They could be wild mustangs, the three rainbow splashed horses painted running in a mural done in Jacksonville, Florida, by Jacksonville native DAAS. Though Florida is not considered part of the country’s Wild West States, the horses exude that vision of powerfully moving freedom that constitutes ideas of the Western United States.
The Florida owned mural is explained through information gleaned from an interview with DAAS, conducted by the curator, Iryna Kanishcheva. DAAS speaks to Iryna Kanishcheva about the concept behind the mural and a bit about Jacksonville as both the vibrant mural’s setting and DAAS’s hometown.
“Horsepower” is the title for this mural which seems apt considering the three sturdy looking horses on the run are the embodiment of the artwork. As DAAS confesses to his interviewer, Ms. Kanishcheva, “Horsepower” is a mural situated near I-95, an interstate where the engines of the vehicles grind out actual horsepower, which is a term used as one measurement of a vehicle’s prowess. The mural itself also contributes to literal horsepower, being painted on the neat rows of bricks that house a business that repairs and readies Diesel engines.
These two very real forces, an interstate with all that horsepower rushing past, and a Diesel engine shop, both intersected in DAAS’s creative mind.
It is a prismatic and hale mural, with the three strong horses in a run that has them being splashed in color as though galloping through rainbow colored puddles. Slashes of many colors serve as a backdrop for the equines. Perhaps most important is the fact this troika of horses is depicted without bridle, bit, or saddle, and without harness or plow. They are in earthly flight under their own horsepower, or so DAAS has painted them.
Going back to the interview Ms. Kanishcheva had with mural artist DAAS, the interview brought up the interesting fact that the artist was born in Jacksonville, Florida, but has moved to a variety of other places. In the year 2006, DAAS informs Iryna Kanishcheva that he moved to Japan as he had secured work at Universal Studios Japan. However with a sprinkling of relatives still residing in Jacksonville, DAAS does visit his hometown especially during holidays. Creating this heartily attractive mural for Jacksonville, DAAS stated to his curator “….was a great opportunity to finally come full circle and put a mural in my hometown”.
DAAS will be returning to China in early 2019 for an installation project, and then return to Florida to tackle a water tower mural. Kitano Alley Gallery, showcases his work in Kobe,Japan, using the group foremat for shows and events. DAAS can be found at www artist-daas.com and his instagram account is instagram@daas. DAAS’s interviewer and curator of his “Horsepower ” mural was Iryna Kanishcheva.
