The giant hands of Beyond Walls seen from the air in Burkina Faso
He has changed the grass for the sand, but the message is still intact. The artist Guillaume Legros aka Saype (contraction of Say Peace) has wanted to take his human chain of giant hands, and with it his call to unity, to coexistence, to share and to help each other, even Africa. Beyond Walls and his intention to travel around the world are already in Burkina Faso and in Ivory Coast.
A) Yes, In front of the monument to the National Heroes of Ouagadougou, the fifth stage of a world project materialized which began its journey in June 2019 in Paris, at the foot of the Eiffel Tower; to later take this ephemeral chain of hands to Andorra, Geneva and Berlin.
Saype's work at the foot of the monument to the National Heroes of Ouagadougou
Making the leap to Africa was significant and making it debut in Burkina Faso was also symbolic. “Burkina Faso is going through a major security and geopolitical crisis and I think that now more than ever, the country needs messages of optimism, support and mutual help”, explains to Traveler.es Saype.
To do this and armed with his paint cans, Saype landed in the country's capital with the intention of shaping an imposing fresco of 5,000 square meters at the foot of an iconic monument that celebrates independence, republic, revolution and democracy.
“More than enthusiastic. It's been crazy" says Saype, remembering the reaction of the people who were able to see his work process and the final result.
And it is that Saype knew Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt, but not West Africa. “I tried not to let myself be influenced too much by the media, the press and others, to Don't have too preconceived an idea. In view of the present, I was a little apprehensive because lately there have been quite a few attacks, so I didn't know what to expect when I arrived."
In Burkina Faso, Saype has traded grass for sand
What to expect turned out to be a warm welcome. “It was amazing, I still have goosebumps. There is clearly a clash: climatic, cultural and, obviously, of wealth. The country is one of the poorest in the world. Nevertheless, the Burkinabe are tremendously friendly and welcoming.”
There he stops in his assessment of the country. He does not want to fall into clichés, he prefers to keep what he has learned. And judging by the novelty of destiny, it seems that it is quite a lot.
“The fact of organizing a project of this magnitude from a distance in a country whose codes you don't know always requires a bit of effort. Also how hot it was, because we worked 12 hours a day in full sun with temperatures of 40°C. Also, it was the first time he painted on land, so he couldn't walk on the cool so I had to think completely differently about my creative process.”
The result? About 1,000 liters of biodegradable paint made from chalk and charcoal turned into a huge and wonderful fresco of gray, black and white tones unfolded at the beginning of March on the earthen canvas of Ouagadougou ready to be contemplated until the weather allows it, but that already has someone to take over: Yamoussoukro, the capital of the Ivory Coast, that last March 15 saw how the immense giant hands of this human chain had just taken shape at the foot of the Basilica of Notre-Dame de la Paix. Surrounding her.
Total, 18,000 square meters of fresh, of which 12,500 were completely painted and that will take to disappear as long as it takes for the grass to grow. Uncertain, yes; but it is this ephemeral condition that makes its appeal win over.
On the horizon, also uncertain, new appointments will appear for Beyond Walls , new experiences that, like its creator, Saype, bring us "new keys to understand the world and contribute my grain of sand to make a fairer world".
The human chain in Yamoussoukro seen from the air