This week’s ‘spread the love’ guest post is by Lilla from Little Birds Blog. I have been reading her blog for a long time, but there are two projects that I am particularly fond of. As an attempt to bring art to her city, Lilla started brainstorming some phrases. Then she cut out big letters to make her messages come alive in her park. Another fun project that I love, included painting an old TV in bright colours and trying to find a nice place for it in the public space.
I’m sure that after reading the interview with this girl, you will want to go out and make beautiful things. Enjoy!
What do you hope that people will experience when they see your street art installations?
All I want to do is create special places.
I want people to experience the transformation of an ordinary place – to notice that something has changed on their way to work. To see a message they can relate to. To find inspiration for the day. To stop and take a minute to enjoy a piece of art that is exclusively made for them.
I need a smile – that’s all.
Your short messages read like poetry. What do you think makes a message heart-felt?
A good reminder of the nice things in life is the best message you can give to the world.
The foam you used and the TV you painted aren’t the typical craft supplies as we know them. How do you go about finding materials?
I know nothing about materials, honestly. Whenever I have an idea in my head I start experimenting and searching for the best solution. My fibran letters were initially planned as wooden ones – but it would have been a lot more difficult and expensive to realize, so I had to come up with something else.
The TV I painted is just one of many old and useless objects I’ve brought back to life. It is always easier to transform something you no longer need than to start from scratch.
You waited until it was dark to hang the letters and felt somewhat sneaky about it. Do you think making art, or at least public art, comes with a need to step outside of your comfort zone?
All fun things in life happen outside of our comfort zone. When you have a message to the world you don’t actually think about permissions and regulations and stuff like that. You want to express yourself freely and be able to communicate with others via your art. It is a bit thrilling at times: would they catch me – am I really doing something wrong – is this considered a crime? – but it is sweet excitement that makes your project even more special.
I discovered that most people who make street art installations, find it hard to answer the question ‘why?’: the purpose behind their projects. Why do you think it is so difficult to come up with a satisfying answer to such questions?
We all have the need to express ourselves in one way or another. We sing and we dance and we make art with the sole purpose of feeling free and feeling good. If we do things the right way – and by that I mean putting our hearts and souls into everything we do – we can be happy and make other people happy as well.
I used to find the “why” question pretty hard to answer because I couldn’t come up with a satisfying answer. Now I know that I do everything just because I want to feel good. I want you to feel good. Now, when people ask me why, I say why not?
Could you share a street art installation idea that you would love to try? Anything we can expect on your blog in the near future?
I would loooove to give a full makeover to an old building. I want to paint it in bright colours and different shapes and change it completely. I actually have my eye on a couple of buildings in my hometown. This a very ambitious project, though – because I would need a lot of help and a lot of supplies and it would require a very high level of sneaking, too. But wouldn’t it be great?
Something that will hopefully happen a lot sooner, has something to do with quotes from old Bulgarian movies. I cannot tell you much right now, but I promise I’ll share everything once it’s finished! :)
Any advice for people who want to make a street art installation but don’t know where to start?
Street art is never enough – if you have an idea – don’t be scared to realize it. Use whatever you have at hand – experiment, fail, start again. Love everything you do and people will love it, too.
If you haven’t done so already, be sure to pay a visit to Little Birds Blog. It is full of beautiful illustrations and fun creative projects to be discovered.
If you are interested in guest posting on my blog as well, read more about ‘Spread the love’ and send me an email.
8 Comments
Carly
March 6, 2014 at 16:50
Oh, those word signs are so nicely done! I love how so many kindness artists think they might be doing something against the law–I think about it, too! ;) But then you’re like, how could this be wrong? I’m making people smile!
I’m on my way over to Little Birds Blog to check it out!
magicaldaydream
March 7, 2014 at 12:00
I know, that’s why I love interviewing people and showing that we all feel a kind of fear or tension or level of discomfort when doing magical missions, but that doesn’t stop us ;) It’s nice to hear other peoples thoughts on similar subjects
Nerd Burger
March 6, 2014 at 19:42
loving Little birds are. SO simple and positive.
Marta Chan
March 6, 2014 at 21:07
Beautiful and inspiring job! The colorful tv is such a masterpiece, I love the colors and design and wondering people who pass by what are their reactions. Those moments I would love to have a hidden camera for a day
magicaldaydream
March 7, 2014 at 12:01
Yes, the TV is perfection :) Makes me want to paint one as well
Annabel Helena
March 6, 2014 at 21:19
De woorden in het park zijn echt heel erg gaaf, alleen de foto’s al maken dat ik een glimlach op mijn gezicht krijg, kan je nagaan als je één van Lilla’s berichtjes in het echt tegen komt! Heb net een tijdje door haar blog gescrolld, erg leuk, dankje voor de tip!
magicaldaydream
March 7, 2014 at 12:01
Ja he. Ik vind het idee al gaaf, maar de uitvoering en de mooie foto’s maken het echt af
Uncustomary Art
March 7, 2014 at 00:35
Yes!! This is beautiful.