The murals of the artist Youri Cansell reflect on biodiversity problems
The artistic expressions they present as many edges as the disparate interpretations that nature can acquire. And in the same way that some artists they choose to capture landscapes, portraits, self-portraits or lean towards abstract brushstrokes, Yuri Cansell , better known as Mantra, conceives murals that not only translate into a visual delight for communities, they also allow us to alert about global problems that we must be aware of.
Vincent van Gogh He used to say “Let us not forget that small emotions are the great captains of our lives and those that we obey without knowing it”. The reflection of this renowned Dutch painter allows us to intertwine the creations of this French artist and naturalist with his sensitivity to the environment, a relationship that grew by leaps and bounds after moving from the city to the French countryside at the age of eight.
Saying goodbye to the hustle and bustle, the environmental pollution and the frenetic movement of the city allowed him to enter a deep conversation with nature and the surrounding environment . Succumbing to the peace of his family's gardens instead of going to football matches was perfectly in his interest at the time. Thus, they crystallized singular moments of observation in which butterflies, owls, birds and a flora that changed its colors with the passing of the seasons.
Mantra is a French artist and naturalist who conceives murals
The tools provided by his family and the european graffiti culture They became a means of expression. "This has been very important in my decision to be a painter. Coming from a family that practices the graffiti culture, spray has been the key tool, and I also developed early on a brush and roller technique using acrylics, a technical evolution by personal decision and adaptation to the place", Youri Cansell tells Traveler.es
"My first large mural was in 2014. The structure of graffiti is like that, big, because it has no limits, only the one we put on ourselves." The murals of the independent artist Youri Cansell have materialized and achieved recognition in cities such as New York, lyons, Bogota, Vienna, Turin, Versailles Y Saragossa , precisely the latter commissioned by the Assault Festival.
Although in his works we find multiple references to butterflies, in recent years he has sought to trace an organic relationship between subjects, environments and endemic birds , painting in a much more realistic way, almost as through a photographer's lens, while still showing respect towards the architectural form, the place and the people who live in that community.
“Each one looks for his way to express what catches his attention in the real world. What my paintings reflect is who I am, what interests me in life, not only the etymology of painting murals, I am also interested in the human journey . Painting murals is not only a social act, it is going to meet people, interacting with the environment allows me to advance in the society we know, which is now global and connected", he says.
In addition to proposing to reflect a intrinsic harmony between each mural, its surroundings and paying homage to women , Youri Cansell seeks to represent a wide range of species, with formidable detail and in a kind of showcase, alluding to the biodiversity that is being lost on the planet.
But not only murals are part of his artistic legacy, since he has also been involved in developments with architecture studios, collaborations with foundations, photographers and even a UN project.
Always respecting the restrictions of each country, this artist did not stop working during 2020 sketching murals in Denmark, France, Germany and in the state of Arkansas, in the United States. His next projects place him today in Valencia , preparing sketches for future murals, painting commissioned canvases, and helping Spanish artist Antonio Segura, who is working on a future exhibition.
In this way, and through his collaboration with the environment, he remains faithful to his spirit of associative tradition, seeking to continually nurture his imagination of him in each of his trips and taking risks that lead him to reinvent himself as an artist.
'La formula secrète' is a mural located in Ambato, Ecuador