Over the last three or so weeks, London has played host to some seven Street Artists from Mexico who have been over as part of the MXUK2015 tour and resulted in a series of wonderful solo and collaborative works being put up around London. In all there have been eight paintings put up around the East End and in Camden Town, along with a few paste-ups to compliment the murals.

Work by Acaro in King John Court, Shoreditch.

While we have to say we don’t entirely get to whole message behind the piece, other than the work depicting some sort of battle within a folk culture framework, portrayed through a strong sense of surrealism, we were however fortunate enough to be able to discuss the work with a good friend of ours of Mexican descent, who kindly gave us some exceptionally interesting insight into the work. To whom we would very much like to say a big thank you to Maria727.

This is certainly a stunning piece, with lots going on this work which really generates a sense of story, driven by time and movement. The work which was painted through a combination of spray paint and brush work from each of the artists, showcases a range of styles and technique ranging from more cartoon driven folk art to warm painterly tones, punctuated by a bright and vibrant colour palette, very typical of South American art, that superbly fuses together as one piece, depicting some sort of battle within a folk culture framework.

Work by Cix Mugre.

Detail of work by Cix Mugre.

Work by Spike Spaik, with additions form Libre HEM.

Detail of work by Spike Spaik.

Work by Libre HEM.

Detail of work by Libre HEM.

Both pieces from Said Dokins consist of Calligraphy presented in a series of concentric circles, kept to simple colour palettes of 5-6 colours. The measurements and spacing in the works is perfectly uniform and creates a really absorbing effect when viewed. Both of the pieces have been created as a touching tribute in order to mark the one year anniversary of the abduction and subsequent disappearance of 43 students from the Ayotzinapa teacher’s college in the Mexican state of Guerrero, which was three weeks ago.

Work by Said Dokins.

This work in New North Place, Shoreditch is a collaboration between Mazatl and fellow Mexican artist Fusca, with Mazatl creating the grey-scale boar creature and Fusca creating the primitive native female character it is entwined with.

This work is not the first time these two have collaborated on a mural together, however it is the first Stinkfish collaborative work we have seen in the flesh. The piece fuses the two artists individual styles very well, with Mazatl’s deconstructed animal creation, in this case in the form of a snake, surrounding Stinkfish’s portrait. Mazatl’s creatures are often depicted in several detached sections and in this case they are superbly fused together by Stinkfish’s bursts of energetic colour. In this case creating a sense of the energy which ties nature and humanity together, that which fuses our very existence and experiences.

Paste-up work made from wood-print techniques depicting a wolf that is being reduced to a skeleton from the rear end, as it falls apart whilst trying to run away and escape its fate.

Paste-up work made from wood-print techniques depicting a motherly looking deer, incubating her young which inhabit a surreal scene of wilderness, dominated by a sense of warmth.

Rooftop view of a fantastic collaboration between Acaro & Libre Hem, in Camden Town. This is certainly one of the highlights from the MXUK2015 tour.

Detail of work by Libre HEM.

Detail of work by Acaro.

Detail of work by Libre HEM.

Detail of work by Acaro.

 A superb black and white collaboration between Acaro & Mazatl in Hackney Road.

Detail of work by Mazatl.

Detail of work by Acaro.

We have already reported on several of these pieces in more detail in their own right and you can view our post on works from Mazatl (covered here), the superb collaboration mural by Cix Mugre, Spike Spaik & Libre HEM (covered here), on works by Acara (covered here) and finally on the two works placed up by Said Dokins (covered here).