Swiss street art duo NEVERCREW address the true order of things from a natural, rather than human perspective in their newest piece completed in June for Street Art Festival Chur. The massive-scale mural, titled “Home Ground” pays homage to not only the large structure whose facade it adorns, but also “the local traditions, the events of the past years that have occurred in the region and the recent territorial developments.” Chur is located on the Rhine, and is considered by many to be the oldest city in Switzerland. The city features two archaeological sites, four archives and libraries, and is nestled into the Alpines.
About The Mural
In approaching this tension regarding nature and humanity’s relationship, NEVERCREW ultimately asks a larger question that extends beyond the laws that govern humans to those that govern the world as a whole. “Home Ground” presents a visual theme that explores “the sharing of natural resources between humankind and other natural beings, about the balance in this cohabitation and about the meaning of borders and ownership if seen from a natural point of view and not perceived only from the human perspective.”
The focal point of “Home Ground” is practically shared by both the large bear and translucent concentric circles that the mural depicts. Upon examining the work, the viewer begins to notice other less-immediate intricacies that, in the process of interpretation, guide the viewer through their own assessment of the question to be addressed. While the artists completed the bear’s very top portion in a realistic style, its depiction inside the concentric circles looks less natural and more manufactured. The details of its fur disappear into a completely smooth, chrome-like surface. Further examination brings the viewer closer to the mural’s background, which reveals the outline of of a city, on a block of red that barely disrupts the work’s largely light blue composition.
In directing viewers through these details, the artists of NEVERCREW encourage viewers to consider what the human construct of borders really means on the grander scale of our society’s relationship to nature, represented by the the city outline and bear respectively. As the bear’s appearance changes upon entering the concentric circles’ boundary, it illustrates the effect our seemingly arbitrary rules have on something as unfettered and chaotic as nature. The work’s massive scale further emphasizes the importance of addressing this question.
About Nevercrew
This theme remains consistent with messages NEVERCREW traditionally takes on in their work. Christian Rebecchi and Pablo Togni joined forces in 1996 to form their partnership, and the two Swiss artists have created numerous pieces addressing the relationship between nature and humankind, and have also done so while developing their own distinct style. Widewalls notes that across the various mediums they work in, the duo employs a distinct “visual hybrid” style that “combines a simple graphical structure with realistic and formally complex elements, arranged in different spatial levels.” It is through this tactic of “construction and composition” that NEVERCREW seeks to instigate critical thought within viewers’ minds.
About The Festival
The street art festival that hosted the creation of “Home Ground” is new event that marks Switzerland’s first street art festival, “Light”. The festival took place from June 21 – 23, 2018, and featured a variety of events, from live painting showcases where well-known performers like Chromeo provided music to workshops exploring the relationship between urban and natural art. This theme suits the city of Chur, which features both atmospheres in its landscape. It also makes an ideal home for this newest work by NEVERCREW, which furthers the duo’s foray into how these elements can achieve a better harmony.
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Street Art Festival Chur: website | facebook | instagram
