Joost Klein

I was selected by Wasa Graffitilandia to take part in Meeting of Styles Finland 2026, an international street art festival in Vaasa. Over three days, around seventy artists from across the world came together to transform the exterior walls of the venue. For my contribution, I created a large-scale portrait of Dutch artist Joost Klein.

Artists travelled to Finland from countries including Brazil, Australia, the United States, Mexico and Greece. Painting alongside so many different styles, cultures and creative perspectives made the festival feel like one large international studio. The weather presented an additional challenge: it rained frequently, but neither I nor the other artists allowed it to stop the work. We adapted, waited for dry moments and continued painting whenever we could.

Bringing a recognisable Dutch cultural figure to a wall in Finland made the project feel especially meaningful. It became more than a portrait. It represented how music, art and internet culture can travel across borders and connect people who may not even speak the same language.

I documented the process from the first outlines to the completed mural. Those videos later reached a huge audience on TikTok and Instagram. Seeing so many people respond to the work online gave the mural a second life far beyond the festival walls.

This project remains a special memory: an international gathering, difficult weather, inspiring artists and an artwork that travelled much further than I ever expected.