Urban Heartbeat – Connecting artist in Central America, Mexico, the Caribbean and Germany

Frequent limers in the Queen’s Park Savannah will have noticed a change –a colourful mural decorates the eastern wall of the Grand Stands. It seems to be the perfect background to play cricket, fly a kite or simply enjoy the view when going for a run around the Savannah.

  Enlarge image (© Kerron Riley)

This mural is the result of the Urban Heartbeat Project in Port of Spain which took place from 27-29 March 2012 as the final event of the Urban Heartbeat Tour. Initiated by the Goethe-Institut, German urban artist Jim Avignon together with German DJ and cultural organiser Holger Beier and Alicia Zamora travelled to seven countries in Central America and the Caribbean to compose murals with local artists. A facebook competition was used as a platform to select the local artists of the participating countries (Jamaica, Costa Rica, Panama, Dominican Republic, Guatemala and Nicaragua). Chosen artists came together in all seven countries to paint a mural. Additionally, paste-ups of the designs of winners of other countries were used for each mural. As a result, there might be a Trinidadian design at the wall in Nicaragua, Jamaica or any other participating country, connecting the murals of the participating countries.

  Enlarge image Richard painting (© Embassy)

The ten artists that were chosen for Urban Heartbeat Port of Spain are:

Jennifer Perez Rojas, Richard Williams (currently living in Germany), Brianna McCarthy, Dean Arlen, Kriston Banfield, Danielle Boodoo-Fortuné, Marie-Elena Joseph, Luis Vasquez La Roche and Alicia Milne (aka Pinky and Emigrante), Richard Taylor and Raquel Vasquez La Roche.

  Enlarge image (© Kerron Riley)

Enlarge image Jennifers paste-up (© Embassy)

Together and with the guidance of Jim Avignon, they created a colourful and amazing mural in a three-day painting session, showcasing their skills. Most of them did not have any experience with big sized murals. However, everyone took the challenge and the outcome was more than rewarding.

  Enlarge image (© Kerron Riley)

The local organisation was spearheaded by the German Embassy in partnership with Abovegroup Ogilvy. The National Carnival Organisation supplied the wall space of the Grand Stands to Urban Heartbeat and was also a vital partner for the overall organisation on the grounds of the Grand Stands.

  Enlarge image Kriston and his artwork (© Kerron Riley)

Following the painting was an after party “Show&Tell Urban Heartbeat” at the same venue, spotlighting the mural and the artists. The party was free to the public with free drinks and doubles (thanks to the sponsors Coca Cola, Shandy Carib and Mackeson) as well as a presentation by “Senzala Capoeira Trinidad & Tobago”. The performance of Jim Avignon aka Neoangin (Berlin/New York) and DJ Holger Beier (Berlin/Sao Paulo), together with DJ Crix and Abovegroup’s very own DJ ShuyGuy had the crowd pumped with a variety of music, from electronica to German and Jamaican Dancehall and more.

  Enlarge image Dean's artwork (© Kerron Riley)

Enlarge image (© Kerron Riley)

The project will subsequently travel to Berlin, where it will be presented to a German audience at urban art Gallery “Neurotitan”. The exhibition will show photographs and videos of the tour as well as the catalogue which is in the making presently. The catalogue of Urban Heartbeat will have information about street art in each participating country as well as information on the participating artists, the finished murals and much more.

  Enlarge image Marie-Elena painting (© Kerron Riley)

The German Embassy thanks Abovegroup Ogilvy and the National Carnival Commission for their tremendous assistance and Benjamin Moore for supplying paint for the project.