Spanish artist Pejac recently visited NYC for the first time with a goal to spread his concerns about through two new public interventions in Bushwick and Chinatown. Due to city’s size, density, public transportation infrastructure, and location, The Big Apple has been battling major environmental issues over the years, mirroring the problems of modern civilization worldwide. With cultural, financial, and media capital of the world as his canvas, he painted Fossil and Inner Strength, celebrating the raw power and beauty of nature in the middle of US’ most populous city.
About The Murals
Taking a sturdy structure and familiar urban element as a base for his work, Fossil is proposing a hypothetical fatal future in which the only memory of nature is the fossilized appearance of a tree on a brick wall. With minimal intervention on the existing setting found in Bushwick, merely adding shadows and accenting existing elements (as he did in the past with other man made materials), Pejac created a ghostly silhouette of a tree appearing within the brick wall pattern. Stripped of its lush beauty and minimized to sterile squares, the striking illusion is a harsh reminder of our ignorant bearing towards the environment, particularly noticeable in this hip neighborhood undergoing intense gentrification.
Location: 27 Scott Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11237
Opposing the first work, Inner Strength is an empowering piece portraying another hypothetical future in which nature breaks the barriers imposed by the hand of man, recovering the lost ground along the way. By adding a subtle yet effective illusion on the shutter doors, and including some of his familiar recurring imagery such as cherry blossom and flocks of birds, this compelling creation is breaking the tough surface of urban Chinatown, encouraging the nature to take it all back. It is also a symbol of resistance against the uncompromising megalomania of Wall Street, which is just around the corner from this location.
Location: 2 Henry St, New York, NY 10038
About The Artist
Barcelona-based fine artist, PEJAC, is known for his socially and environmentally-charged work. The strength of his work and universal language comes from the right combination of admirable painting skills, original and effective concepts, and vast knowledge of classic art and popular culture. His ability to touch on different subjects and the use of the vast range of different mediums, techniques, formats or styles, is what makes his works unique.
When talking about Pejac, the key terms are “message” and “adaption”. No matter if he works on paper, canvas or in public, he has tremendous ability to adapt his work in order to pass a clear and powerful message, such as his series in a Palestinian and Syrian refugee camp in Jordan.. Whether drawing a map of the world draining into a sewer or painting a chilling take on iconic photograph of Buddhist monk burning himself, his art is provocative and critical, capable of stopping the observer in his tracks. In order to achieve such effect, he is using different visual languages, reaching for unconventional tools, or finding alternative ways to present the finished work.
Images by just_a_ spectator & zurbaran1
