Illuminate the Routes with majestic monumental works. High-altitude vision of immersive frescoes… made in Metamorphoze!
Tunnels made of raw or painted concrete, whether they cross the majestic mountains of our Alps or connect cities, resorts through motorways or access roads, are often perceived as mere passages, dark and monotonous transition zones. Yet, these spaces offer an unexpected canvas for art and creativity. Implementing murals in highway tunnels and ski resorts can turn these passages into an enriching and memorable experience for travelers. Here’s why and how adding these works of art can benefit everyone.
“Improving the Traveler Experience is a street art”
Franck Bleriot
1. Reduce the Monotony of Travel:
Long journeys can be tiring and monotonous. A monumental and poetic mural brings an element of surprise and pleasure, breaking the monotony and making the journey through concrete tunnels more enjoyable.
2. Increase Security… thanks to frescoes in your tunnels: Skiers and drivers!
Bright colours such as gold (the FBL signature of the Métamorphoze workshop) and impactful street art designs improve visibility in tunnels, helping to maintain drivers’ attention and reduce the risk of accidents. We have seen a slowdown of more than 50% in speed in some tunnels and a 60% drop in accidents.
Enhancing and Embellishing Spaces, an essential key to security.
3. Transforming Forgotten Spaces:
Tunnels are rarely considered as spaces that can accommodate art. Murals or painted murals transform them into unexpected art galleries, offering a cultural experience that enriches the trip.
4. Promote local identity:
Murals can reflect the cultural, historical, or natural heritage of the area, reinforcing local identity and providing travelers with a unique insight into the region they are passing through. The murals obviously illustrate all the activities that a resort can offer: sports (skiing, surfing, hiking, golf, swimming, paragliding, etc.), relaxation activities (yoga, walking, meditation, massages, etc.), cultural activities or major sports competitions (such as festivals, the Tour de France or any other calendar event).
Supporting Artists and Culture. In the Alps and our many resorts… The subject is vast.
5. Creating Opportunities for French Street Artists:
Giant and immersive mural projects provide valuable opportunities for artists to show their work to a wide audience, supporting French talent and the art scene. Is FBL still introduced?
There’s more to life than skiing!!
A mayor, one of our clients that we cannot name -;)
There are not only winter sports activities in a resort!
Well, although… It still counts a lot when you think about it.
6. Encourage Cultural Tourism:
Attractive murals can become destinations in themselves, encouraging people to visit specifically to see them, which can boost local tourism and regional economies. Especially since the frescoes of Metamorphoze are going viral and are instagrammed around the world.
Promoting Sustainability and Ecology goes without saying.
7. Use Eco-Friendly Materials:
Murals can be made with eco-friendly and sustainable paints, making them an environmentally friendly artistic choice.
8. Contribute to Ecological Awareness:
Murals or street art can be designed to convey messages about the importance of nature conservation and ecological awareness, especially in sensitive mountainous areas near ski resorts.
Practical Considerations
9. Maintenance and Durability:
Frescoes in tunnels require specific materials and techniques to ensure their durability in the face of harsh conditions, such as humidity and vehicle emissions. Regular maintenance is essential to preserve their shine. At Metamorphoze, we design our frescoes by integrating the know-how of an engineer and therefore… durability of our murals to 10 years.
10. Security and Accessibility:
Safety is a top priority. Any artistic intervention must ensure that the visibility and safety of passengers are not compromised. In addition, access for artists during the creation and maintenance of murals must be well planned.
11. Make your tunnels poetic:
The art of redrawing with words in a tunnel. This is just as important. We share with you the meaning of our writing with 2 poems skilfully distilled on the concrete walls:
Title: White Ballets
In the white glow of winter games,
Franck Bleriot
Dance the flame, proud and clear.
On the snow, dreams glide,
In the cold, hopes are brightening.
Skiers draw arcs of bravery,
On the slopes, every second counts.
The skaters turn with love,
In a ballet where the ice tells.
The thrill of jumps, the echo of races,
The strength hidden under the softness of the snow.
The athletes, sculptors of their career,
In the arena where the cold besieges.
Under the banner of the five rings,
Olympism is weaving a new world.
In winter, unity is forged,
A hymn to peace and diversity.
Title: White Ballets
On the trails of the Alps takes flight the mountain bike,
Franck Bleriot
Between rocks and roots, a path to freedom.
Where the mountains whisper ancient secrets,
The cyclist and his mount trace their destiny.
Under the alpine sky, a ballet of agile wheels,
Brushing against the abysses, flirting with fragile peaks.
In the echo of the valleys, the thrill of adventure,
Every turn, a challenge, every climb, a pure ordeal.
The fresh air caresses the face of the valiant,
In his heart beats the rhythm of the place.
Through forests and clearings, a journey like no other,
Where every stone and root tells the story of the sun.
In this kingdom of green and rock,
Mountain biking and the spirit are hooked.
In the Alps, sport is a dance,
A hymn to nature, an intense trance.
Art Brut on Concrete: When Walls Speak
In the world of mural art, raw concrete is not just a support, it is a living canvas. This form of artistic expression, which fuses urban art with minimalist architecture, is gaining popularity and recognition. This article explores why raw concrete has become a preferred choice for mural works and for Metamorphoze in particular.
1. Raw concrete: an ideal urban street art canvas
Raw concrete, with its rough texture and industrial appearance, offers a unique canvas for artists and for FBL (Franck Blériot). Unlike smooth walls, its irregular surface creates a fascinating play of light and shadow, giving an extra dimension to the painted works. Each imperfection becomes an integral part of the work, telling its own story.
2. Strength and Durability
Raw concrete walls are incredibly strong and durable. They are weatherproof, which is crucial for outdoor artwork. This durability means that wall works can be enjoyed for years or even decades without significant degradation, unlike other more ephemeral mediums.
3. A Web for Social Dialogue
Raw concrete is often associated with industrial buildings, public spaces, and urban neighborhoods. By choosing this medium, artists can engage directly with the public, transforming otherwise austere spaces into centers of cultural and social conversation. These works can act as a mirror of society, reflecting contemporary themes and social issues. The mountains win us over and the monumental murals remind us how much we must respect it. It’s also a social message in a way.
4. Accessibility and Visibility
Concrete is ubiquitous in urban environments, making works of art in this medium extremely accessible to the public. Unlike art galleries, where art can seem elitist or intimidating, works on raw concrete are available 24/7, democratizing access to art.
5. A Canvas That Highlights the Work
The neutral tone and texture of the raw concrete highlight the colours and shapes of the painted work. Artists can play with this neutrality to make their creations stand out, using the contrast between the brutality of concrete and the liveliness of their palette. FBL is undoubtedly one of the street artists who knows how to take advantage of this material by highlighting its curves and graphic poetry.
Conclusion
Incorporating murals into motorway tunnels and ski resorts is not simply a matter of aesthetics; It’s an opportunity to transform travel experiences, empower local communities, support art and culture, and promote important messages in creative and captivating ways. These once dark and forgotten corridors can become art-illuminated passageways, reflecting the beauty and spirit of the landscapes and communities they pass through. By investing in these arts projects, communities and businesses can significantly enrich the experience of travellers, tourists and local residents, while contributing to a more vibrant and conscious culture. Art in the tunnels is not just a decoration, it is an invitation to see the world in a new and inspiring way.
Discover other achievements of our hand-painted mural workshop:
- Article written by Groupe/AtelierMétamorphoze and its subsidiaries Signaletique.art and Vitrophanie.art.
- More than 270 artistic achievements in Europe
- 18 years of experience
- Discover the design studio, its factory made in France and its artists
- Performances: Paris, Strasbourg, Lyon, Lille, Marseille, Stockholm, Brussels, Geneva.