A large mural may be seen on a 115-foot water tank in Gien, located on the Loire river banks in France’s picturesque city. Against the dull-looking tiny buildings surrounding it, the spectacular tower painted in a stunning pastel hue shines out. Taquen, a Spanish artist, created this artwork.
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#2 Taquen painted local birds such as ospreys, common terns, and gray herons along the Loire in one of the three water tanks in the vicinity.
The artist’s second collaboration with the Urban Art Agency. According to him, this new project was distinct from his previous ones in that it presented him with more obstacles and an opportunity he had never envisioned. The most challenging aspect was the changing weather. “The flatlands in the Loire Valley make the weather unpredictable,” Taquen writes on his website, “and after 12 days of rain, wind, cold, heat, and sun, we managed to accomplish this magnificent job.” I’m thankful to Mathieu, Seb, Pepe, and everyone else who helped make it happen and collaborated with me along the way.”
#3 The procedure of painting the massive tank was fraught with difficulties.
Taquen has been making art for a long time, but he has just been doing it professionally for three years.
“I began painting graffiti in high school when I was 13, then I studied fine arts in Madrid, Spain,” he told. I honestly don’t remember when it all began for me. I’ve just been able to devote myself professionally since 2018, but I’m sure my desire was the same long before that.”
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“The piece speaks about unending movement, water cycles, and the necessity of water for life,” the artist added, “which is why I used birds that live along the banks of the Loire, a river that runs through Gien, France.”
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#6 Taquen is a bird enthusiast. They may be seen in a lot of his other street paintings.
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“For me, they are remarkable species, which assist me in communicating symbolically about themes relating to human beings, notably mobility, migration, and freedom,” he said when we asked why he picks birds for his murals. It’s also a method to increase awareness and talk about nature directly.”
