15.10.2024.
Sheefy McFly. Surreality
From 19 September to 11 October 2024, a mural by the street artist from Detroit, Sheefy McFly, titled Surreality, was created on the northern wall of the SPO-II-C building on Hasana Kjafije Pruščaka Street in the Bihać neighborhood of Ozimice 1. This visual piece draws its inspiration from the urban culture of the American Midwest. The mural features stylized fragments of a human face – eyes, mouth, and nose – depicted in rich colors and striking drawings. Through deconstruction and what appears to be chaos, McFly offers insight into an order that could be called "creative mess". Titled Surreality, this large mural (width: 12.50 m; height: 16.10 m) stands as a monument to freedom and tolerance at a time when they are most needed.
The creative approach used by Sheefy McFly provides an authentic glimpse into the world of the Afro-American social cosmos, which has undergone a tremendous journey from subjugation to emancipation and even cultural dominance in a historical context. His "Bihać image" speaks of human freedom and the autonomy of art in the most challenging conditions. McFly consciously situates himself within the context of Afro-American culture, where history and social heritage play a significant role. In this regard, the notable epochs of local history serve as a foundation for reflection and inspiration: the erased legacy and urban violence against the black population of eastern Detroit in the 1950s, the Motown music production of the 1960s, and the techno culture of the 1980s.
Sheefy McFly is a multifaceted artist deeply rooted in the urban fabric of American Detroit. His creative identity is tied to the layers of a city that has experienced total collapse. As an artist, despite the aesthetics of decay, McFly recognizes the "hidden beauty" in his hometown and likes to say that he represents the authentic culture of Detroit. While growing up, he was shaped by radio culture and various musical styles, later conceptualizing and organizing some of the local hip-hop alternative events such as The Air Up There (2009).
His mural Surreality is more than just decoration and embellishment of a dilapidated facade. It reflects a belief that culture knows no boundaries and that citizens possess the tools for actively creating and shaping their city according to their needs – both in Detroit and in Bihać. During his stay in Bihać, McFly managed to blend into the social dynamics of Bihać's Ozimice, highlighting the similarities between Detroit and Bihać through processes of deindustrialization, conflicting pasts, and depopulation, as well as drawing attention to the practices of resistance and creating survival tools through several public music performances and discussions.
The mural was organized by the KRAK Center for Contemporary Culture (Bihać) with support from partners including the City of Bihać, the City Gallery, the Cultural Center of Bihać, the National Park Una, the Tourist Board of the City of Bihać, and Zijo & Sin.

Sheefy McFly, Surreality, 2024. Photo: Mehmed Mahmutović