Guido van Helten: It got into Top 10 because the world is interested in Belarus

Minsk mural Girl in Embroidered Shirt created as part of the project Urban Myths has got to the top-10 of the best November graffiti in the world. Guido van Helten has agreed to talk to Euroradio even though it was already late night in Australia. He is delighted with the success and calls the Girl from Rabkorauskaya Street his favourite project:

“This is the most recent artwork and the most developed one. I had a wonderful time making it. I think it is my favourite one. Might be it has got to the top-10 because the world is interested in Belarus.”

This is not the only Guido’s Girl in Embroidered Shirt. There are two Kiev Girls: they look alike but they are different. However, this one is just tip of the iceberg, the painter said. He would like to uncover things hidden deep inside:

“These are very powerful symbols,” Guido commented on the ornament. “They are very original. An embroidered shirt is visual art. This is the first level of culture. Your culture is a very deep. I would love to work on projects that would uncover your culture at a more profound level.”

One of the Ukrainian girls in an embroidered shirt. Lesya.

Guido van Helten is planning to return to Belarus sometime in the future in order to ‘continue studying the cultural ideas that would let him go deeper’. He liked the quiet life of Minsk, metro trips to work and the feeling of being included in the city life.

“I heard for how people say that Minsk is sort of grey and a full city of dark buildings. But people were friendly to me. It was my favourite part of the work,” the painter recalled. “Many people approached me and asked if I needed help when I was working. I judge countries and cities by their people and I think that Minsk is a wonderful place.”  

Guido does not consider his artworks to be street art. The whole notion is getting outdated, he believes. He calls himself a painter of realism murals.

Guido is planning to spend the Christmas vacations in Australia – he is painting a huge mural in a small town now. About 200 people live in that hot and arid place.

Minsk photos: Syarhei Hidzilin

Other: www.guidovanhelten.com