Issue 3 // 2011
On a clear October morning, street artist Eelus is painting under the baking heat of the great African sun. He is a long way from the comforts of his South East England home. Biting insects surround him; he is hot, thirsty and extremely frustrated. He is the first to curate the soon to be annual Wide Open Walls project.
words
Nos Gbadamosi photography
Wide Open Walls
Illustration
Joel Wells
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“Art Safari” as the project’s been dubbed started with an idea, 1000 cans of spray paint, eight artists, two weeks and the vision to transform the remote Gambian village of Kubuneh into an open-air contemporary art gallery. It aims to eliminate poverty by encouraging sustainable tourism. The idea being that tourists will come to view the artworks painted around the compound walls, trees and boats around the village. It is the brain child of Lawrence Williams, an expat, who together with his uncle owns and runs tourist lodges in the area. And getting Eelus behind the project proved a feat. The street-artist was discovered by graffiti legends Banksy and Ben Eine ten
years ago, and broke Banksy’s record for fastest selling print after he was signed to printmakers Pictures on Walls. He convinced seven other visionary artists to step out of their comfort zones. This being Logan Hicks, Lucy McLauchlan, Xenz, Mysterious Al, John and Mike – better known as Broken Crow, and Eine. But as with all great ideas nothing ever goes as planned. In fact, 40 minutes before he was due to board the plane, Eine sent a text saying he couldn’t come. “It was a shock and a big shame, but we just got on with it. The real shame was that we had a lot of other artists in mind who would have loved to take part and have that free ticket so the chance was taken away from them” says Eelus.