Muralists in Richmond
Nicolas Santiago Romero Escalada, “Ever”
This young and very talented Argentinian muralist has developed a style that is vibrant, fresh, and highly original. The murals he painted in Richmond combine some of the elements that are frequently found in his art. In the first mural (image 1, located at 534 N Harrison Street), we can see faces of young people with clearly different ethnic features. Whereas these faces are sharing the space on the wall, they are not looking at each other. Beams of laser-like light emanate from the four pairs of eyes, and disappear on two groups of beautiful images that resemble flowers and animals. A large hand, appearing from above, seems to suggest the presence of a higher power. The second mural, (image 2, located at 2416 W Cary Street), has some of the same elements: young faces, flowers, eyes that project blue beams of light or water, and hands placed in a peaceful manner. Both murals combine beauty and harmony, in a blend that is intriguing and appealing. As a viewer, I reflect on the way Romero’s murals seem to be very much at home in Richmond, a city which is rapidly becoming more culturally diverse. The faces in Romero’s images seem to mirror those of the thousands of young people who come to Richmond from different places to study, work and contribute toward a more racially-tolerant future.
In an interview that Nicolas Romero gave to a tour group in Argentina (BA Street Art tour), Romero shared a few thoughts about his art. I quote from the BA Street Art website, (http://buenosairesstreetart.com/):
“What I really like is normal, everyday people. It’s just a feeling I get. I prefer to paint ordinary people, it doesn’t interest me painting the faces of beautiful models who appear in magazines or popular culture. These people have much more character.”
Nils Westergard
Among the excellent artists who have left their mark in Richmond, Nils Westergard, a native Virginian who started painting at age 14, has achieved well-deserved notoriety because of his very distinctive art style. His mural, (image 3, located at 1533 Floyd Avenue), painted in 2015 in the Fan District neighborhood, shows a black and white portrait of a young person wearing a dark hood, with eyes blinded by two enigmatic hands. At first impression, it is hard not to think of this painted hood as a symbol of tragic social turmoil and racial confrontation, while the hands imposed over the eyes seems to suggest some sort of control inflicted on the young person. This reaction makes sense, given the frequent political nature revealed in many of Nils' paintings. However, a simple online search reveals that the title of this intriguing mural is Within, which opens the door to a different interpretation. This mural, compared to the many other portraits that Nils has created, is a great example of how the use of a simple color palette can result in a powerful image. In addition to his brilliant career as a painter, Nils is also a superb paper artist, and has produced breathtaking samples of paper cut-outs. An example of his talent is this map of Amsterdam, which he made in the shape of a leaf, http://www.boredpanda.com/amsterdam-map-paper-art-leaf-cutout-nils-westergard/ Finally, Nils is also an innovative filmmaker. An example of this facet of his artistic career is his short and imaginative video, Wallflower, which can be seen at the following link, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svfvLpcVszo
The following is a fragment taken from an interview posted on, I Support Art Street’s website, (http://www.isupportstreetart.com/) Here, Nils shares some of his thoughts about his art,
“…Im also very big on having art be accessible to the masses, and while I love art that requires a lot from the viewer, that also shuts out a lot of people. Depends on if you’re looking at my political work, or my portraiture!”
Elio Mercado, “Evoca1”
Born in Dominican Republic in 1984, and currently living in Miami, Florida, Elio Mercado, also known as Evoca1, is an extraordinary, self-taught artist. Despite the financial obstacles that Elio’s faced during his childhood, he started developing his artistic skills very early in life, and has already achieved an international reputation at a very young age. One of the most beautiful murals painted in Richmond is Elio’s Glory, (image 3, located at 727 West Clay Street), which he painted in 2015. This mural, inspired by the American Civil War, brings to life a dramatic moment in which a Confederate drum boy runs away from a defeated and burning Richmond. Painted only a few blocks away from the Robert E. Lee Memorial, Elio’s mural is a strong reminder of Richmond’s difficult transformation from former capital of the Confederate States of America to a vibrant, ethnically diverse community that seems to be striving toward social equality. Elio’s multifaceted talent is evidenced by the numerous pieces he has created around the world. An excellent example is a mural inspired by the song, Gonna Make Time (by Saun & Starr), which was painted for the Airwaves Festival, in Iceland (https://www.urban-nation.com/artist/evoca1/), in 2015.
In addition to his spectacular artistic career, Elio is also an exemplary advocate of social causes. An example of his commitment to support disadvantaged individuals is Sketches for Mankind, (https://www.facebook.com/sketchesformankind/), a non-profit organization that Elio organized with the purpose of helping the homeless population in Florida.
Jonatan Rivera, “Jade”
Another outstanding example of a self-taught artist, is the young Peruvian muralist Jonatan Rivera, also known as Jade, who has achieved international recognition thanks to his distinctive painting style. His use of bright colors and whimsical characters give his art a unique appeal. The mural that Jonatan painted in Richmond (image 5, located at 609 Iddlewood Avenue), resembles a photograph that captures what feels like an intimate moment in a family’s life. On this mural, it is easy to recognize the physical features associated with Hispanic people. The overall composition suggests a migrant family returning to their home. The flowers, placed in the middle of the painting, add a touch of delicate beauty, in an otherwise somber scene. In Richmond, a city with a large population of Hispanic immigrants, Jade’s mural connects to the daily immigrant experience.
In an interesting interview that appeared at the Youth Arts’ website (https://youthartsonline.org/painting-walls-with-jade/) in 2013, Jonatan shared his thoughts about the meaning behind his murals, ‘I have an idea, I paint it and I give it a title but I never give it a meaning. I like that every person gives it his own story.’
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