Original post on Linkedin includes the right links and possibility to comment.
A few months ago, my daughter told me she wanted to do her first presentation at school.
About ‘the brave migrants in North America traveling on the train.’
That same evening she made a poster. 😍
Why did an 7-year-old choose such an profound topic?
Because she made friends with a great artist named Pablo Allison, a Mexican/British graffiti writer and photographer who travels with the migrants on the freight trains heading to the border of the United States.
Pablo sent me a message about two years ago; he was traveling and planning to visit the Netherlands. Although we didn’t know each other personally (but I already loved his work), I offered him to stay with us for a week. While he was here, I organized a lecture at Kevn, we made a print and we were able to paint a mural.
But personally, the highlight was simply having Pablo around, sharing not just his profound stories but also his goofy moments with us.
Because Pablo's art does more than just observe; it humanizes migrants' journeys, showing their collective strength and bravery, beyond what we might see in the news.
After getting jailed for his graffiti in 2012 (he was given a 19-month jail sentence) Pablo started focusing more on the world around him, less on the ego like he did with his graffiti. He wanted to make a difference with his art. This change pushed him to highlight migrant stories, showing their bravery and struggles through his work.
Besides photography he started painting the name ‘Migrantes Valientes’ (Brave Migrants) and other words and sentences on the side of these trains. Word inspired by talking to these migrants. He shared personal stories, both exciting and confronting.
Working with artists not only enriches my life but it’s great to see it also enriches the lives of my kids.
Like many graffiti artists, Pablo frequently turns public spaces and trains into canvases for his art. I've previously discussed this topic. Most graffiti writers use public space to spread their alias or show their styles.
Special shoutout to my wife, Iselle Claassens, who every time lets me welcome these artists into our home/lives. ❤️ 😘
Pablo's website: https://lnkd.in/ezRV5Awp
Many of his stories and photos are collected in a second edition of ‘The Light of the Beast’ by Roger Gastman from BEYOND THE STREETS LLC
Or buy the limited edition print we made (yes ok, the second best thing to having the artist is having art in your house): https://lnkd.in/eyJkbzyz