"Petals and Shadows"
Look Up Festival, Portsmouth, UK

Yessi’s mural for Look Up Festival carries a deeply personal story. Due to circumstances beyond her control, she was unable to travel to the UK to paint the wall herself. Her visa was rejected for the second time, a situation that often leaves her creative intentions questioned simply because of where she comes from.

This piece became her response to that frustration. Through “Petals and Shadows,” she reflects on the meaning of borders. How they confine movement, emotion, and connection and challenges why they continue to define who gets to create and where.

For this mural, Yessi’s long-time collaborator Stijn stepped in to bring her design to life. A music producer who began painting alongside her four years ago, he has since grown into an artist capable of translating her ideas onto large walls with care and precision. Though Yessi wasn’t physically present, her voice echoes through every brushstroke. A reminder that art can cross boundaries even when people cannot.

Captured beautifully by @streetartatlas 🌸✨