Art

#black and white
#murals
#public art
#street art

Illustrative Murals in Shades of Grey by Paola Delfín Characterize Human Bonds

January 29, 2020

Grace Ebert

Illustrative Murals in Shades of Grey by Paola Delfín Characterize Human Bonds

“Èèn” (2019), for The Crystal Ship, Oostende, België. Photo by Arne Deboosere. All images © Paola Delfín, shared with permission

Paola Delfín’s monochromatic murals found in Cancun, St. Petersburg, and cities worldwide all share a message of unity and community. The Mexico-based artist often creates impeccably detailed and stylized profile views, which show her subjects looking down or into the distance, joined by plants, grasses, and flowers of the local environment.

Her lifelike works center on ideas of women’s strength and their ability to build community, in addition to the ways families are bound together and remember their ancestors⁠—although Delfín tells Colossal she has a more personal connection to the Cancun mural, which depicts a couple staring forward as they cradle a small boat.

My family, uncle and aunt, are part of (the) pioneers. They moved to this city almost 40 years ago and watched it grow. They started a school. My uncle worked on a ship for many years. Now the younger generations are trying to bring more culture since this city transformed into a tourist paradise, and sometimes we forget this was the place where centuries ago the great Mayan culture (rose).

The artist finds murals challenging because of her desire to “leave something meaningful” for those who pass by her work. Before she begins creating in any location, she studies the history and culture of the neighborhood she’s working in and talks to its residents to learn their stories. For “Familia/Suku,” the artist spoke with Tampere residents to understand how immigrants and natives across generations form a community in the Finnish city. In the horizontal piece, Suham, an Iranian expat, leans toward elderly Maya, who has lived in the country for 50 years, while Suham’s daughter Sofia stands in front of them.

Head to Delfín’s Instagram for more of her large- and small-scale projects, and check out Street Prints to see her work in progress.

Illustrative Murals in Shades of Grey by Paola Delfín Characterize Human Bonds

“La emperatriz“ for Shine Festival in St. Petersburg, Florida. Photo by Michelle Tannu

Illustrative Murals in Shades of Grey by Paola Delfín Characterize Human Bonds

“Familia/Suku” (2019), for Upeart Festival, Tampere, Finland

Illustrative Murals in Shades of Grey by Paola Delfín Characterize Human Bonds

“Kotahi/Uno,” Whangarei , New Zealand. Photo by Street Prints

Illustrative Murals in Shades of Grey by Paola Delfín Characterize Human Bonds

2019, for Proyecto Panorama, Cancun, Mexico. Photo by Gino Caballero

Illustrative Murals in Shades of Grey by Paola Delfín Characterize Human Bonds

2019, Mexicalli, Mexico

Illustrative Murals in Shades of Grey by Paola Delfín Characterize Human Bonds

“Èèn” (2019), for The Crystal Ship, Oostende, België. Photo by Arne Deboosere

Illustrative Murals in Shades of Grey by Paola Delfín Characterize Human Bonds

(2019), Resita, Romania. Photo by Sergio Morariu

Illustrative Murals in Shades of Grey by Paola Delfín Characterize Human Bonds

“Juntos” (2019), Paulino Navarro, Mexico City. Photo by Edgar Olguin

 

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member and support independent arts publishing. Join a community of like-minded readers who are passionate about contemporary art, apply for our annual grant, and get exclusive access to interviews, partner discounts, and event tickets.

 

 

Also on Colossal

Related posts on Colossal about black and white murals public art street art

Basketball Courts Transformed Into Large-Scale Artworks by Project Backboard


Finding Hope: A Balloon Mural by Mehdi Ghadyanloo Brings Levity to the 2019 World Economic Forum Annual Meeting


Playful Illustrative Characters Span Brightly Painted Walls by Joachim


Textiles and Board Games Inspire Large-Scale Murals that Span Sidewalks, Streets, and Staircases

PangeaSeed’s Sea Walls Program Works to Save Earth’s Oceans One Mural at a Time