Mur0ne’s dreamlike sporting urbanity

Horizontal asphalt, vertical walls, a colorful sport to unite them. Interview with the Spanish street artist

The balance between design and pop art, between horizontal asphalt and vertical walls, between imaginary worlds and dream associations. Mur0ne, nickname of Iker Muro, since 2002 has found its own virgin canvas in the urban landscape.

Born in Bilbao, his graphic-visual paths have exponentially populated the Spanish cities, quickly arriving to migrate beyond the Iberian borders. The production of this street artist has recently begun to flow into the sports universe and, at the same time, to draw from it.

During a break from brushes and paints, we asked Mur0ne to tell us about his artistic path, about his connection with sport and to lead us into those city views that he has been able to transform into unique panoramas.

How was your artistic passion born and how has it evolved over time?

I have been drawing since I was a child. I studied graphic design in my teens, which combined with street graffiti, led me to paint murals and travel the world. I never had a special interest in art, let’s say it was graffiti that led me later to become interested in more ‘classical’ art.

What role did sport play in your artistic production? Which sports are you particularly fond of?

I painted a tennis court a couple of years ago and I haven’t stopped since. The impact that social networks and the internet have to spread the work is overwhelming. I have no special connection to sports like tennis or basketball, I played soccer as a child like all children in Spain. However, the sports I am really into are sliding sports, like skateboarding, surfing, and snowboarding, those are without a doubt my sports.

Basketball courts, skateboards, tennis courts… How do your colors fit into these contexts and objects?

Well, it is clear that the courts on which I do my art are not intended for a “professional” use. They are usually schools or public courts where the interest lies more in making users (children and adolescents) discover that there are other ways of understanding the functionality of things or the approach they can give to their lives. We always tell our children that they must be doctors or teachers but when they discover that there is a guy painting the floor of the schoolyard and he makes a living out of it, their heads “explode”.

What do you think of the increasingly intense relationship between graphic/visual arts and sport?

Design, illustration, and art have always been closely linked to sport. From advances in sneaker design to the connection between street art and sports. I suppose that the freshness and intensity of both media connect perfectly and that is why sports brands want to have collaborations with urban artists.

“Wall Is My Name” is your latest publication. Would you tell us something about it?

Wall is my name is the book that compiles at least 15 years of career as a muralist. Although there are previous images of my early days in graffiti, 20 years ago, the bulk of the book is my most current work. We have worked hard for over a year collecting images and designing a book that has a lot of weight and personal value, I cannot be happier with the result, the book has soul.

What are your plans for the near future? I saw that most of your works are in Spain, will you expand them more and more outside your country?

Yes, right now I am traveling to Senegal, I had the opportunity in the past to carry out a couple of projects in West Africa and, of course, I will always be ready to continue painting beyond my borders.