Florence is full of artistic works. And it’s not always about past work. There are also manifestations of our time. Urban art with its note of humor and originality.
Lately it seems that the streets of Florence have become something more than a Renaissance background, street art is appearing more than ever.
An example, traffic signs modified by the artist Clet Abraham. A proposal already accepted by the city and its governors, but which at the beginning was more controversial.
Clet
When most people think of street art in Florence, they think of Clet Abraham, who has been sneakily changing street signs in the wee hours with removable stickers for over four years now. A dead-end sign becomes a Jesus crucifix, or is partially eaten by pacman – a man cutting the white bar of a ‘no go’ street sign.
You could say that his work is provocative, I would not argue with that, but he is what also gives a contemporary, current, artistic air to this city full of history, a new protagonist.
Blub
“‘Art Knows how to Swim”
I am sure you have seen the work of ‘Blub’ (assuming that is not her/his actual name) which is called ‘L’arte Sa Nuotare,’ or ‘Art Knows how to Swim.’ often featuring famous figures and artworks such as the Botticelli madonna, Michelangelo’s David and members of the Medici family in swimming masks on small posters, it’s pretty awesome.
They recall the tragedy that Florence suffered in 1966 when the Arno river overflowed. And thanks to all the people who were involved in saving the city, they managed to get it out of that great flood and save the works of art that had deteriorated. Thanks to this, Florence is still alive and it can be said that art can swim. And Blub shows it to us in an amazing way. Amazing work!
In several facades of important buildings in Florence we can find plaques commemorating the event with a white marker on the wall showing how far the water of the Arno River came during the great flood of 1966.
I love his ironic flair. In a recent story on Instagrammer’s Italia Blub’s aim is “to make famous art more accessible to the wider public, take these awe-inspiring works off their museum pedestals, invoking emotion, a smile, a conversation’.
The first time when I was there, I saw Clet Abraham’s works and I was fascinated. Since then I a big fan of him.