A Taiwanese graffiti artist who goes by the tag name DEBE will leave his mark on the sandy coastline of California as part of the international mural festival POW! WOW! Long Beach taking place from July 21 through 28.
Spray painting since 2005, DEBE credits the US Wildstyle movement for his artistic conception. He has since embraced typography design as well, integrating abstract geometric forms and flowing script with personal philosophy and drive. Captivating passersby with live demonstrations in cities such as London and Hong Kong, DEBE creates murals with candid and organic-like features that belie their profound and rich layers.
Emma Yang (楊婷媜), director of the Taiwan Academy in Los Angeles, explained that Taiwanese art is versatile, rich in form and quality, and carries a high level of energy, with street art representing the boundless creativity of the younger Taiwanese generations. By supporting DEBE's participation at the Long Beach mural festival, the Taiwan Academy hopes to raise international awareness of the bountiful talents nurtured by Taiwan and pave the way for further exchanges through culture.
"It is well documented that art and culture are highly influential and a powerful tool for building identify for cities and regions," pointed out Julia Huang (黃儀嬙), POW! WOW! Long Beach advisor. "The City of Long Beach understands the importance of culture and how it enhances the landscape and value of a city in a different way."
This year's POW! WOW! Long Beach is a week-long live art exhibition featuring world-renowned artists from Belgium, Dubai, Japan, Mexico, Taiwan, and the US. Several prominent Long Beach buildings will serve as canvas for these international graffers. In addition to the 70-plus mural creations dotting 40 square miles that were made over the course of four years, visitors can also watch the live creation process of more than 20 giant murals coming to life throughout the week of July 21 – 28.
This is the first collaboration between the Taiwan Academy in Los Angeles and POW! WOW! Long Beach, a chapter of the international POW! WOW! Series that features hundreds of artists entering the public spaces of urban cities such as Taipei, Tokyo, and Seoul to present cultural events encompassing mural painting and music.
DEBE will be found at 300 Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90805.