The stages of grief. The stages of loss. Grief over losing a connection – connection with another, connection with life, connection with nature – along pathways that lead us into cycles of growth, bloom, and decay. An ode to nature and an ode to life through nature. SNIK, at their best again. Under the simple theme of exploring our connection to nature in the remote Norwegian island Utsira and mainland city Stavanger, the duo explores a deeper conversation and a more subtle pathway to EXHALE. It is a journey within.
The well-established British artist duo Laura Perrett and Nicholas Ellis, better known under SNIK, have stood out in the past decade by approaching street art with a touch of mystical poetry. Away from digital techniques and mastering the craft of elaborately mixing multi-layered and hand cut stencils of ethereal humans, identifiable by tangled hair stands and eyes that speak volumes, SNIK’s distinctive art can be seen in locations as diverse as Aberdeen, Miami and Hong Kong. It is sought after by international urban-contemporary art collectors and galleries, for what sets SNIK apart is the fact that their art strikes a different and much more personal chord while they approach simple topics with depth, such as our connection to nature through the mystery of life and death.
In their latest project EXHALE, documented by film maker Doug Gillen, and captured by photographer Brian Tallman, the duo explored our connection to nature with an “interest in the timeless encroachment of the natural world into our lives, and the poignancy in that intertwinement”, they share. Four murals: three across the island Utsira which has previously hosted thanks to UtsiArt a string of contemporary artists such as Icy & Sot, Issac Cordal, Pichiavo and Borondo, and one fourth and final mural in Stavanger.
Four murals: Pathways, Afterthought, Exhale and Overcome. Four murals to depict our dichotomous relationship with nature through cycles of growth and loss. Four murals. Four stages of loss to reconnect?
Pathways. Her eyes are wondering, slightly evasive, looking ahead and yet, she remains grounded, connected to nature. She is building a path, willing to grow and travel, and yet she stands still. Her eyes are traveling, but her hair strands intertwine with nature. She may have denied that connection at times, rejected it with a strong eagerness to grow with her own desires and ambitions. At times, it must have angered her. At times, she may have doubted herself too. Maybe she could have found her path for growth on her own. Maybe not. Denial. Anger.
Afterthought. A duality. A dichotomy. Ambivalence. Contradictions and negotiations. A split in the portrait, a division in the self. A reminder that our actions on the natural world often come after much questioning, after much bargaining, with and within ourselves. We think that we have done nature right. Have we, really? As an afterthought, we reminisce about our actions and question the ether: have we done the right thing or not. Maybe we can negotiate. Maybe. Bargain.
Exhale. She looks calm. Poised. Serene. Yet she looks sad. Nature is on her mind, and she seems to be taking her time, attempting to establish a personal communion with what is eating her heart and soul. A creature of poetry, she is taking a break from the busy and fast world, away from the distractions, away from the physical and material interactions. She is doing her best to make sense of that connection. She is doing her best to exhale. She is trying. Depression.
Overcome. The circle is closing. The final and fourth mural is painted in the city: the duo have returned from the island. Their cycle is complete. Time to reach the last stage. Time for nature to reclaim its rights. Time for the human to accept the connection, or the loss of it. She looks up, curious and wondering. Nature is all over her. Nature is in her. Is she happy? Maybe. Or maybe she is on the verge of regaining happiness. Acceptance.
SNIK’s work elevates street art to another level: it is poetic, celestial, and highly comforting to the ones who see more than just lovely Raphaelite figures in muted color palettes. It is subtle and deeply personal, for beyond exploring our connection to nature, EXHALE explores our connection with and within ourselves. It is an inward journey for our very own cycle of growth, bloom and yes, decay.
