About this Event
Title: The Underground Sistine Chapel
Directors: Antoine Breuil & Yohann Grignou
Production: Samouraï Coop
Featured Artist: Pascal Boyart aka PBoy
Premiered in June 2021 in Paris
"The Underground Sistine Chapel" is a captivating documentary film that explores the creation of a modern Sistine Chapel by the street artist Pascal Boyart, known as PBoy, in a former gold foundry located in a marginalized suburb of Paris. This secretive, artistically vibrant community becomes the backdrop for Pboy's ambitious project, highlighting the intersection of art, community, and resistance against mainstream cultural norms.
The documentary is set in a sprawling industrial space that once served as a gold foundry. This unconventional location, filled with nonconformist residents, has become a unique home, studio, and workshop, and now, the site of Pboy's massive artistic endeavor. The film follows Pboy as he recreates the grandeur of the Sistine Chapel on the foundry's vast ceilings. The process involves intensive research, preparation, and the challenge of securing unconventional funding through cryptocurrency. The narrative is woven with personal stories from the foundry's residents, who each share a deep, personal connection to the artwork and its significance in their daily lives.
This film is an exploration of a hidden, vibrant artistic world existing on the fringes of society, where one of the most promising young artists of his generation has chosen to create a monumental piece that challenges traditional artistic and social conventions.
Who is the featured artist, PBoy?
Pascal Boyart, also known as PBoy, is a French street artist renowned for his unique fusion of classical art techniques with contemporary themes and mediums. Born in 1989, he has gained international recognition for his frescoes and murals that reinterpret iconic works from the Renaissance and other classical art periods, incorporating modern elements and social commentary.
PBoy is particularly noted for his commitment to preserving the integrity of street art as a form of genuine artistic expression, often challenging the commercialization and institutionalization of contemporary art. His work frequently addresses social, political, and economic issues, making him a prominent figure in the street art world.
Some of his notable works include reinterpretations of famous masterpieces such as "Liberty Leading the People" and "The Raft of the Medusa." In 2019, his fresco "Liberty Leading the People" incorporated a QR code allowing viewers to donate cryptocurrency, exemplifying his innovative approach to funding art outside traditional frameworks.
In the documentary The Underground Sistine Chapel, PBoy is depicted recreating the splendor of the Sistine Chapel on the ceiling of an abandoned gold foundry in the suburbs of Paris, a project that reflects his deep respect for the "great masters" while integrating a modern twist through techniques like cryptocurrency-based crowdfunding.
PBoy's work is characterized by a desire to bring classical art to modern urban environments, maintaining a critical stance against mainstream art trends and exploring new methods of artistic production and distribution.
Patrons of the documentary, crypto entrepreneurs Yacine Terai and Eddy Travia, will be on site to introduce the documentary.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
WeWork - Office Space & Coworking, 21 Collyer Quay, Singapore, Singapore
SGD 0.00