Artists prefer to showcase their artworks so more people could appreciate them. And what could be a better location to display their masterworks than the place where people actually live? Dutch mural artist Jan Is De Man found his ideal canvass on an apartment building in Utrecht, Netherlands. With the help of his friend and fellow artist Deef Feed, he painted the façade of a building. And transforms the building into a realistic, oversized bookcase.
Jan Is De Man, together with Deef Feed, has created several murals on the streets, buildings, and skate parks before. The street artist is a close friend of some of the residents of the said apartment building. When the residents asked him to create a mural on their building, the artist immediately thought of a concept. The mural should convey positivity to the residents and to everyone who lays eyes on it. Initially, he thought of drawing a giant smiley on the façade since this depiction is happiness itself. However, he later felt that the smiley concept is too simple and that the image doesn’t quite pack a punch.
After giving reconsideration, the artist decided to involve the residents in the concept. He must think of something that can connect these people together and put smiles on their faces as well. That’s when the idea of a giant bookcase came to mind.
The location is set and the concept is finally decided. But another brilliant idea suddenly falls into place. Instead of painting a 2D mural, he opted for a trompe l’oeil to create a three-dimensional realistic imagery. Seems like a match made in heaven, the shape of the building perfectly matches the appearance of a giant bookcase. The apartment building could certainly make a perfect canvass for a 3D mural.
It took Jan Is De Man and Deef Feed one week to complete the giant bookcase mural. All their efforts paid off when they saw the smiles of the residents upon seeing their favorite books on the building wall. After the unveiling of the trompe l’oeil, it has become an instant attraction, not only for the residents but for the entire neighborhood as well. Since photos of the mural have already made it to social media, expect to see more visitors crowd the place in the near future. As for the street artists who are responsible for this viral mural, they’ll surely be very busy due to a large number of projects on their hands. We will stay tuned as of the moment and wait for their next creations.
