One of the most picturesque viewpoints in Zagreb, Gradec plateau has in recent years become a venue for creation of very interesting street art.
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 floor of Gradec plateau, just in front of the blue whale (which is at the moment, unfortunately, covered by renovation scaffolding). A special, 3D technique was used for this piece – you have to find the right angle from which the drawing will look “alive”, making it interactive.
Time takes its toll on street art, and the turtle faded away after many events and festivals taking place on Gradec. A new intervention, also interactive, took its place during OKOLO festival in the summer of 2019 – local street artist Mane Mei made a “floor mural” called Jump around. He was inspired by the children’s street game hopscotch, but made it more complicated. So, enjoy this lovely homage to the children’s outdoor play in the pre-smartphone era, and most of all – enjoy jumping around! Once you start, you will see the pattern is not so easy!
