La Siesta!

There are times in life when taking a nap is simply the best option. Even more so while the world around us is so deeply troubled by war, climate crisis and unfair distribution of healthy produce.

When we were invited to create a mural for this wall, we were amused by how the old pine tree leans so intimately into the house, suggesting a tender, long term relationship between the two.  This sleepy, shaded spot seemed the perfect place to enjoy 'una siesta', so we created a figure to do just that. A fitting and humorous way to tie in the existing environment with our new artwork.

The gender of the figure is purposefully undefined but details like the straw hat, and the traditional valencian shoes "alpargatas", anchor them distinctly as a "huertan". Seen from afar, the contorting silhoutte not only rests on a line of bushy fig trees, but over the entire Huerta.

To produce such large artwork, we teamed up with Tsunami Creativo.  We also invited six mural artists who came from the London School of Muralism to help us. They stayed in the house for the duration of the work. Other six artists also came from Berlin, Alicante and Alboraya.

Napping is an effortless aspect of the region’s cultural heritage and yet, paradoxically, this creative tribute to the practice took a big effort and a large group of people to produce!

"La Siesta" is intended as an homage to napping, but if you really want to pay your respects, have a siesta yourself!

It can be both radical and beautiful to carve out a moment of peace for yourself, in a world that is so often chaotic.

Four Graduates from The London School of Muralism travelled to help paint. From left to right: Liv Wright, Amelia Hart, Alyster Leys and Megan Young. Tutor Adee (Artful Dodger) also came down