Art is a uniquely human concept that appeals to people of every age, culture, and creed. Whether it’s in the form of movies, books, music, or paintings, we love art. It opens our minds, inspires us, moves us, even makes us laugh. When we stumble upon a truly remarkable artist, we are left awe-inspired and speechless. Street artist Odeith is one such creator.
The Murals That Transform Reality
Odeith, a street artist who uses his exceptional talent and a little spray paint, transforms unattractive blocks of cement or stone into shockingly lifelike works of art. He is amazing the world with his extraordinarily lifelike three-dimensional images.
Odeith has converted an ugly cement square into a life-sized, dilapidated bus. He has turned a boring brick wall into a gargantuan bluebird overseeing her nest of baby chicks. Abandoned warehouses become home to enormous blue frogs who appear to be jumping towards onlookers. He has even altered simple boulders to look like monstrous skulls.
Most impressive of all, however, these works of street art are so realistic that our minds are tricked; we feel as though we could climb onto the bus, sit in the bird’s nest, pet the frog, reach towards the hollows of the skull’s empty eye sockets. This is no ordinary art; this is mind-altering, captivating brilliance. (1)
The Street Artist
Odeith was born in Portugal in the 1980s. As so many great artists are, Odeith was born to make art. From early on, he was drawing, and as soon as he was old enough to point a spray can, he was producing captivating images using just spray paint. As he grew up, he practiced by using blank walls and cement blocks, until he solidified his own artistic voice. He calls his personal style “sombre 3D,” a unique mixture of intensely realistic shading, reality-twisting perspective, and a wholely original technique. He has perfected creating large-scale outdoor murals and has gained international recognition as a result. (2)
The Beauty of Street Art
Once upon a time, mainstream society viewed graffiti art as secondary, some passing it off as mere vandalism. Those days are long gone, however. City dwelling children have always been drawn to street art, sometimes creating entire worlds along the side of abandoned buildings. For many, graffiti and street art offer an avenue for self-expression that busts through the oppressive confines of a house, classroom, or apartment. Though the artist called “Banksy” has helped the world appreciate street art, a number of other street artists are gaining national and international recognition for their talents as well. Among the most notable are Kobra, David Choe, Victor Reyes, Revok, and Daim. (3, 4, 5, 6)
The Future of Art
As the world becomes increasingly tethered to technology, we need ways to connect to the world right in front of us. Perhaps one of the reasons why street art has become so popular is because it wakes us up to the tangible world. Art allows us to open our eyes, look beyond the superficial, and reflect upon the depths of our souls. Street art has become a socially accepted, prodigious artform, encouraging us to look around more often and see the potential beauty in even the ugliest of battered cement buildings.
