Art / News

Starry Night and Sunflowers spring up on Feeder Road

By Betty Woolerton  Thursday Mar 24, 2022

The first signs of an art trail that combines post-impressionist paintings and street art have appeared on the walkways of Bristol.

Sunflowers and Starry Night have inspired the latest murals in an area behind Temple Meads, as the walls of buildings have been filled with sweeping brush strokes echoing the style of Van Gogh.

Taking shape over the past few weeks, the installations on Feeder Road are the result of a collaboration between Propyard and Upfest.

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The arts venue and street art festival have joined forces in the lead-up to an exhibition at the disused Ministry of Defense base on Feeder Road, Propyard. Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience opens on April 7.

Currently, there is one mural at Temple Meads and two at Propyard – but more are set to be painted as the Van Gogh exhibitions draws closer.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CbcTbXUMGmt/

Best known for her work at Upfest, the artist behind the sweeping pieces of art is Farrah Fortnam – a contemporary artist inspired by the natural world.

Fortnam began painting the works in St Philip’s earlier in March, taking influence from the ecosystems of the planet to produce works echoing Van Gogh’s Sunflowers and Starry Night.

About her involvement in the project, the local artist said: “I developed a passion for painting from a love of nature, from my Pakistani heritage and working in the creative world. My style has developed over 15 years and has transformed from a translation of henna and asian patterns into depictions of the natural environment.

Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience was first unveiled in a cathedral in Naples – photo: Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience

The idea is for visitors to walk from Temple Meads Station to Propyard, where the exhibition is being held – enjoying pieces inspired by the Dutch artist along the way.

At the exhibition, visitors will be engulfed by a 20,000 square foot light and sound spectacle depicting Van Gogh’s work in incredible detail.

Attendees are invited to be “completely immersed in the works of art around you, and feel the shift in reality as you dive deep into the world created by Van Gogh’s brush strokes”.

Main photo: Betty Woolerton

Read more: Location revealed for Bristol’s immersive Van Gogh experience

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