Letters that seem to bulge out of the wall, twisting, folding and intertwining: Peeta's graffiti look like three-dimensional bodies, and yet they are painted.
From Letter to Sculpture
The style of Italian graffiti artist Peeta is spectacular. Starting from early works with organic forms, he soon developed his characteristic typographic style, which captivates with a unique 3D technique and impressive visual depth. Initially active mainly as a sprayer, he now complements his graffiti with canvases and sculptures. For Peeta, these media do not exclude each other but inspire one another: while working on a sculpture, he keeps getting new ideas for his walls, and conversely, his 3D-style graffiti inspire him to translate these furious forms into sculpture. What appears prominent and dynamic on walls becomes more intimate on canvas, but no less energetic. At Pretty Portal, Peeta now shows his canvases and sculptures in a German gallery for the first time.
Between Italy and New York
Peeta, whose real name is Manuel Di Rita, first picked up a spray can in 1993 in a small town between Venice and Padua. Sixteen years later, his work has become an integral part of the international graffiti scene. Besides Italy, the mecca of graffiti has also shaped his work: at the beginning of 2000, he became a member of New York's FX Crew and later of the RWK Crew. In Italy, he is part of the EAD Crew. Together with other renowned artists, including ECB and Loomit, both of whom have already exhibited at Pretty Portal, Peeta works on new projects all over the world.
Graffiti and Design
Manuel Di Rita is not only a street artist but also works in industrial and product design. This experience provides further impetus for his art and is expressed above all in his sculptures. They are produced using industrial methods, and the choice of materials follows the same logic: polyurethane, acetate and wood meet cardboard, paper and leather. It is precisely this combination of graffiti and design that distinguishes Peeta's work and continually drives his artistic development.
"Sparkle and Fade"
Peeta
Opening
Friday, 30 October 2009, 7 – 11 pm
Exhibition
30 October – 27 November 2009
Pretty Portal
Brunnenstraße 12
40223 Düsseldorf
