In the heart of Málaga’s Soho, art is not confined to museums. It is part of the streets, the buildings and the everyday life of the neighborhood.

From one of the windows at The Soho Executive Residence, we look out onto a work by Belgian artist ROA, known for large-scale murals of animals.

The mural, on Calle Casas de Campos, at the entrance to our building, forms part of Soho’s artistic landscape. The City of Málaga includes Soho in its alternative tourism itinerary, “Barrio de las Artes” (Arts District).

For those staying with us, this connection to street art begins even before stepping out to explore the city.

The Life We Don't See

Belgian muralist ROA, known for his large-scale depictions of animals, is especially drawn to species that often go unnoticed or stir unease, such as rodents.

To us, the animals in this mural represent a side of urban life we rarely see. While the city moves along the asphalt, another world lies beneath our feet: tunnels, sewers and hidden corners where these creatures find shelter, adapt and struggle to survive.

In that underground world, survival calls for instinct, resilience and an extraordinary capacity to adapt. Perhaps this is one of the reflections ROA’s work invites us to explore: life carries on beyond what we see, even in the most unexpected places.

And from our window, that unseen world takes on a monumental presence, turning an everyday Soho facade into an invitation to look at the city differently.

The Ayuntamiento de Málaga document on MAUS · Málaga Arte Urbano Soho describes a broader programme of multidisciplinary artistic actions intended to enliven and transform the area. In its tourism plan, the Ayuntamiento includes Soho on the alternative “Barrio de las Artes” (Arts District) route.

The Soho street and curved building facade bearing the monochrome mural, photographed from street level
From the street, the curved facade makes the mural part of the neighborhood’s everyday streetscape.
A painter works close to the mural’s dark background and animal outlines
Detail of the mural in progress.
A painter in a lift adds detail to the large animal mural
Working close to the wall.
The animal mural and lift seen from a close angle during painting
The scale of the work on the curved facade.
The lower portion of the mural with the lift and painters visible
Lower details taking shape.
Wide view of the mural being painted from a lift beside the curved building
A wider view of the painting process.
Completed animal mural across the curved facade, with the lift still at its base
The mural across the facade.

Historical source and article credit: StreetArtNews — “ROA New Mural In Malaga, Spain”, article by Rom Levy, 18 July 2013.

Our view of the view

From our window, street art is already part of your stay, even before you head out to explore the city.

Sources & notes