In the midst of the hardships so many people have experienced over the last year, it is easy to forget there is still beauty in this world. It may be comforting to know that despite all the adversity and chaos, that art still flourishes and inspires. We were fortunate enough to meet a truly inspiring Italian artist Marco Réa who graciously agreed to share some information about himself and how he creates masterpieces from chaos.
Photo Credit: Luca Lionetti
How did you get into street art?
As a kid, I have always been fascinated by the writings that I saw on the walls, both tags and graffiti. In 1996, I started doing graffiti, for years I was totally captivated by them. Then my style changed and for a long time I only made works in the studio working with galleries from all over the world, while remaining very close to the culture of graffiti and street art. As a consequence to the first lockdown of 2020, I felt a great need to return to doing street works. All the rules and prohibitions of recent years have pushed me more to break down the rules.
Share how you developed your style and why your art is often faces.
I have never loved to follow the fashions of the moment, I have always followed my personal research constantly trying to evolve my style. A few years ago I started making stencils. Not the classic stencils that we are used to seeing, but a stencil “on the contrary” that is working on the empty spaces and not on the full ones. I create complex tangles of lines that form the human figure. They are forms that arise from chaos but in that chaos they look for order. I have always been interested in psychology, the study of the psyche. That is why my favorite subject is the human figure and its emotions.
Why is Street Art Important?
Street art is important because it brings people closer to culture and opens people’s minds. It does so through culture and beauty (not the banal and obvious beauty that is in advertisements or on TV). Street art brings people closer to and sensitizes art, making society more mature and more sensitive.
What is your Favorite Piece of Art & Why
Personally my favorite piece is “Sole” (Sun) , it was the first piece I made after the lockdown and I had an infinite need for freedom. I think this also transpires from the work itself. I imagined the subject who let himself be kissed by the sun, finally free to be able to be outdoors and breathe.
Sole
Photo Credit: Virgilio Irione
Photo Credit: Virgilio Irione
Who is Your Favorite Street Artist and Why?
There are several that I love like Lucamaleonte, 108, MP5 and Borondo. But my favorite artists are Sten & Lex. I have always followed their work and over time they have been able to change and evolve, even when it would have been comfortable to recline. I have a lot of respect for them and for their artistic research. I think they really gave a lot to street art and art in general.
Photo Credit: Virgilio Irione
Where is your favorite place in the world for street art ?
This pandemic has forced everyone to remain imprisoned in their own city. I have always loved to travel and now I have even more desire to do so. So, I tell you that I would like to travel as much as possible and leave my art everywhere. Although, I also love to create my works around the places I live the most, in order to see them again and, in a way, take care of it.
Bonus- Share a project you are working on or one you have that you would like to promote.
There are several news that concern me, such as; a calendar on Street art for 2022 with an important publishing house; an exhibition on Dante in Ravenna; and then I’m working on my personal exhibition. I also plan to build walls in Sardinia, Milan, Bologna and then I also hope to resume my projects abroad.
All photos not specifically credited are supplied by Marco Réa.
Check out other street artists we have featured:
Silly Sully’s colorful street art