Creative Explosion at Yardworks Graffiti Festival

By Ami Melville

As spring emerges and the flowers bloom around Scotland’s lively parks and cities, art is simultaneously moving outdoors and into the refreshing air of the warmer months. Color is blossoming in all directions within the artistic sphere, and there’s no better way to experience it than attending Glasgow’s annual three day Yardworks Graffiti Festival from May 5th-7th, displayed at the SWG3 Warehouse. This collection will be full of the abundant creativity of urban artists, showcasing expansive street art panels from creators around the nation.

Since its opening in 2017, Yardworks has established itself as one of Europe’s greatest gatherings of internationally renowned artists and local creators alike. It is a place of inspiration, influence ,and interaction, drawing audiences of all ages together to appreciate art. Some of the most acclaimed urban artists will be attending, such as Jay Kaes.

Kaes is an award-winning urban artist from Spain who now resides in London. He spent his adolescent years practicing graffiti around his hometown and has been welcomed by both communities as a talented, innovative painter. His murals can be seen and appreciated all around the world, from the close-knit towns of Greece to the bustling cities of Los Angeles, Lelystad and Santander. Many of his works focus on the relationships between humans and technology, as social interactions are complicated by social media and other potentially harmful factors in the modern era.

Photo courtesy of Jay Kaes, jaykaes.co.uk.

Kaes created this mural for a community in Pompeii, who lost a local teenager, Alessandro, to social media bullying. It reminds everyone of the differences between reality and the internet, as well as the detrimental impact online bullying has. Many people forget that behind every post there is a person, and thus utilize social media to attack and shame others. Kaes’ mural utilizes color and his adept creativity to integrate emotion with technological imagery, communicating this important message about the power and pain of the internet.

Another artist in attendance will be Scotland-based KMG, who has distinguished herself with her youthful and thought-provoking style. She interacts with her communities through her character-based murals, establishing a playful dialogue through color and imagination. Her pieces are often sweeping through expansive areas with heavy traffic, collaborating with other artists to create artistic impact that is massive in size, audience, and influence.

This multi-eyed character is called Ken, who has appeared famously in the 2021 Nuart Aberdeen Festival. Ken is depicted in numerous different settings, communicating his well-traveled and curious persona. Many activities KMG has her characters doing relate to her childhood, such as her time skateboarding.

Along with these artists there will also be a graffiti maze, live painting, and a principle means of getting involved with the urban creation scene, as well as the local Glasgow community. This international and multicultural gathering of urban artists is the perfect way to start off spring with a colorful bang.

Bibliography

Cassidy, Peter. “In Pictures: Glasgow Venue SWG3 Transformed into 'Playground of Colour' for Yardworks Graffiti and Street Art Festival.” STV News, June 18, 2022. https://news.stv.tv/west-central/in-pictures-glasgow-venue-swg3-transformed-into-playground-of-colour-for-yardworks-graffiti-and-street-art-festival.

Inspiringcity. “Nuart Murals in Aberdeen for 2021 Street Art Festival.” Inspiring City, August 16, 2022. https://inspiringcity.com/2021/08/08/nuart-murals-in-aberdeen-for-2021-street-art-festival/.

“Yardworks Festival 2023: Friday 5 May: SWG3 Galvanizers Yard.” SWG3. Accessed April 27, 2023. https://swg3.tv/events/2023/may/yardworks-festival-2023/.

“About.” KMG. Accessed April 27, 2023. http://www.kmgyeah.com/about.

“Wall Murals.” Jay Kaes. Accessed April 27, 2023. https://www.jaykaes.co.uk/murals.