Wednesday February 21, 2018

Prestigious International Street Artist to Join Dunedin’s Street Art Trail

Dunedin’s popular street art trail will gain two new world-class artworks with international artist Bik Ismo and Christchurch’s Jacob Yikes the latest artists to come to the city.

Puerto Rico artist Joshua Santos Rivera, also known under the pseudonyms of "Bik", "Ismo" and "Bik-Ismo", a BFA graduate from Escuela de Artes Plásticas de San Juan, has worked as a graffiti artist for more than 15 years and is a member of prestigious international urban art groups FX (which he was invited to join at 19), The Nasty Boys (TNB) and Master of Destruction (MAD).

Exhibited throughout the world and a past juror on various international street art events, Bik is known for his standout 3D metallic murals – an effect he has planned for his Dunedin wall at 169 Princes Street.

“Bringing Bik to Dunedin has been three years in the making – and one we’ve been able to achieve with money raised from our auction in December,” says Dunedin Street Art Trust member Justin Cashell.

“We’re extremely excited to also welcome one of the country’s most eminent street artists Jacob Yikes to the city, who will be working on the carpark wall of Dunedin’s iconic Scenic Hotel Southern Cross.”

Yikes, one of Christchurch’s most active street artists who has helped rejuvenate the inner city post-earthquakes, describes his work as a combination of “freestyle line work and block colour, combined with surrealistic scenery”.

Says Mr Cashell: “Jacob’s world of weird and wonderful characters will feel at home in Dunedin surrounded by Phlegm’s creatures, Emma Francesca’s Empress Penguin, or Pixel’s robotic horse.”

The two new artworks follow last month’s addition ‘Pool of Life’ from Perth artist Rene Brink on Stafford Street.

The Dunedin Street Art Trust have been supported in this latest project by Emerson’s Brewery, Scenic Hotel Southern Cross, Resene, Hirepool, and Gordon Harris.

ENDS

© Scoop Media