Apples, clogs and pottery: Parees celebrates Asturian identity, and expands Oviedo's urban art heritage with three new works

a presentation by Audrey García

The 7th edition of the Parees Festival expands 
Oviedo's urban art heritage with three new works,
reaching a total of forty, with local, national
and international signatures. 

Parees, the contextual muralism festival organized by the Oviedo Municipal Foundation of Culture, has added three new works to the municipality's cultural heritage. This seventh edition pays tribute to the rich history and culture of Asturias, highlighting traditional symbols such as Faro pottery, the clog and the apple, elements deeply linked to local identity. 

Through a careful process of artistic mediation with the creators María Peña (Mapecoo) and Marat 'Morik' Danilyan, the festival has managed to incorporate the Asturian community into the creative process, developing works that dialogue with the environment, reinforce the identity of the place and project a cultural legacy that transcends the borders of the region. Parees is consolidating itself as a reference for urban art in Spain and internationally, positioning Oviedo as a city committed to contemporary art and the preservation of its traditions. 

The director of the Parees festival, Eduard Crespo, wanted to underline the unique value of the festival, stating: 

Parees is not just an encounter with urban art, it is a celebration of our roots, a window to the past and a projection towards the future of Asturias. This year, with murals dedicated to such emblematic symbols as the madreña, Faro pottery and the Asturian apple, we have left a visual mark that reflects our cultural heritage. But what really makes Parees special is the connection with the people. The processes of artistic mediation allow art to speak with, and for, our community, reflecting not only the beauty of our symbols, but also the challenges we face in preserving them. This is the true essence of the festival: dialogue, reflection and the shared celebration of our identity.

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Mapecoo's artwork: Reflection on the future of the Asturian apple 
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María Peña's mural (Mapecoo) invites us to reflect on the uncertain future of the Asturian apple with Denomination of Origin. Through a visual contrast between local apples and the digital age, the work addresses the challenge of preserving this essential crop for the region. 

Photo @Mirahaciaatras

The legacy of Faro, immortalized by Marat Morik 
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Marat ‘Morik’ Danilyan has paid tribute to the ancestral pottery of Faro, a thousand-year-old tradition that still survives in Asturias. His mural, located on Luis Álvarez Fueyo street, captures the essence of this art and highlights the need to preserve the cultural heritage of the region. 

Mural by Marat Morik on Faro Pottery. Photo @Mirahaciaatras

Tribute to the Asturian madreña 

Morik has also dedicated a work to the madreña, a symbol of traditional Asturian crafts, on the same Luis Álvarez Fueyo street. This mural not only celebrates the madreñera trade, but also raises a reflection on the importance of preserving traditional trades in the absence of generational change. 

Mural by Marat Morik on the madreñera culture. Photo @Mirahaciaatras

Expansion of the mural heritage 

With these three new works and the conservation of the mural in Ciudad Naranco, Parees expands its legacy in Oviedo, reaching a total of 40 murals in its seven editions. Local, national and international artists have left their mark on the city, contributing to the artistic and cultural diversity of the region. 

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Workshops and activities of the 2024 edition 
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In addition to the murals, Parees has offered silkscreen, fanzine and muralism workshops for families, as well as the popular "Beyond the mural" route, consolidating itself as a space for participation and creativity for all audiences. The free activities have had a massive reception, filling up quickly after the opening of registrations. 

“Beyond the mural” route Photo @Mirahaciaatras

A festival connected to the community 

Parees stands out for its focus on artistic mediation coordinated by Raposu Roxu, where artists, local associations and experts work together to create works that connect deeply with Asturian culture and society. This model makes Parees a unique festival that goes beyond decorative art, creating a contextual muralism movement that respects and improves the urban environment. 

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This article about The 7th edition of the Parees Festival takes part of the ARTICULATE PROMOTE Programme.