Boa Mistura:
Boa Mistura is a street art group consisting of 5 artists from Madrid, Spain who decorate public spaces around the world with imaginative ways. Formed in 2001, Madrid, these artists were 15 years old when they first met while painting the walls of their neighbourhood.
The term “Boa Mistura” comes from the Portuguese meaning of “good mixture”, a reference to the diversity of backgrounds and point of views from each member. The members- Javier Serrano Guerra, Juan Jaume Fernández, Pablo Ferreiro Mederos, Pablo Purón Carrillo, and Rubén Martín de Lucas- are a multidisciplinary team with roots in graffiti art. However, in addition to graffiti, they also do mural painting, graphic design, and illustration.
The main purpose of the group is to use their work as a tool to transform the streets of communities and to create bonds with people. They believe in art for change and inspiring people through collaborative processes by working in public spaces. Thus, they travel the world tackling large projects and commissions; they use their talents to bring joy, attention, and colour to communities that need moral and economic aid.
Boa Mistura repurposes urban spaces to improve the quality of life of its residents but they don’t do it with ignorance. They are constantly seeking input and direction from communities they serve so that they can understand how their art can help.
The group has done projects in South Africa, USA, UK, Germany, Mexico, Panamá, and many others. They have been invited to show their work at many museums and exhibitions; they have been in partnership with the UN, Red Cross, and Greenpeace; they have also given lectures at TEDxMadrid and have developed workshops for universities.
Boa Mistura believes that they have the ability to touch hearts of individuals through their art because their installations are purposely accessible and relevant (in the streets instead of a private building). In addition, they have captured a fundamental aspect of being human in their conceptual agenda: a life serving others is a life well-lived and with each completed piece, a community rejoices with appreciation.
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References:
- “Boamistura.” I Support Street Art, www.isupportstreetart.com/artist/boamistura/.
- “BoaMistura.” Islamic Center of Northwest Arkansas, m.facebook.com/pg/BoaMistura/about/?ref=page_internal&mt_nav=0.
- “Art as a Tool for Change.” Art as a Tool for Change, www.boamistura.com/#/about-us.
- Daichendt, G. James. “Agents of Change: The Art of Boa Mistura.” Link TV, 22 Nov. 2017, www.linktv.org/shows/big-cities/agents-of-change-the-art-of-boa-mistura.