French artists Louis Boidron and Édouard Egea have been working together for more than ten years Monkey bird (previously). The pair are known for their large-scale stencil murals that are rich in symbolism, architectural structures and elaborate motifs, many of which contain timeless themes related to human emotions, experiences and the inevitability of change.
“The Arch of Peace” is one of their most recent pieces and transforms the facade of a building in Aarhus into a monumental tribute to peace and justice. The mural, commissioned by the 17 Walls Project, is based on one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to create a more inclusive and resilient future.
“The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, whose origins lie in France, served as our central source of inspiration,” the artists shared. “We have reinterpreted the decorative framework of the original engraving: angels, arches and colonnades symbolize the moral pillars essential for stability in an ever-changing world.”
As is typical of a MonkeyBird mural, two anthropomorphic creatures in robes stand at the center of the composition, guarding a library based on that of Trinity College Dublin. “Their qualities of power and intellect only take on true meaning when they are guided by reason and ethics,” the artists add.
Similar mythical and majestic figures appear in a pair of murals in Fontainebleau and Metz, France, the latter of which depicts an avian creature holding an hourglass high in the sky. The piece, entitled ‘Le Présage’ or ‘The Omen’, directly references the artist’s interest in the passage of time and the blurring of the boundaries between past, present and future.
The pair will join the Montgomery Art Project in Alabama to create a mural and immersive installation of their papercuts. If you live in the area, keep an eye out for opportunities to participate in one of MonkeyBird’s workshops, which involve the community in cutting out their stencils and making public paste-ups. Until then, pick up a printout their storeand follow up on their latest projects Instagram.
