Written by : Lisa DI SALVIA
Papeete is a true open-air gallery offering a unique urban art journey. Every corner of the city reveals colorful murals created by local and international artists. As you stroll through the heart of the city, you’ll discover numerous artworks that add a modern touch to the urban landscape.
Here are some iconic street art pieces in Papeete that I’d like to share with you :
GIANT TIKI by the Tahitian artist HTJ
The Tahitian street artist Hell Ton John, also known as HTJ, recently brought an old wall back to life at the western entrance of the city, across from Place To’ata. He created a giant tiki named Ahu Ra’i, surrounded by floral patterns that represent various local plant species.
©Redsoyu
POLYNESIAN FLAG by HTJ and CRONOS
These two local artists highlighted the Polynesian flag and symbols of Polynesian culture on a corrugated metal wall located at the bottom of Avenue Pouvanaa a Oopa, near the Jacques Chirac roundabout.
Hell Ton John & Cronos Artists
©Redsoyu
PORTRAIT OF VAHINE by Eduardo Kobra
On the wall of La Mennais College, across from the DAF, this mural features two highly realistic faces of vahine, painted in vibrant colors with geometric patterns.
©Redsoyu
BLACK AND WHITE PORTRAIT by VHILS
Still on the wall of La Mennais College, Portuguese artist Alexandre Fartos, aka VHILS (one of the top 10 graffiti artists in the world), made a stop in Tahiti in 2017 to create the black-and-white portrait of a young girl using a jackhammer.
Alexandre Fartos aka Vhils Artist
©Redsoyu
PORTRAIT OF A CHINESE WOMAN IN TAHITI by MATT ADNATE
Located on Rue Dumont d’Urville, this Australian artist paid tribute to Yeevone, a Chinese woman from Tahiti. Through her eyes, one can see the lagoon and the sky of Tahiti. This artwork is not easy to spot, as it is not positioned in the direction of traffic.
©Redsoyu
THE SLEEPING CHAMELEON by KALOUF & LARDANCHET
Pour la 4ème édition du Festival Ono’u, ces artistes se sont donnés le challenge d’animer leur caméléon à la nuit tombée grâce au video mapping situé près du pont de l’est. Cette technique artistique consiste à projeter des animations numériques et des vidéos sur des façades afin de donner vie à leur oeuvre. Découvres ce spectacle visuel ci-contre : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8jYTxuN2Hs&t=66s
Kalouf & Romain Lardanchet Artist
©Redsoyu
THE VAITAVATAVA MURAL
This 700 m² street art mural was created as part of a rehabilitation and social cohesion project at the Vaitavatava residence. It depicts scenes from everyday Polynesian life as well as an ancestral legend from Huahine (the island of origin for many families living in Vaitavatava). This artwork, which honors our land rich in history and culture, was created by… 3 residents of the housing development and 6 established local artists (Sarah Viault and Polynesians Hoanui, Rival, Richard Barri, and Tearii Flohr) worked together on this project.
Artist : Sarah Viault , Les Hoanui , Rival , Richard Barri & Tearii Flohr
©Redsoyu
IDENTITY IN PIECES by YILING CHANGUES
In the heart of the Vaima center, this young mixed-race woman drew inspiration from her Franco-Sino-Polynesian roots to offer a sincere and contemporary vision of Polynesian culture, blending poetry and commitment. Through her work, she invites viewers to discover the dreams and aspirations of a talented youth proud of their diverse origins, while celebrating the multicultural richness of the Pacific lands.
Artist : Yiling Changues
©Redsoyu
