Ememem Repairs Potholes with Mosaic Street Art
French artist Ememem uses a technique called flacking to repair potholes, cracks, and manholes in urban streets by inserting colorful tiles and mosaics. Inspired by the Japanese practice of kintsugi, which repairs broken pottery with gold, Ememem instead uses ceramic tiles and maiolica. The process is labor-intensive: the artist must study the site, cut tiles precisely, and allow hours for drying. Because such work is legally considered vandalism, Ememem operates at night. His creations have appeared in Genoa, Turin, and Florence, Italy, as well as worldwide. The goal is to beautify and reclaim urban spaces.
Key facts
- Ememem is a French street artist.
- The technique is called flacking.
- Flacking involves repairing urban defects with tiles and maiolica.
- The practice is inspired by Japanese kintsugi.
- Work is done at night due to legal classification as vandalism.
- Ememem's works are found in Genoa, Turin, and Florence, Italy.
- The artist has traveled globally with his art.
- The aim is to redevelop cities with unique creations.
Entities
Artists
- Ememem
Locations
- Genoa
- Turin
- Florence
- Italy
- France