Qashqai inspires a work of art by Sunderland artist

Nissan's best-selling Qashqai is honoured in a new mural in Sunderland.
The Frank Styles 'Qashqai' mural in Hendon. Pictuire by Chris Howson.The Frank Styles 'Qashqai' mural in Hendon. Pictuire by Chris Howson.
The Frank Styles 'Qashqai' mural in Hendon. Pictuire by Chris Howson.

The mural, by city artist Frank Styles and London artist Irony, has been painted onto a derelict building in Villiers Street, Hendon, with words ‘My Kingdom For A Qashqai’.

It was influenced by Shakespeare’s play Richard III and the quote: “A horse, a horse! My kingdom for a horse.”

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Frank, 34, said: “It was finished a few days ago. It took three months to create. It’s to spark debate.”

Corinne Kilvington, artistic director of Theatre Space North East CIC, spoke to Frank and suggested the quote that accompanies the artwork: “Frank is based just around the corner from our new space,” she said.

“We were chatting the other day about it and he needed a relevant quote to go with it. Something about horses that looked at how things and areas change.

“I suggested the Richard III quote which he has adapted for this.”

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The artistic director added: “I think it is great. The scale of it is immense and pictures don’t really do it justice. It brings colour where there isn’t any.”

Sunderland University chaplain Reverend Chris Howson spotted the mural on the former car garage in Hendon.

The university chaplain said: “Frank’s work is one of the strongest pieces of evidence that we are indeed a city of culture.

“I love Frank’s work - graffiti artists bring real beauty and vibrancy to our city, often in the most run down areas.”

Frank is a renowned artist in the city, producing a series of murals in Hendon and across Sunderland.