There’s a new place for public art in the city of Boston. Tucked beneath I-93, eight acres of underpass have been transformed with evocative and singular murals created by some of the nation’s most well-known street and graffiti artists. Underground at Ink Block is a converted area that connects South Boston and the South End with miles of walkway and green space. Among the 11 participating artists is Lesley BFA in Fine Arts and MFA in Visual Arts alumnus Percy Fortini-Wright '03, '08 (MFA). Percy has been a working artist and involved in graffiti and street art circles since the 1990’s. He has forged his own place within these circles, along with strong connections and friendships that have broadened his career.
"I was invited to join the Underground Mural Project by the project’s curator, Street Theory. The Founders of Street Theory Studio and Gallery, Liza Quiñonez and Marka27, are longtime friends and helped to produce and organize the project, including gathering the 11 participating artists."
Underground was a well-oiled machine and the collaboration was heavily promoted. Juxtapoz magazine and Los Angeles's Container Yard documented the whole project. Countless artist talks and rooftop parties helped to put the project and the individual work of the artists in the spotlight. Artists were even given the chance to create limited edition prints for House of Roulx and exhibit at the W Hotel.
Design students tour Underground with the project's brand designer Fritz Klatke
The participating artists are from all over the country, spanning Los Angeles to Miami, each bringing their own point of view that adds to Underground while making it a cohesive project. Location wasn’t the only thing that differed among the artists; stylistically, they brought a broad range of influence to their murals. Backgrounds, too, varied—from Cey Adams, who worked alongside famed street artists Jean-Michael Basquiat and Keith Haring and holds the title of Creative Director at Def Jam Recordings, to IMAGINE who is the first street artist to combine her native Nepali alphabet with American graffiti styles and is the Founder and Director of the Children’s Art Museum in Nepal. Percy, who has shown in Urban Basel in Switzerland and had his work for Adidas featured in Sports Illustrated, contributed his own style to Underground with fellow renowned street artists.
"The motivation behind my mural came from the composition I had to work with,” describes Percy. "I was going to feature my classic cityscape form, but the layout of the wall was too narrow. I didn’t think it would capture the depth I wanted.”
Percy intended to utilize every inch of the 200-foot wall, incorporating elements not typically found in his work. As always, he pushed beyond style stereotypes to deliver a mural combining organic shapes–like the 30-foot mackerel and rabbit–with more grid-like shapes of the bricks and large diagonal elements. Entangled calligraphic lines are joined by imagery of Boston’s skyline, tying everything together as the “mural’s hook and bait,” he jokes.