RAFAEL SLIKS

May 18 2018 - June 17 2018 msterdam

Amsterdam, May 2018 - Vroom & Varossieau Gallery presents the Brazilian artist Rafael Sliks with his new exhibition 'Motion'. After several works commissioned in the city of Amsterdam, it is now time for a solo show that runs from 18 May to 17 June 2018.

Motion is the changing movement that allows a body to be in many different places in a space. This exhibition shows Sliks’ universe and reflects the tension between the physical chaos in urban areas and the spiritual introspection he experiences in nature. His mission is to relate all the different elements of this tension so it expresses all the dynamic characteristics of life.

About

Rafael “SLIKS”, is a native Brazilian, born in the neighborhood of Bela Vista, in the center of São Paulo. Throughout his childhood he would draw comics, but in his puberty he would skip class to get to know his city. At the end of 1996, he moved to the South zone of Sao Paulo where he immersed himself in the world of graffiti. Since the beginning of 1997, Rafael’s style has evolved extensively. He chose not to remake the same image again and again and continues to challenge himself by testing new techniques and experimenting the unlimited possibilities of his expression with art.

Sliks was always impressed and inspired by the movements of Abstract, Calligraphy of Oriental films, Art Nouveau, Surrealism and Abstract Expressionism, mainly Graffiti. All of which play key roles in defining Sliks’ style.

His art originates with graffiti for which he developed a stroke style with the spray can, heavily influenced by the TAGS style signatures of street writers. He creates and experiments his calligraphy and typographies. Colors, repetitions, overlaps, movements, nature and musical beats help nourish his inner world to create visual enigmas and infinite extensions of his universe.

Collaboration with KAZMOK
For this exhibition, Sliks also collaborates with KAZMOK: the project of Amsterdam-based and award winning industrial designer Dinand Stufkens. Dinand had become intrigued with the search for previously used materials that could be sourced for the creation of his KAZMOK product line.

Dinand spend the last 5 years searching, collecting, testing and optimizing all sorts off raw and used materials, like old conveyor belts from airports and canvas from used army tents to create the ultimate unexpected products.