The images are insane and the association of graffiti in this heritage monument was quite magical. Exhibition at the Carmen Cultural Centre – Valencia, 2019Īs for us, we discovered them when they were exhibited in the Cloister of the Carmen Cultural Centre in Valencia in 2019. Now well known artists they have participated in many international street art festivals and events such as POW WOW festival, the creation of the second largest mural in the world in collaboration with Vhils, participating in the opening of the Urban Nation in Berlin and making their debut in London with the exhibition ‘ In Gods We Trust‘ in 2017 at the Unit Gallery. Mural in ValenciaĪ small trademark, the light bulb, which is found on all their pieces as a small signature tag, is the symbol of the idea and creativity: ‘It’s a familiar element that everyone recognises and gradually with new technologies is disappearing despite attempts to maintain its place’ ( PichiAvo interview for Graffiti Street). In their prolific work, they mix techniques and media: walls, canvases, statues… Their stroke of spray can and brush is almost translucent and the work on details is extremely meticulous, to the point of finishing some of their artworks with gold leaf. PichiAvo gives them back colour and reinterprets them in a contemporary urban art style! They bring back to life those mythical figures and statues that were in their time covered with colour! Over time the colour has disappeared and today we associate the beauty of these classical sculptures with their whiteness. PichiAvo pays homage to these exceptional classical sculptures. There is also a 3D work majestically placed in the centre of the gallery, like a miniature of the sculptures they represent throughout all their works.
Several black and white drawings are on display as well as numerous canvases. ‘ Marbles and Bronzes‘ is constructed as a study of the sculptures of the classical period, specifically those in marble and bronze. In 2007 Pichi and Avo (or Juan Antonio and Alvaro) decided to leave aside “the artist ego,” as they like to call it, in order to work in total collaboration and focus entirely on the final result of the artwork. Antonio Sánchez Santos (Pichi) and Álvaro Hernández Santaeulalia (Avo) are two artists from Valencia, Spain. They studied Fine Arts and Design and met on the Valencian graffiti scene. PichiAvo is an artist duo who mix classical art and graffiti, taking inspiration from the masters of ancient sculpture and the precursors of graffiti in the 70s and 80s in the United States. They are recognized for their ability to ignite relationships between art, sculpture, architecture, space and social contexts. The art, which often feature ancient gods, creates a new fusion or genre. Their style perfectly melds together the deconstruction of classic art and contemporary urban art. The year 2018 was a turning point for the duo, as they rose to be considered as two of the most influential street artists of our time.This autumn we had the opportunity to rediscover PichiAvo‘s work in London at the opening of their exhibition ‘ Marbles and Bronzes‘ at Stolen Space Gallery on Brick Lane in Shoreditch. Pichi & Avo started painting together in 2007. Pichi & Avo started painting together in 2007. In solely ten years, PichiAvo has gained international recognition, and are now sought after by street art festivals, galleries, and other various prestigious institutions. The result is a paradoxical tension that stands incomparable in the field of urban art. They recreate iconic figures in a hyper-realistic way through the application of advanced technical skill and reinterpret them through the lens of contemporary street art.
Classical culture is alluded to through various representations of Greek and Roman mythology. They initiated a novel process of working with four hands instead of two-a defining trait for their signature style.Ī shared appreciation for classical arts led them to create an immaculate fusion of fine art and street art. They met in Valencia and decided to work together in 2007 under the pseudonym “PichiAvo”.
Antonio Sánchez Santos (Pichi) and Álvaro Hernández Santaeulalia (Avo) are two artists from Valencia, Spain.
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