The Commercial - Nomad Clan
Ancestral Memory
Nomad Clan is the collective of AYLO and Cbloxx, an internationally-acclaimed, street art duo with bases in Manchester and Los Angeles. The duo marry power and pathos with a fine art showcase in their iconic, monumental murals around the world.
Their murals always take inspiration from the environment they are located in, combining playful scenes from local heritage with stylised folklore characters. AYLO explains: "We like to research the area in which the mural is going to sit and we always try to make it connect with that place and the people who live there. We start off just researching, speaking to people, looking at archival material, and then we bounce ideas between us to see what sticks."
Their new commission draws on the rich folklore and history of Herefordshire, fusing Alfred Watkins' ley lines and the astronomical orientation of Arthur's Stone with the legend of the Mermaid of Marden and local flora and fauna. The overall effect is magical and otherworldly, a window into another world.
"Sometimes we'll find one story that we can hone in on, but here there were so many we couldn't decide, so we hid them within the piece. There are a lot of Easter eggs in this one, little hidden things about Herefordshire."
Cbloxx says: "Murals often reflect the public and society back to itself. This piece will be something that people can escape into, whilst allowing them to discuss and consider what it might be about… We wanted to try and inspire a bit of awe and wonder again because there's so many interesting things around here. Hopefully it will not just be a talking point, but a thing where people feel a sense of pride about their community again."
This artwork is no. 1 on the Hereford Public Art Trail.