„Regards“
From Rue de Villeneuve in the north, a single-lane road tunnel runs under the main train station to Avenue Durante in the south, the „Tunnel de la Gare“. Cars drive through it, but there is also a cycle lane and a walkway. For many years, pedestrians tended to avoid the tunnel because it was a dark and scary passageway, especially at night and it’s generally a bit weird around a central station anyway. But a little color and creativity could change that. The great local artist OTOM was commissioned by the City of Nice in spring of 2020 to create a mural throughout that tunnel and he developed a special concept for this named „Regards“.
OTOM painted 12 beautiful portraits in black and white, interspersed with brightly colored areas in a sequence of different shades. The portraits are just as sequential, but this is in terms of age. From toddler to elderly or vice versa, depending on which side you walk through from. Another beautiful feature of the long work is that the portraits show people from the artist’s friends circle and surrounding neighbourhoods. A great connection with art and the inhabitants of Nice. Now people like to walk through it and the bright colors create a completely different atmosphere. The tunnel has gone from being a gloomy, frightening passageway to a bright artistic gem for the city.
Despite the beautiful mural, the photos above and below show as well that there are also social issues with homelessness around and that many people live on the streets. Much more should definitely be done here, but that’s another chapter.
The City of Nice about the project: „Last September, artist OTOM restored the „Regards“ fresco under the tunnel at Nice Centre SNCF station. The fresco was initially commissioned by the local authority at the request of local residents, to bring more life to this dark and rather sad tunnel. This tunnel, much used by local residents, is now measuring 220 meters long and 2 meters high. With a total of 440m² this is the artist’s largest fresco to date. „Regards“ features portraits of 12 Niçois men and women from different cultures and backgrounds. OTOM’s work has restored color to this tunnel, which is very popular with local residents. The renovation was paid for by the City of Nice’s Direction de la Création Artistique.“ – Ville de Nice
INFOTHEK
Artist: OTOM
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/otomartist
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/otom_art
Urban Art Association: WHOLE STREET
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wholestreetasso
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@WholeStreet
Curator: VILLE DE NICE
Website: https://www.nice.fr
Project Page: https://www.nice.fr/fr/actualites/des-projets-artistiques-pour-embellir-la-ville?type=articles
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VilledeNice
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/villedenice
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@VilledeNiceOfficielle
ARTIST INTERVIEWS
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