Elian ‘Horizontal’

After that lovely mural for TRAMA festival, Elian is back with “Horizontal” painted for this years ColorBA festival that has already counted with the participation of artists like David Petroni, Lucas Parbo and German street artist Case Maclaim from whom I hope to get some images soon.

Born and raised in Córdoba, Argentina where he currently works and lives, Elian has developed through the years a highly recognisable and unique style. His work focuses on creating a dialogue with the urban structures he paints as well as their surroundings, allowing the characteristics of each wall become part of the work This is probably the reason why he identifies himself more with urbanism and architecture than with muralism and graffiti.

According to Elian, his goal is to create a range of easily recognisable colours that don’t fade with the passage of time. His  choice of working with primary colours is also linked to a wish to simplify his work as much as possible bringing it to a minimum, both in terms of colours and shapes. This is probably the reason why he prefers to work with buildings with some history behind them, accentuating the contrasts, but at the same time working a balance between the building’s structure and his bold and bright compositions.  What a better example than “Horizontal”, inspired by the horizontal shape of the building the mural is painted on?

Elian ‘Horizontal’ (detail)

Author: Fran

Founder and editor of Urbanite. Street Art lover who after the finishing her MA thesis on the Mexican and Norwegian muralist movement in the 1920-50s, developed a fascination for street art and graffiti that eventually led to collaborations with different art blogs, including the creation of this one.