! »

It’s an opening onto an imaginary world

Emi, from the Laru Museum collective

Facing Emi’s creation, stands a proud figure, chin raised, forehead high. « I wanted to represent a businengue character, with a traditional costume says Azer. I discussed it with the neighborhood children who told me about one of theirs. He got dressed at home and sent me his photo. »

Behind the little boy, Azer added a cheese maker, fireflies, patterns evoking tembé and an aura « to give it a little spiritual side ». Explanations that he had the opportunity to share with local children who came to admire the finished work, as the festival drew to a close.