Mextonia 2017

Spray cans and wall painting on wall, 2017

Mextonia was “Transgraffiti Muralism” festival which took place in Tallinn and other important Estonian cities  at 14 to 22 of  June in 2017.   Festival was mainly collaboration between the Mexican organization Nueve Arte Urbano and Todoesuno from Estonia with the local support of EKKM, Stencibility, Pirados, Baltic Sessions. The festival featured 36 transgrafiti artists from Estonia, 16 from Mexico, 8 from the rest of the world.   Festival was part of Estonian100 anniversary celebration programm and focused on cultural roots of Estonia by creating the link between Mexico and Estonia, through murals created in public walls by local and international Transgrafiti artists, as a gift from Mexico to Estonia.

” The Blue History” is short timeline to Estonian history painted  with blue- black and white color palette, based on the traditional flag colors. It focuses on historical cultural influence and roots of Estonia. It starts with the ancient Estonian and deer, representing the harmony between nature and human. Work continues with the church called St. Olaf’s Church, which was the highest building during medieval Europe and detail from Tartu University, Estonian oldest university established by Swedish King Gustavus Adolphus. The middle part of wall shows Estonian national mythological hero called  Kalev’s Son with his wise adviser hedgehog on ship called “Air-plane” from national epic.  Image that symbolizes Estonians national awakening. In the center can be seen official Estonian national signs swallow holding corn flower in his mouth symbolizing the first republic after the war of independence.  Mural continues with national-flag like forest landscape and soviet era women symbolizing hard work and dark age of close history after the end of republic. The penultimate scene with girl wearing national clothing at Estonian song festival represents the local singing tradition and historical singing revolution which marks the new beginning to the freedom. The last seen focuses on modern values and high- technology excess that Estonia has achieved in today. Mural was painted with 5 days.

During the festival extra mural was created too, where two mythological night kids with blooming tree horns and book, harmonic symbol with hope, look the world as peaceful place.

Location: Tallinn and Estonia

Photographers: Martha Cooper, Yoshitaro Yanganita, Nickie Robinson, Marina Pavljuk and artist personal pictures