Pink Monkey at Helsinki Design Week
G-REX Open Air Exhibition at the largest design festival in the Nordics in 2015
About G-REX: This street artist collective was formed by members of Grafia, The Association of Visual Communication Designers in Finland. We want to put our skill and talent to use for the common good by bringing more colour and art to the urban environment. Our aim is to offer an alternative to the ubiquity of commercial images in the cityscape.
Roles: Branding, concept, visual identity, graphic design, art direction, illustration, copywriting, marketing, production, project management, fine art, mural art
Credits: Multiple owners, the artwork presented on this site is created by me.
What happens when an artist’s fantasy becomes reality? Our dreamlike visions took over Helsinki, Finland, during the Design Week.
Studies show that art has a positive impact on well-being, yet only a small percentage of people go to museums and galleries. As a result, I came up with the idea of an exhibition inspired by guerrilla marketing and organized it together with the G-REX artist collective that I am part of. We brought art, and more importantly joy, to where people are – the streets and the parks. There were psychedelic disco worms crawling on the ground and a pink monkey lazing in a tree. “Look, there’s another one!” was heard as excited kids ran to the next piece. “This should be here everyday” a woman walking her dog noted as we went about hanging our artwork in Koulupuistikko park in the centre of the city.
Photography (image above): Galina Berezina
We also painted electricity boxes in the vicinity of this exhibition in collaboration with Helen (Helsinki’s electricity network). Mural art keeps the environment tidier as taggers usually respect the paintings. More importantly, cheerful illustrations make people smile. “I’m so happy that the monkeys are here again!” a delighted passer by stated as I was painting an electricity box after the exhibition. After all, the greatest thing about street art is the opportunity it offers for unexpected discoveries in the familiar places.
“Admiring this work of art since it has been painted there. Though I see it every day, it never stops fascinating me.”
(Comment on Instagram)
An article about my painting and our exhibition on Kamppi-Eira magazine.
Do you want to collaborate? I’m available for a position/project.
► elina.holley@me.com, +358445552457
