[PHOTOS] A boy called Veronika
A local internationally known graffiti artist uniquely sprays Krugersdorp’s countryside with bright expressive colours.
Horses, faces, creatures and UFOs – all spray-painted on walls.
Under the pseudonym Veronika, a Krugersdorp born and bred artist with Krugersdop High School and National School of Arts as alma maters, he rejuvenates run-down buildings in the Krugersdorp countryside and all over Johannesburg with spray paint.
His famous work includes spray-painting a portrait of Yolandi from Die Antwoord as seen in their music video Baby’s On Fire, and he already held two exhibitions at the Greyscale Gallery in Braamfontein, Johannesburg.
“I have been painting all my life. But my interest in graffiti started in 2012 when I was asked to spray-paint the portrait of Yolandi,” he said.
Spray paint, according to Veronika, is a very unique medium and the technique it requires differs from the ones used for acrylic and oil paintings.
“If you want to refine a line, you use the base colour over the new colour,” he explained.
In all his artworks you will recognise an animated UFO somewhere.
“While looking across the night sky at Hartbeespoort Dam, a friend and I once saw something we could not describe,” Veronika said.
The element of mystery rolls over into his murals depicting from real portraits to animated creatures.
Living on a local horse stud farm among 34 horses and countless bought and rescued dogs, Veronika admitted that a material life is one he never intends to live.
“I am creating constantly,” he explained.
Veronika’s mother, an equally talented painter, said he was the National School of Arts’ best artist two years in a row.
“He has been painting ever since he was a child.”
But the question remains, who is Veronika?
“I met her in New York once and immediately fell in love,” he said.
Today he uses that fleeting moment of meeting Veronika as the constant romantic inspiration for his artworks.
If you look closely you will see his murals on burned-down or dilapidated houses, old walls and under bridges all over Krugersdorp’s countryside.
Despite having seen the world Veronika still prefers Krugersdorp.
“I love Krugersdorp. There is a unique rawness of people here that you cannot find anywhere else.”
If you would like to view some of his graffiti-style artwork painted on canvas, you can go to The Warehouse Coffee Shop in Muldersdrift next Thursday when his new collection will be exhibited.
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