Beetle by Itvan Kebadian

Second Floor / Metal Doorway / 2010

“When I painted this insect, the entire floor was in a virgin state, with all the exits and entrances closed. I opened up the room, then picked out the spots I found interesting. I was aiming to create the effect of a museum or a vivarium, and thanks to the windowpanes, I was able to make it look as if they were in a cage. I always let the actual location determine my choice of insect. Here, the doorway was massive – just the right place to put a gigantic beetle, one people can see from a long way away. I must have painted something like fifteen insects in this room. Some are still visible, others have been covered up by other graffiti artists.”

Itvan Kebadian

With his roots in graffiti, Itvan Kebadian started creating art in 1998, though it was not until 2005 that he began producing insects in disused locations. Like a tag, they are traced directly in black aerosol. The artist does not sign them – he would rather pique people’s curiosity, and sees these creatures as a form of Trojan Horse. The warehouse in Pantin includes several examples that seem very much at home in this environment. Itvan has also toured Eastern Europe, following the route of the Trans-Siberian Railway and depositing his creatures on disused factories from the communist era. He has been exhibiting his work and taking part in a variety of projects since 2007.

Other works in the buidling