Thursday, June 4, 2009

Off the Wall ! (and On the Road. . .)

In any given day, probably only a relatively small number of people walk down the quiet back streets in Paris where I stumbled on these images the other day, when not looking for anything in particular. So I decided it was time for the three works of urban art shown here to come down off their walls and go on the road, to get out to see the world, and to be seen . . . by all of YOU good people. I have to admit, the second and third photo here made me think immediately of Theo Ellsworth's illustrations which you can see at Thought Cloud Factory News. His drawings are plenty of fun. (And sorry, no bikinis this time !)
.

































.

































.



















.
.

30 comments:

Fly Girl said...

The second and third images actually reminds me of outsider art. They have an otherworldly quality to them.

desi said...

wow, the last 2 are great! I wont mind having an outside wall of my house painted like that oneday!

:D esi

Buskitten said...

Lovely images, gotta dash train to catch!

Lydia said...

Ooo! Ooooo! Ooooooo! I'm glad they came out to be seen. :)

On my way to adopt another old post....

Steve said...

The third image hurts my eyes - but in a good way. Ethnic eclectic.

robert said...

Hy there Owen, first of all I'd like to welcome you 'aboard' - hope that you'll enjoy the journey through life.
Spend some time in Paris, working as a waiter, on my own and have to admit, that I've fallin in love with the city.
Like the first photography best, as Moby Dick was the thrid book I read being a child.

The Sagittarian said...

Jeez, I'm still getting carried away by the tought of padlocks and stuff...

joo said...

It's a shame there aren't bikinis today, but I have to admit that third and second picture are adorable. I love paintings, and I blue - white colours.

desi said...

hi Owen...

These might help where I left comments :
(otherwise you'll be searching 4EVER!)

http://magiclanternshowen.blogspot.com/2009/03/high-on-volcano.html

http://magiclanternshowen.blogspot.com/search/label/Volkswagen%20Beetle

http://magiclanternshowen.blogspot.com/2009/02/three-dead-dogs.html

how do i make them links on a comment box?

:D esi

Owen said...

Hi Desi, thanks a ton... I'll go take a look after work !

Joo, I'll have to find some more bikinis, I can see that really worked... but remember, it was the building reflection !

Sagit, be careful, they're going to lock you up... ;-D

Mo'ikeha, I kept seeing you in various places, figured the universe was telling me to come take a look... thanks for dropping in !

Steve, I think your eyes may still be stinging a little from all the sausage smoke... you may want to put on your leopard skin suit and jump in the pool for relief... :-D

Lydia, excellent idea !

Buskitten, sounds like a Beatles song... "made the bus in seconds flat"

Fly Girl... definitely Outsider Art... btw, there is a whole blog of outsider work if you follow the link in my list of "fun blogs" at right to "Outsider Environments Europe" !

Catherine said...

Those last two shots are great...do you know who the artist is?? They look a tad African in inspiration to me??

Anonymous said...

Those are really cool! I love the baleine bleue! It looks like a necklace I have that I got after whale watching! Beautiful.

Blind Fly Theater said...

I love seeing this type of art, Owen. Thanks...
David

Lone Grey Squirrel said...

These images are quite beautiful. Much nicer than your earlier "bikini" post. After all, empty bikini's are not nearly as interesting as when they are filled in.

ArtSparker said...

I like those lively primitifs. More, more - more spaces for this sort of thing on buildings.

How about a whale in a bikini?

Batteson.Ind said...

really like these.. everything looks a bit mayan or something.... cool!-)

Meeko Fabulous said...

I love your photography! You are quite talented. Hope you don't mind if I follow. :)

cieldequimper said...

C'est vrai qu'on ne fait pas forcément tous les détours qu'on devrait... J'adore ces photos !

Owen said...

Salut Ciel, si je pouvais me le permettre, je ne ferais que des détours... car c'est en faisant des détours non-planifiés et inattendus, que l'on tombe sur les merveilles cachées... bon weekend !

Meeko Fab, Thank you very much, you are more than welcome...

Waterkits, in fact, these ARE Mayan, they were painted by a Mayan artist who travelled in time from the 6th century to our times, took quick stock of the weird culture he saw, painted these, and then left in a hurry... is that plausible ?

Art Sparker... hmmmm, a whale in a bikini, I think I'll let you discuss that with a whale, and see if the whale would agree ? If so, I'll be happy to stop by and do the photos... :-D

Lone Grey, as mentioned earlier, that is not a "bikini" photo, it is a "architectural reflection" photo, the bikinis just happened to be in the way... but I'll have to see if I can find some filled in bikinis for you... that's not the sort of photos I usually do...

David, glad you like it, am trying to keep things mixed up here...

Hi Rain, sounds like a nice necklace... hey, maybe that could be a theme... necklace art... ?

Catherine, have to admit, did not see an artist's name anywhere, and it was a Sunday afternoon, so pretty quiet... if I can find out I'll let you know.

Anonymous said...

Owen, I think you're going theme crazy, lol!!!
;-)

Anonymous said...

Good idea though!

Adam said...

Always such great photos on your blog - but why is the Baleine Bleue white?

Lynne with an e said...

I didn't know the Mayans invented the bicycle!

Caio Fern said...

hi Owen ! this is the first time i visit your blog , your work is realy good. i liked very much the way you photograf and the things you choose.

Loulou said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Loulou said...

Owen, please tell me/us, WHERE was it in Paris? it is so nice! I want to go and see those walls
Loulou

Owen said...

Ah Rain, I'm not going crazy, I already went... long time ago ! LOL !

Hi Adam, now that is indeed an excellent question from a keen observer. See above answer to Watercats... In fact, according to Mayan hieroglyphic codes I translated from the following two pictures, this whale image on the wall is a negative, and the original positive from which it was projected does have a blue whale on a white/gray background. This was an ancient Mayan printing process known as blue-tone, a process now lost to man. Either that, or the sign painter was supposed to paint "La Baleine Blanche, but had one too many beers and got confused part way into "Bl...." (?) Other ideas ?

Louciao, Mayans did not invent the bicycle, that was done by a frenchman back in the 1800's, but remember, these were painted by a time travelling Mayan who observed modern culture to make these images... (?) :-@ (that newly invented symbol means "I'm losing it here at 04h00 in the morning"

Ciao Fernandes... Many thanks for stopping in here, I'm trying to keep things somewhat interesting and varied, in any case, stop by whenever, the coffee is always on here...

Loulou, wow, does that mean you will be in Paris soon ??? If so, I will be happy to give you a guided tour and lead you directly to the location of that photo... ;-D

And get you an ice cream from the ice cream place where the mirror was photographed that same afternoon a few days ago...

But, if that is not an option, well, you can find them at the corner of la rue de l'Agent Bailly and la rue Milton, 75009
Amicaux bisoux !

Loulou said...

Paris is more than an option this summer when I return to Europe for vacations :-)

me said...

Cool! LOVE the Whale! =)

Amy said...

That first image looks like it's right out of a children's book...