James Reka was recently in Tormarancia, Rome, painting a new mural on a residential building. Entitled Natura Morta (Still Life), the finished piece is a great example of all the qualities of Reka’s work – skilled spray control that results in sharp, crispy lines and perfect shapes, a good feel for colors and use of facade color as a background, as well as neat incorporation of architectural elements in his work.
In this particular piece, the Berlin-based artist demonstrates the effectiveness of his visual language created over the years. Through abstract, almost geometrical shapes, he constructs objects and elements that are instantly recognizable, giving the work multiple layers. While abstract at first, the mural slowly becomes clear once the shapes overlap and depict classic still life elements, such as fruits, a chalice, a bust, etc…
