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A few weeks ago, Invisible Bordeaux went in search of the seven mosaic pixel art pieces positioned in Bordeaux by renowned street artist MifaMosa. More recently, during a railway journey stopover in nearby Libourne, I was able to view MifaMosa's other Girondin set comprising six further street name illustrations.
As detailed in the previous article, MifaMosa is an Orléans-based street artist whose trademark pitch is to dream up literal illustrations of street names and the end-result is always eye-catching, often amusing, and sometimes even moving. Since starting out in 2017, more than 500 works have been positioned around France and the artist is aiming to be present in each département across the territory.
Now, there is one substantial difference between the artwork installed in Libourne and the pieces that can be seen in Bordeaux. In Bordeaux each illustration was a true case of illicit and unsolicited self-funded guerilla street art which rolled out in November 2022. In Libourne, however, the pieces, which were installed in August 2023, had been officially commissioned as part of the town’s annual Fest’Arts street art festival (organized by the Le Liburnia theatre), and now form part of the ‘À Ciel Ouvert’ street art trail, alongside pieces by fellow artists including EPIS, Caroline Apesteguy, Jofo, A-MO and Selor. The trail was first launched in 2021 and every year new pieces are added to the itinerary. And, as we will find out shortly, there is another aspect that makes the Libourne MifaMosa set different!
My MifaMosa pilgrimage took me from the north to the south of central Libourne, starting out by the river Dordogne not far from Pont de Loiseau, to take in this idyllic desert island illustrating Rue de l’Isle!
Heading into the backstreets led me to a golden wedding ring symbolising Rue de l’Union. Ironically, on the street sign below MifaMosa's pixel artwork, it looks as if the "L'" and "UNION" are in the process of becoming estranged.
Next is the one that stands apart! The knowingly dramatic sign that illustrates Rue du Théâtre is particularly unique as it is a one-off collaboration with artist and Mosaïque magazine editor Renée Malaval Antoine, who produced the comedy and tragedy masks that are framed by MifaMosa’s red stage curtains. The joint creation, which mixes and matches two styles and two techniques, is a particular source of pride for Renée Malaval Antoine as it was the first time one of her creations had been positioned like this in the public domain!
Then on to Rue du Port Coiffe, which in MifaMosa’s hands has become a “porc coiffé”, in the shape of this punk-rocking, shades-wearing pink pig.
Rue des Chais is not far from there. The street name would suggest it was a district where wine cellars once ruled supreme, as demonstrated by the barrel that is gradually filling a glass of the local red beverage.
And we finish off once again near the riverfront on the tiny Rue des Murs, which MifaMosa has mischievously misheard as being “mûres”, illustrating the street name with an outsize blackberry that is not dissimilar to the bunch of grapes visible on Rue des Vignes in Bordeaux.
So, wherever you are in France, look out for MifaMosa’s pixel art productions which never fail to raise a smile; it is certainly a pleasure to be able to enjoy the pieces available here in Gironde, both by the banks of the Garonne in Bordeaux, and alongside the Dordogne in Libourne.
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