Murals Oosterparkwijk (7 pieces)

About this artwork.

Since 2023, you will encounter a lot more color and images when you walk down the street in the Oosterpark district. A figure in a green shirt that is embraced from behind over the entire surface of a building, a freestanding building in the park that is completely wrapped in flowers and birds. These are just two examples of the no fewer than seven murals that have been created in various places in Oosterpark by artists from home and abroad.

Thiago Mazza (Brazil) was inspired by the local fauna and the architecture of the street for his work on Piet Fransenlaan. He comes from Belo Horizonte in Brazil and comes to Europe for a few months every year to create his murals. His work can be seen in Vienna, Lisbon and Madrid, among other places.

The work Birds of Paradise by Naomi King (Netherlands) can be admired on Paradijsvogelstraat. The message behind the work is that women often play a major role in preserving their own identity and nature. The rainforest as well as the country of Papua New Guinea are currently under pressure. For this reason, Naomi King has depicted a Papuan woman as a protector of the tropical birds around her.

Artist Wietse (Belgium) also drew inspiration for his work from nature and has completely covered the detached building of the Oosterparkwijk youth centre in flora and fauna. He hopes to teach young people to treat all living things on earth with respect.

In the mural by Eloise Gillow (England) above the terrace of neighbourhood café Het Oude Politiebureau, reciprocity and caring relationships are central. The painting of the embrace integrates into the yellow building and surrounding greenery and emphasises the community space and the sense of togetherness.

On a tall building on the Zaagmuldersweg, the mural by Zësar Bahamonte (Spain) shows a number of colourful figures hugging each other. “Qué abrazo te daría en la penumbra de mis espinas” (“What a long hug I would give you in the darkness of my thorns”). This simple yet powerful gesture is depicted three times on the wall in different colours and shapes, so that none of the cuddly toys are the same.

In the mural by Annabel Adema (Netherlands) on a wall on the Zaagmuldersweg, a woman lying down surrounded by animals can be seen in bright colours, inspired by the Amsterdam School houses in the neighbourhood. Adema studied at the art academy in Groningen and lived in the Oosterpark neighbourhood at the time.

Ricardo van Zwol (Netherlands), alias R-75, has added colour to the Gorechthuis with a lifelike portrait of a woman, surrounded by geometric shapes, flowers and birds.

About the assignment.

The Writer’s Block organization offers a platform to the (street) art scene, where they give local and (inter)national artists a stage to show their talent to a wide audience. As part of the Street Art Festival, they previously brought color to Emmen, Lelystad and Leeuwarden and in 2023 it was Groningen’s turn. After the successful work by Jack Lack of former footballer Dick Nanninga on the Zaagmuldersweg, the municipality invited Writer’s Block to return to the Oosterpark for more murals.

Each work of art was given its own theme and input from residents of the neighbourhood was requested for the choice of themes. The artists were then given free rein to let their imagination run wild.

Facts & Figures.

• Design
  Annabel Adema
  Eloise Gillow
  Naomi King
  Ricardo van Zwol
  Thiago Mazza
  Wietse
  Zëzar Bahamonte

• District
  Oosterparkwijk

• Year of creation
  2023

• Art type
  Painting, Art in / on a building

• Material
  Paint