British artist Stephen Wiltshire recreates Mexico City through art

World Today

British artist Stephen Wiltshire has become famous for his ability to replicate detailed drawings of the world’s greatest cities – on sight. Wiltshire recently took on another creative challenge in the bustling capital of Mexico.

CCTV America’s Franc Contreras reports.

Artist Stephen Wiltshire is going up for a birds-eye view of Mexican megalopolis.

From above, it’s a tangled maze of concrete and asphalt with thousands of green spots that are trees and parks. Its sheer size is mind-boggling. Wiltshire observes the landscape remembers it, and then creates a fairly detailed and accurate drawing of Mexico City.

Mayor Miguel Mancera welcomed Wiltshire as a distinguished visitor. The artist, who is autistic, said his creations bring him joy.

“My life is good. Relaxed. That’s why I like being myself. Relaxed. I was calm. Are you Happy Yes, happy,” Wiltshire said.

He also has savant syndrome, a condition in which one demonstrates prodigious abilities. Wiltshire’s career has brought him to many of the world’s great cities – including New York, Paris and Shanghai.

The curator of the Mexico City drawing says the city has no grid, so it presents Wiltshire with special challenges.

“One of the things that impresses me so much is the perspective he has. He uses no vanishing point, no hard, fixed lines. His lines are soft and very organic,” Edith Leija, a local curator, said.

Mexico City’s urban landscape. It’s complex to describe, much less to draw. Luckily we do have a few buildings here that are recognizable among the urban mass.