In the city of Nice, urban art is increasingly visible on various walls. Behind the bursts of color lie talent, imagination, but above all the members of “Whole Street”.
Recently, the Galeries Lafayette have taken on a whole new appearance. Ephemeral paintings on the arcades have been created by the Nice collective Whole Street to bring a bit more life and cheerfulness to the surroundings of the gallery. This novelty is none other than urban art, also known as street art by specialists. This quality work by graffiti artists arouses the curiosity of passersby and is unanimously appreciated.
With Thomas Debatisse, aka Otom, and his friend Faben at the helm, these two graffiti artists from Nice founded the Whole Street association to fill a gap in urban culture. The adventure began in 2015 with a partnership with the city hall and a first project following the creation of the second tramway line. The future holds great promise for Thomas Debatisse and his collaborator as the partnerships follow one another with success. Companies want to decorate their walls, requests from the city hall come at the right time, and graffiti workshops in schools continue to multiply. The goal was to change the residents’ perception of graffiti and all Street Cultures on the Côte d’Azur and to open this culture to the younger generations. Mission accomplished.
In Nice, a modern city, urban art has flourished over the past few years to the delight of artists. “We just finished a large mural at Lingostière and also completed the big Galeries Lafayette project, but we have many other projects,” says “Otom” via phone call. While the creation of a mural is generally born from a desire of residents to see a damaged wall transformed, it is the Nice prison and the Lenval emergency department that are expected to be taken over by the association in the coming months. In urban exploration zones, in schools, at private residences, or on the walls of the City of Nice, each of them expresses themselves in XXL format, for the delight of spectators. Whole Street is constantly seeking to develop, and their work does not stop at creating large murals.
Urban art develops in several domains
As urban art becomes more present in society, the phenomenon is gaining popularity and legitimacy. A lifelong fan of comic books, Thomas Debatisse, and the artists of the association engage in graffiti workshops across different institutions. They also take on various activities, including live painting, which brings an extra buzz to events like weddings and parties. Customization, a flagship activity among younger people, is also part of the artists’ repertoire. Want a unique pair of sneakers? The Whole Street association is brimming with ingenuity to meet your needs.
“We have more than ten artists within the association, talents from all over the region,” confirms the 34-year-old artist. The urban art phenomenon is slowly gaining momentum, followers are multiplying, and artists are gaining credibility among both the young and the old. Urban art is synonymous with modernization, and Nice has taken note.
Learn more about the street art association here: https://wholestreetasso.fr/
