Nine prominent artists, spray cans and paint in hand, transformed the historic and bare walls of a cabaret-style bar, aptly named New York – the original mecca of graffiti art, into their own striking worlds, one room wall at a time.

OUTSIDE/IN is an “exploration of cultural outlaws” who embody the spirit of graffiti and street art culture in our contemporary world.

From defiant train writers to powerful, large-scale muralists, the artists are Aporetic, Cooker, Marcamix, Julien Vinet, E Rughy, Carola, Aramrah, Pep Walls and Jaumemolera.

Lovin Malta caught up with the organiser Julien Vinet and curator Pep Herrera to speak about the upcoming show. 

What’s the idea behind OUTSIDE/IN? 

Julien: The idea of OUTSIDE/IN is to break standards and boundaries, to embody the cultural outlaw spirit of the scene and reframe what people in Malta think of when they see street art.

It’s still a developing scene here. We want to elevate the art by bringing it onto indoor walls, complete with plaques, artist statements and QR codes to the artists’ work, just as you would see in any contemporary art gallery or art space.

We’re bringing street art’s bold spirit, this outside art world, to a singular space for people to wander in and take their time to contemplate and interact with it, putting the art and the artists to the forefront. It’s a first for the scene here.

In New York, Paris and Barcelona, indoor street art isn’t new – it’s all over train stations, basements, and catacombs. Now it’s Malta’s turn.

What can people expect from OUTSIDE/IN?

Julien: In this show we have distinct styles from nine different artists. Each of the nine spaces is a different, new expression of an inner world, complete with new intentions and inspirations. All together it becomes a journey into different universes.

Pep: People will experience vibrant diversity through the rooms. There are artists using a pictorial style, rooted in the classical graffiti writer’s technique and aesthetics. Some artists have a more figurative and illustrative style – very typical of mural artists. There is another working with paste-up paper interventions.

Each finds, through the space, a visual way to express their inner worlds through a range of shapes, ideas, values and colours.

What’s the benefit of street art? Why do artists choose to take their practice to the public?

Pep: As an artist, you avoid the need of having a studio or storage, there’s versatility and a need to be flexible when the world is your canvas. You need to be comfortable with the unpredictability of it all.

Street art is a powerful tool of communication and was one of the first forms of artistic expression – with cave paintings. It allows art to be free, for artists’ to express their mindsets no matter how controversial. It is the art of dissent.

The opening is tomorrow, July 1st. What comes next?

Julien: Anyone can come to experience this world in the heart of The Gut, Valletta – it will be a  temporary fixture of the city, a unique place to get away from the usual bustle.

The six months ahead will see workshops from the artists themselves and planned events.

There’s also one room that will constantly morph until the end, because people can get a hands-on experience learning techniques together with the artists and put their mark on the walls, ultimately becoming a part of the show.

OUTSIDE/IN is opening July 1st at New York, Strait Street, 7pm till late. Check out the event and artists’ here.

APORETIC (MAL) @aporetic.ink

COOKER (MAL) @cooker_hkc

MARCAMIX (MAL) @marcamix031

JULIEN VINET (MAL) @julien.vinet

EL RUGHY (BCN) @el_rughi

CAROLA (BCN) @carolabagnato

ARAMRAH (BCN) @aramrah

PEP (BCN) @pep_walls

JAUMEMOLERA (BCN) @jaumemolera

Tag someone who needs to check out OUTSIDE/IN with you!