Africa

Street art in Reunion Island

By Keith Jenkins
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Reunion is an island of contrasts: from the fiery temperament of Piton de la Fournaise (one of the world’s most active volcanoes) to tranquil lagoons, and from barren Mars-like landscapes to lush tropical vegetation. Most visitors to this French island in the Indian Ocean come to enjoy its jaw-dropping scenery but one other attraction for me is the street art in Reunion. Perhaps inspired by the contrasting landscapes or the melting pot of cultures (think French, Creole, African and Asian among others), Reunion’s street artists produce some of the most diverse work anywhere around. Their artistic contributions can be found all over the island and range from simple but striking pieces on a lamp post to elaborate, thought-provoking murals on the sides of buildings.

The phenomenal mountain scenery in Reunion Island.

Reunion Island street art in photos

As I explored the island, I made it a point to look out for interesting street art, and I found them everywhere! One of Reunion’s most famous street artists, Jace, was visibly present – you can’t miss his faceless but expressive Gouzou figures – but so were other works by other street artists like Kid Kreol & Boogie, Floe, Sainge and Vincent Box. The diversity of styles, from the Gouzous to the calligraphy-style of Vincent Box and the skeleton-like figurines of Jérôme Mesnager, is simply staggering.

Scroll down to view some of the street art I spotted on Reunion Island.

A mural by Jace in St. Denis, the capital of Reunion Island.
Kid Kreol and Boogie posing in front of one of their most famous works in St. Denis.
A colourful piece on the side of a building in St. Denis.
I loved this piece! Spotted in Cilaos.
Spotted in St. Paul.
This mermaid is another of my favourites!
I came across this piece in a tunnel.
And this piece by GorG One was at the entrance of the tunnel.
I found this piece near the historic suspension bridge over the Riviere de L’est. To take or not to take a photo? Haha!
And there was this dragon and UFO in Saint-Gilles.
A comical welcome to Cilaos!
And of course there was Jace with his Gouzou in Cilaos!
But also this stunning piece by Vincent Box, with his signature calligraphy style.
One of the last things you’ll see before you depart from Reunion Airport are the gouzous (at the security check)!

Spotting street art is one of many great things to do in Reunion Island, that’s if you can spare a moment to tear your gaze away from the breathtaking scenery! 🙂

Read about the Best Places to Visit in Reunion Island.

Read other Velvet Escape posts on street art:

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