Street Art And Music Collide With Animation That Brings Painted Mural To Life

“I asked myself, ‘What would happen if the figures in my paintings suddenly became animated?’” – Alice Pasquini

And this was how the idea for the animated clip What Goes Around, by street artist Alice Pasquini in collaboration with animator Rocco Venanzi, was born.

What Goes Around is a previously unreleased work that fuses together a variety of techniques to create a layered, final effect—from rotoscope to full animation.

Pasquini and Venanzi worked from the video footage photographer Jessica Stewart shot while the artist was painting the interior of the Zero Stress Accademia in Moncalieri, Italy. This innovative breakdance and dj academy was founded by legendary Italian musician, Sandro Orrù (DJ Gruff), a frequent collaborator with Pasquini. Across several years Gruff and Pasquini have enjoyed a creative friendship, exchanging work and music frequently.

“It seemed like a natural time to experiment with animation, given that our friendship has always been based on creative exchange,” explains Pasquini.

Thus, it was fitting that Pasquini should make the voyage from Rome to Moncalieri, near Turin, to paint the academy prior to its opening. What ensued was a weekend of music, art, and dance that spontaneously formed as everyone passed three days together. The animation is meant to capture the spontaneous atmosphere and spirit with which the walls were painted.

DJ Gruff, acclaimed dj, beat maker, and rapper, produced the music for the animation—directing the sound design and effects.

This video/performance/mural/animation reaches its apex when Gruff’s music, like the Pied Piper, leads dancers Eddy and Valentina into animation. They melt from our real space into the painted walls, suggesting a continuous game of transformation.

An Idea by Alice Pasquini (www.alicepasquini.com)

Directors: Alice Pasquini and Rocco Venanzi (roccovenanzi.tumblr.com)

Starring: AliCè, Gruff, Eddy, Valentina

Animation: Alice Pasquini & Rocco Venanzi

Editing: Rocco Venanzi

Camerawork: Jessica Stewart (www.romephotoblog.com)

Music: DJ Gruff (www.facebook.com/sandrogruff)

Location: Zero Stress Academy & Vertical Expression (Moncalieri, Italy) (www.facebook.com/zerostressaccademia)