Moon Bar ceiling fresco at MiMi Mei Fair in London. Photo: Dan Barker

HERE WE ARE

Strictly speaking, this is a year and a bit in review! For one reason or another, we’ve been less present on social media and in website activities and focused on personal and family things. Now we are back. To fill in the gaps, here below are a few updates on what occurred for Aster Muro over the latter part of 2021 and into 2022, alongside the usual painting of fresco commissions and general beavering away in the background.

Up first…

AWARDS

The Green Rooms project in MediaCityUK, for which Aster Muro created two huge frescoes, won a London Design Award Gold in 2021, which was amazing. And at the UKAA BTR Awards the project was awarded Best National Development, along with achieving Best Regional and Best National Development accolades at the Homeviews BTR Awards 2020. The project has received 24+ national and international press appearances, featuring in Design Week, LOFT magazine and Oficina Distrito amongst others. A big round of applause to David Holt and the team of place-makers at 74, to the operators AMRO, and to Avril and the staff in the building. Most importantly there are a lot of happy residents! One resident reviewer commented, “The lobby is beautiful! And always such a great sight to come home to” - we’re so pleased to have contributed to a part of it with our frescoes.

The Green Rooms lobby fresco in MediaCityUK, Manchester. Photo: Gu Shi Yin

WORKSHOPS

Charles teaching a fresco workshop at Knauf Clerkenwell during CDW 2022. Photo: Knauf

As part of the vibrant Clerkenwell Design Week in May 2022, Charles headed down to London to the Knauf showroom in Clerkenwell to deliver some colourful fresco workshops for groups of architects, interiors designers and other design professionals.

The work that everyone produced was brilliant and varied and it was a really positive creative experience. And Charles was very happy as he always is when he is teaching.

At this point we should also mention that this spring (2023) we are launching fresco masterclasses at our studio near Abergavenny. This is something we have wanted to offer for a long time. Initially we are offering two Saturdays in April with further dates to be announced. We will be promoting these on our Instagram over the next few weeks or if you want to be an early bird you can book a fresco masterclass here.

A fresco workshop underway at Knauf Clerkenwell during CDW 2022. Photo: Knauf

Introducing the Japanese putty knives at a fresco workshop for Knauf CDW 2002. Photo: Knauf

Architects and interior designers trying their hand at fresco during CDW 2022. Photo: Knauf

LIVE INSTALLATION

Aster Muro was invited to the Business Design Centre in April 2022 for the UKAA BTR Expo, to deliver a fresco demonstration and live creation of a panel fresco during the show. Our concept for the fresco was ‘A Guiding Light’ which was a nod to the role of the UKAA in the BTR sector but more universally encompasses a golden and hopeful feeling, and the idea of one person helping another in need and being their guiding light. The final piece is being donated to a charity that helps people experiencing homelessness.

Aster Muro, *Guiding Light*, 2022. Photo: LOFT magazine.

AL FRESCO

This was a monumental first for us: the creation of a large-scale fresco en plein air - or rather more pleasingly and punningly - a fresco al fresco!

Titled ‘Splash! Silence Again,’ the fresco was inspired by growth, light and renewal in nature, aptly created in our garden in the foothills of the Blorenge mountain, near Abergavenny in Wales, surrounded by poplar trees and lush scenery.

“The ideas of place and connection are incredibly important in our work,” says Aster Muro Director Charles Snell. “Painted in pigmented plaster using our innovative contemporary fresco techniques, the piece is centred on the concept of ‘place as inspiration,’ taking note of gardens such as Monet’s at Giverny.” [quoted from IHS News Hub].

Early stages of the fresco, tools in hand with great purpose! Photo: Samuel Callen

Painted by us (Charles and Lianne) together, using both a spray machine and traditional tools, on a day in September which felt like the last hurrah of summer, the fresco drew upon inspiration from water gardens and mythical landscapes, in Japonism and haikus, drawing upon abstract moments and life’s journey, bucolic impressionism, verdant foliage and floral beauty.

Making the most of the last of the light. Charles finishing the fresco. Photo: Samuel Callen

This piece was commissioned by the Independent Hotel Show for the Innovation Stage backdrop to their 2021 show. The stage was dressed by sofa.com with art by Aster Muro. We also provided artwork to Aorta Bespoke Interiors to create a gallery wall in The Suite and Social Business Space at the show.

Aster Muro, *Splash! Silence Again*, as backdrop to the Innovation Stage at IHS21. Photo: Aster Muro

We did also create some smaller fresco panels as part of experimenting with the colour palette for this piece but they were sold from the studio before we even had time to photograph them!

*Splash! Silence Again*, 2021. One of our favourite pieces to date. Photo: Aster Muro

NEW PROJECTS

We have finally photographed some of our recent projects so there is new work up on the Frescoes page of the website. Still a lot more awaiting photography but we will get there! Here is a little taster.

Moon Bar ceiling fresco at MiMi Mei Fair. Photo: Dan Barker

Charles in Clifton in front of newly installed *Winter Solstice*. Photo: Dan Barker

Two of the *Winter Solstice* frescoes. Photo: Aster Muro

UP NEXT

Well done if you made it to the end of our long review! Coming up in 2023 we have some large installations and exciting new exhibitions. As well as the new in-studio masterclasses mentioned above. Details to be announced on our Instagram in the coming weeks.

The Aster Muro Journal - Creative Inspiration and Updates

NEWS / A Year in Review