It seems the universe is telling me to travel. Art from all over the globe keeps finding its way into my social feeds. Particularly from France. I’ve said in the past and will say it again; If anyone wants to sponsor a middle-aged (well, late middle) enthusiast, I’m open to partnerships. But I digress. This latest find is fascinating.
You can buy Dawal’s work at dawal.bigcartel.com
Dawal is a French artist with a background in engineering. He works using different media including pencil, spray paint, and acrylics. Inspired by graffiti and hip hop culture he creates surreal pieces combining colorful fantasy with a twisted reality. His pencil sketchings are equally compelling in their subject matter and details. His choices of characters and settings are strange and still but very much alive.
The thing that really caught my attention however were his smaller pieces that fill in the very cracks along the streets of Paris. He seeks out various spaces of neglect or weathering and gives a striking new life to the urban decay. The tiny dreamscapes pop with color and flow. I may be an idealist, but I do still believe in the underlying goodness of art to improve life and the internet as a way to discover it.
Follow Dawal on Instagram
In this time of internet trolls spreading vitriolic criticism of anything and anyone, the story that first drew my attention to Dawal was that of an artist working quietly, steadily to beautify the world around him. I love that. So perhaps there is still hope for we humans. I know it’s an an uphill battle, but one of my goals for this new lease on internet life of mine is to carve out a place of inspiration rather than confrontation.
Join me and take some time to discover something that inspires you.
Cheers!
Stephen
