Ecole Romain Rollan - Les Lilas, France 2011

This mural in Les Lilas, France, is by Speedy Graphito and, like much of his work, has a really lively palette. It’s not just the colours, but the energy of their application, everything feels like it’s been sprayed on, quickly, intuitively, and energetically. Looking at it, you get the sense that the artist is thinking about the materiality of colour, the fluidity of spray paint, and how to get these cartoon figures, Mickey Mouse and Popeye, onto the wall in a way that feels authentic to their original forms. The surface is uneven, and the colours bleed into each other, creating a sense of movement and depth. Look at the way Popeye's eyes squint and how the lines move! What’s really interesting to me is how these choices shape our emotional experience of the artwork. Like a conversation between past and present, with multiple interpretations over fixed meanings.