BRIDGING CULTURAL DIVIDES | Miki Mu
INTERVIEW TERRELL “REALIFE” BLACK PHOTO BROOKLYN CHILDREN’S MUSEUM (BCM)
Brooklyn, New York is home to a vibrant and diverse artistic community, and among its most captivating talents is a renowned muralist and street artist who believes in the transformative power of art. Her large-scale, colorful murals not only beautify urban spaces but also serve as a catalyst for community cohesion. Through her work, she aims to bridge cultural divides and foster a sense of unity, proving that art can be a powerful tool for bringing people together and inspiring collective pride in their neighborhoods.
VALIDATED: Born and raised in Italy, what’s your earliest memory of street art?
MIKI MU: It may sound funny but I used to scribble on my school walls and at home like any other kid. I used to write “ciao” but in a way that the letters would look like little animals by adding cat or bunny ears. On a more “serious” level my journey in the so called street art started in 2014, so for a decade now.
VALIDATED: At what age did your love and talent for art began to flourish?
MIKI MU: At a very early age. The earliest documents are some drawing my mom still has of when I was five and I used to copy cartoons characters.
VALIDATED: You’ve been based in Brooklyn, New York since 2003, what prompted the relocation from Italy?
MIKI MU: My curiosity and my will to learn something different from what my culture was as well as the thirsty desire of living with my art, which I saw it impossible in my hometown.
VALIDATED: You started off as a freelance artist creating comic strips and animated cartoons, but how did you transition into murals?
MIKI MU: It happened here in NY. I’ve always been attracted to street art. The idea of being able to communicate at a larger scale with people around was very fascinating to me. It’s an amazing platform for an artist. Also, the switch happened when I got tired of the galleries circle.
VALIDATED: Your work has been displayed in galleries throughout Europe and the U.S. and reviewed in art books and art magazines. What was your first placement and how did you land it?
MIKI MU: Hard to remember actually but I think my first show was in Milan and it was curated by Ivan Quaroni, a prominent art curator till this day. He saw my work on MySpace and he contacted me. I remembered that the shipment of my work got delayed by FedEx. The date of the show coincided with my trip to Italy so I was very excited to attend the show. The piece arrived a few days after the opening and at the event I only had a nail up and a label with the info of my work. Despite the misfortune the piece sold and after that more galleries started to be interested in my work.
VALIDATED: Which visual artists influenced your style and what if anything did you borrow from them?
MIKI MU: I have so many! Definitely most of the artists from the current pop surrealism but if I have to dig into my art history books, Miro was one of my favorite and later on I fell in love with Haring and Basquiat. Clearly I borrowed the kid spirit that permeate their work.
VALIDATED: In 2015 you released a picture book “If you are happy and you know it clap your hands” published by Caraco Editore, Italy. What motivated you to publish a book?
MIKI MU: My father had just passed away three years earlier and I was a hard core yoga practitioner which beside the physical practice, brought me a feeling spirituality. I guess the loss of my dad and the studies I was into, brought me to create this picture book that explore the meaning of happiness.
VALIDATED: You currently work mostly as a muralist, with clients including The Brooklyn Children’s Museum, Union Square Partnership, and Carnegie Hall. What can you tell us about these collaborations and the work you’ve done for them?
MIKI MU: I feel honored to have been working and continuing working for some of them. I learned a lot about professionalism but also how to translate the clients ideas into something meaningful.
VALIDATED: What does freedom of expression mean to you?
MIKI MU: This is a big topic these days with all that we are witnessing with the war. Some artists are more outspoken about the current situation of Palestine, some others are not and or they work on it with different channels. I don’t think no one should be forced to use their art to speak about it and the different opinions should be respected. Freedom of choice and respect for each individual.
VALIDATED: You’re also working with Thrive Collective, MuralsForGoods and Groundswell, three NYC based non-profit organizations with whom you create community murals to raise awareness about equality, inclusion, diversity, environment and social justice. What role does art play in bringing awareness to important topics?
MIKI MU: A huge one! All these organizations and Thrive Collective in particular have taught me a lot. The transformative power of public art had a huge impact on communities and single lives. I have been lucky enough to witness a lot of them and that is always the best reward of doing community work.
VALIDATED: With all of your accomplishments, what’s left on your bucket-list?
MIKI MU: I am focusing on my personal journey into the art world but at the same time my goal is to grow as a community artist and raise the bar of our (my hubby and I) baby project which is Bedstuy Walls.
VALIDATED: In 2022 you founded and curated Bedstuy Walls, a community based mural festival in the heart of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. What moved you to create Bedstuy Walls and what can you tell us about it?
MIKI MU: I happened to walk on that block which is by where I live I think in 2020. I just wanted to bring some beauty, colors and joy while also involving the community so that the small business around could support each other or even collaborate. And some of them actually did. The neighborhood is happy to have a stretch of colorful art that isn’t just something beautiful to admire but it works, as mentioned before, in a sort of cathartic way where it lifts up the entire community.
VALIDATED: What’s next for Miki Mu?
MIKI MU: More art, a bigger festival, more community events and improvements that hopefully will bring good changes.
VALIDATED: Where can people follow and support you and your work?
MIKI MU: On my Instagram at @miki__mu and on @bedstuywalls where you can also find a link to our GoFundMe campaign.