Cover There's a new mural outside Central Square in Bonifacio Global City, and it is one that'll make you stare for a long time (Photo: Ceet Fouad/Instagram)
There's a new mural outside Central Square in Bonifacio Global City, and it is one that'll make you stare for a long time (Photo: Ceet Fouad/Instagram)
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There's a new mural outside Central Square in Bonifacio Global City, and it is one that'll make you stare for a long time. In a dialogue with Tatler, respected street artists Ceet Fouad and Egg Fiasco reveal their working dynamic
Nestled in the tall skyscrapers of Bonifacio Global City (BGC) is an art collaboration by renowned French street artist Ceet Fouad and Filipino graffiti star Egg Fiasco. The fun, vibrant, and eye-catching mural combines two schools of art from different creative geniuses in line with the celebration of the 75th Philippine-French relations.
"I know [him] for many years already," Fouad says of Fiasco. "I like his style, and our connection was very smooth and very natural. He's a nice guy, and it's a plus that we belong [to] the same community."
Fouad, who is currently based in Hong Kong, is known for his colourful Chicanos or anthropomorphic chickens. The prolific artist is fond of using different media such as acrylic and oil paints, markers, pens, metal paints, and sprays.
"I was doing graffiti in the late '80s; the chickens ['Chicanos'] came very late in 2002. I was a little bit tired of writing letters and characters. I wanted to do something different. I did old school letters, graffiti letters, yet I could not find a way to express myself exactly. So when I started doing chickens, it was like, 'Oh! This is me, it's funny, and it cannot fly,'" Fouad explains.
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Above The works of Filipino and French artists Egg Fiasco and Ceet Fouad respectively (Photo: Vinyl onn Vinyl Gallery, Makati)
Above The works of Filipino and French artists Egg Fiasco and Ceet Fouad respectively (Photo: Vinyl onn Vinyl Gallery, Makati)
The works of Filipino and French artists Egg Fiasco and Ceet Fouad respectively (Photo: Vinyl onn Vinyl Gallery, Makati)
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Above The works of Filipino and French artists Egg Fiasco and Ceet Fouad respectively (Photo: Vinyl onn Vinyl Gallery, Makati)
Above The works of Filipino and French artists Egg Fiasco and Ceet Fouad respectively (Photo: Vinyl onn Vinyl Gallery, Makati)
The works of Filipino and French artists Egg Fiasco and Ceet Fouad respectively (Photo: Vinyl onn Vinyl Gallery, Makati)
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If there's a chicken, then there's definitely an 'Egg.' For his part, Fiasco explains that his working relationship with Fouad ran smoothly, especially because he adored the artist even before they met.
"He's [Fouad] a legend. I've known him since college, I've seen him in several books, in the street [art] world", Fiasco shares.
"So it's someone you look up to for a very long time. It's a great feeling, it's a great opportunity for me," he adds.
Fiasco takes Filipino representation seriously. In fact, long-time followers of the artist know that one of his most remarkable feats includes having an artistic collaboration with renowned international brand Adidas.
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For Fiasco, graffiti is an art that made him appreciate self-expression a little more. "When I started, I was just a college student who's a bit insecure and rebellious. And at the time, I really wanted to express myself. When the 'graffiti age' came, I feel like it gave me and other young artists the freedom, the adrenaline to put our names outside. It's a very liberating feeling. The risk also made it more exciting," he recalls.
When the ‘graffiti age’ came, I feel like it gave me and other young artists the freedom, the adrenaline to put our names outside. It’s a very liberating feeling
Up To The Sky! Which can now be seen along the street of BGC, perfectly captures the sensibilities of Fouad's Chicanos and the multiplanar deconstructed images of Fiasco. People who wish to give it a visit may do so for free.
"The first time I saw the Filipino community was in Hong Kong, and I had a lot of positive reactions," Fouad says of the artists he met. "We like to dance and party all the time, so all the connection was good."
"So when I came to Manila, I adored them even more. The graffiti scene here came to me, and we paint in different places," he says further.
See also: Papemelroti's Robert Alejandro on His Artistic Journey, Battling Cancer, and Embracing Life
Fiasco, for his part, encourages young Filipino artists to embrace what they love doing most. "If you love what you do, that's a sign you really have to pursue it. Do it if it makes you feel good, and it makes you feel free."
The 25 metre by 10 metre graffiti, which both artists finished in just eight days, can be seen on 5th Avenue corner 30th Street in Taguig. A separate art exhibition is also in Vinyl on Vinyl Gallery, Makati until July 12, 2022.
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Jove holds a degree in Journalism and is currently pursuing graduate studies in Philosophy at the University of the Philippines–Diliman. She has flair for in-depth, interview-driven stories that explore politics and culture, shaped by her background in national broadsheets.
When she’s not on assignment, Jove spends her days painting, sipping lemonade, and walking her dog, Jupiter. She can often be seen in Escolta with a film camera in hand, browsing novelty shops in search of rare memorabilia. For leads, reach her at Jove@tatlerphilippines.com.
