Tag Archives: apple

Swan maiden

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The swan maiden appears in the legends and folklore of many cultures. Like most stories that have evolved from their oral story telling roots, there are many similar versions of the same tale. Also, they are rife with symbolism and are often allegorical. The swan is a symbol of purity. Swan maidens can change between their two forms, swan and woman, often by using a cloak of feathers. In folk tales men steal and hide the cloaks so that he can have the woman. Not a pretty story, but then again, most fairy tales aren’t. (Of course, this may not have been what the artist was thinking!).

below: Bue2530 painted this mural in Florence of part sleeping woman and part swan (seen on a foggy day).

foggy day, looking across a road at a long mural on a concrete wall or ramp with railing above, mural is of a woman sleeping on the ground, head of woman on right hand side but head of swan on the left
mural on the wall of an overpass, man walking on sidewalk above, mural is woman sleeping on the ground with an apple in one hand

below: It looks her arm has taken on the shape of a swan. It seems to be looking at a map

part of a Bue2530 mural in Florence, a woman's arm is bent in the shape of a swan neck as she sleeps on the ground

below: Apples have been the symbol of sin and the fall of man since Eve persuaded Adam to eat one in the Garden of Eden.  But it also a symbol of knowledge as well as immortality.  It was also a poisoned apple that knocked out Snow White.

part of a larger mural, hand holding a red apple, swan feathers in the background, arm of woman has many tattoos, fingers also have tattoos
head of swan in a mural, orange beak, white feathers, a wheel by its neck

below: A broken chain. Has she just broken free?

part of a mural by Bue2530, broken links of chain under a pink cloth, end of swan's beak just showing on right side

Photos taken January 2020

Kadikoy murals

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‘Muralist Istanbul’ is an annual mural painting festival that has been running in the Kadikoy area of Istanbul since 2012.    Most of the murals on this page are from 2013 so you know that this is only a sample of what can be seen in Kadikoy!

 

below: The bottom part of “Occupy Antarctica”.  What is missing is a clock and a red fez – both are above the penguins.  Painted by B. Shanti.

a small blue car is parked in front of the bottom part of a large mural in Kadikoy Istanbul, a group of penguins on top and some text street art on the bottom

below: Two purplish horsemen separated by a column of windows,  by Franco Fasoli aka Jaz (from Argentina) called “One against One” painted in 2013.

large purple hued mural in Kadikoy, two horsemen facing each other with a column of windows in the middle, by Argentinian artis Jaz

 

below: The text says Captain Borderline.  The title is “Sufi of Kadikoy/Totem” and it is the work of Dabtar from Germany.  Dabtar is a member of the Captain Borderline Crew (as is fellow German, B. Shanti, above).

large mural in Kadikoy Istanbul, a man, clownish features, black bears, standing up,

 

below: “Resistencia” by Inti. Skulls on the wrists and an apple in hand.

large mural by inti in Kadikoy Turkey, person with hood, holding an apple in hand,

below: A closer look at the bottom part of the mural that is in the shade.   An ace up the sleeve.

details of inti mural, hand with tattoos

below: Eyes on the balloon, watching as it rises over the vacant lot. “Balao ” by Brazilian artist Claudio Ethos, 2013.

large mural in Kadikoy on the side of a building, hot air balloon, on the side of a building, vacant lot beside behind hoardings covered with ad posters Painted by Brazilian artist Claude Ethos

below: “In Dreams” by Freddy Sam (aka Ricky Lee Gordon)  An elephant at night, under the moon and stars.  Most of his murals are in shades of grey.

a large mural of a realistic looking elephant at night, in grey tones, moon and stars too

below: I couldn’t find any information on this mural.

large mural in Kadikoy of an abstracted face in yellow, blue, red, and green, eyes looking out onto the street

If you plan to visit Kadikoy, do a bit of research online first and save yourself some time! Images and the locations of most of the murals are on the internet.