Walls are canvases as artists look to festival

Aberdeen Inspired has unveiled the city walls earmarked to be transformed into Nuart murals next month.

And one of the highly anticipated locations, which could soon become the blank canvas for this year’s talented artists, is the car park at Aberdeen International Airport.

A world-class line-up of street artists will descend on the Granite City on June 8 to turn a number of buildings into vibrant works of art under the theme of “rewilding”.

These include the Primark building at Rennie’s Wynd, Annan House on Poynernook Road, and walls in Flourmill Lane, Crooked Lane, Thistle Lane and Rose Street.

More locations will be announced in the coming weeks, with those in the pipeline being the city’s airport, the side of Atholl House and flats at Whitehouse Street.

Aberdeen Inspired is seeking planning permission for the identified walls, with more locations to be put forward to Aberdeen City Council in due course.

Several artists have already had their pick on which wall they would like to work on, while others have opted to choose closer to the festival.

English artist and anarchist Jamie Reid, best known for designing album covers for The Sex Pistols, will bring his unique style of cut-up graphics and slogans to Crooked Lane.

Contemporary duo SNIK, who have previously created works at the now demolished Aberdeen Market building, will return to the festival to transform Thistle Lane.

Meanwhile, UK-born Eloise Gillow has earmarked two walls on Flourmill Lane at the rear of the Bon Accord Centre.

Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, said this year’s art festival is promising to be “truly impressive”.

He added: “There is always a sense of anticipation about which walls are to be the blank canvases for the hugely talented artists which Nuart Aberdeen attracts every year.

“I cannot wait to see what this year’s talented artists create for the people of Aberdeen and the transformation they will bring to these corners of the city.”

STUNNING: Nuart Aberdeen, the award-winning and internationally renowned street art festival, is to return to the walls of the city from June 8-11.

One of SNIK’s previous murals.