BULGARIAN ARTIST LIVENS UP PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS IN SPAIN

Bulgarian artist Christo Guelov is the author of a series of colourful pedestrian crossings in the streets of the Spanish town of Torelodones. His creative project called Funnycross was launched in 2015 and the website for art, design and photography...

bulgarian artist livens pedestrian crossings spain

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13:25, 21.09.2016

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Bulgarian artist Christo Guelov is the author of a series of colourful pedestrian crossings in the streets of the Spanish town of Torelodones. His creative project called Funnycross was launched in 2015 and the website for art, design and photography Bored Panda published pictures of the colourfully painted zebra crossings.

Christo Guelov attracted the attention of international media with his non-standard intervention in the boring urban environment. He used bright colours and geometric designs on 18 crossings in the town of Torelodones, near Madrid. Instead of the usual strips of white lines on the gray tarmac, the pedestrians walk on bright coloured zig-zag shape, squares, diamonds, circles and so on. “The metaphor “A bridge between two shores” is the starting point of this artistic intervention.” Christo Guelov says on his website christo-guelov.net.

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The artist also hopes that the project will improve the awareness of both drivers and pedestrians and at the same time add colour to the gray and monotonous urban environment, to breathe new life into urban road signs.

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Christo Guelov implemented his first Funnycross project in 2015. Sponsored by the municipality in Torelodones, he painted 5 pedestrian crossings, 4 of which were in front of the 3 schools in the town. At the end of 2015, he painted 13 more crossings under Funnycross 2 project.

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The artist has decided to go on with the “fun crossings” in other cities in Spain and Europe as well.

Christo Guelov has had over 20 years of experience in the area of audiovisual industry and multimedia design, deals with visual and media communication and in the recent 4 years has actively participated in various art initiatives.

Christo Guelov is the son of the famous Bulgarian artist Nikola Gueloiv, which is the author of hundreds of artworks using painting techniques such as fresco, mural, and mosaic. Many of his artworks have turned into emblems of Bulgaria’s old capital Veliko Turnovo, where he was born and worked.

hristo-gelov-266398-400x0 Christo Guelev was born in Veliko Turnovo. For years, however, he has worked as an artist outside of our country. First, he was in Canada, then in Spain. He graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts in Veliko Turnovo, He studied Mural at the National Art Academy and Graphical Technologies at the Complutense University in Madrid. funnycross-5

In 2014, he won the grand prize at the International Competition McLauren Wall- to-Wall in Montreal, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the famous film director, animator and father of electronic music Norman McLaren. The project "Color.rythmetic" by Guelov is a 4-minute visual clip made especially for the facade of the hotel Zerro1.

Although for more than 20 years he has lived in the Spanish capital, Guelov often comes back to Bulgaria, where he also unfolds his creative potential.

Under one of his projects, last year, the big tap-water fountain in Samokov turned into “The House of Water” with "fountains" made from nonwoven textile in blue colour.

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In May 2016, through mapping, Guelov transformed the façade of the exhibition halls "Rafael Mihaylov" in Veliko Turnovo, showing video installations created by the artist for 10 nights.

His is the author of the art installation "orange circles" between the two banks of the Yantra River in Veliko Turnovo. Circles resembling lifebelts in a creative way presented the topic of refugees and the difficulties they are going through in order to reach salvation and peace.

Gueleov is also the author of the art installation Orange Circles placed between the two banks of the Yantra River in Veliko Tarnovo. Circles resembling lifebelts in a creative way presented the topic of refugees and the difficulties they are going through in order to reach salvation and peace.

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