Gradec plateau has always been a place with one of the most picturesque views in Zagreb. And in recent years it got a new attraction – two charming street art pieces: a whale and a turtle surrounded by three small fish.
Blue Whale appeared in 2015 during Zagreb’s second edition of the White Night (night of open museums and art manifestations), when the French street artist Étien was spraying it for 4 days on the wall of the neglected building of Galerija Gradec. The Facebook page of MURAL festival (international street art festival held in Montreal) selected it as one of the 10 best murals in 2015.
New marine inhabitants came to life the following year: a huge turtle with her fish entourage was painted on the concrete floor of Gradec plateau, just in front of the blue whale (which is at the moment, unfortunately, covered by renovation scaffolding). The occasion was again the White Night and this time the painting took 3 days.
What makes this set of painted sea creatures so special? The 3D technique which Étien used for his second piece. This technique is more interactive than the traditional street art because you have to find the right angle from which the piece will look ”alive”. So, enjoy the walk around Gradec plateau while searching for the right spot, from which you will see the turtle swimming before your eyes!
Time takes its toll and the turtle is becoming less and less visible, but it’s still worthwhile to check it out.
