DXTR: “I like to contribute something positive and fun, that's why I create these murals”
El arte urbano regresa a las calles de Barcelona. El proyecto NN Wallery, de nuestra área de #sostenibilidad, se reactiva con su primer mural de firma internacional, una obra a gran escala que ya puede visitarse en la confluencia de las calles València y Rogent de Barcelona.
On this occasion, we have sought the collaboration of the renowned German artist DXTR, one of the #urbanart authors with the most projection at the moment, who applies his own works directly onto walls around the world. Schuster is also known for his multiple social and cultural collaborations, making him a perfect fit for our NN Wallery initiative. This time, the graffiti artist has been able to capture his interpretation of Barcelona in an interactive piece that invites viewers to participate in a style reminiscent of Where's Waldo.
Behind the pseudonym DXTR is the illustrator Dennis Schuster, a graffiti genius who can perfectly combine his work on urban walls with advertising campaigns for prominent brands, such as Adobe, Levi's, Hasbro, Pepsi, Vans, Wired Magazine, or Wacom.
We share with you the enriching talk we had with him, in which he explains in depth his collaboration with the project NN Wallery and his successful career as an international urban artist.
When asked about the meaning of his stage name, DXTR traces it back to his childhood to unveil his secret: “Back then, my friends used to call my room 'Dexter's Laboratory', like the cartoon series. Pots of paint, cans, and canvases everywhere. That's where my alias comes from”.
Dennis Schuster has been drawing since he was a child, but it was at the age of 16 when he really started in the world of #graffiti: “My school friends introduced me to this magical thing called graffiti in 1999. It became more and more serious over the years and then I moved to Dusseldorf and studied Communication and Design at the University of Applied Sciences. This is where I combined my graffiti roots with graphic design and began to create my freelance business”.
DXTR has a unique style that blends bold characters and typography with abstract symbolism and a bit of graffiti, creating what he calls “a kind of surreal pop cartoon universes”.
Currently, is part of the art collective known as "The Weird", which consists of ten artists, illustrators, and muralists from Germany and Austria, who are their main influence and combine their urban art works with advertising campaigns: “Of course, my work is a bit different when I work for brands like these, and I choose different themes when I work on personal projects. But fortunately, most of my clients let me do my thing and trust mainly in my experience and taste. The creative process is a bit different because I always start by researching the topic and the subject that the client wants me to work on extensively. For this project, I had to learn a bit more about Barcelona, for example, which is quite enjoyable”.
In addition to graffiti, Dennis uses many other creative techniques to express himself and his art: “Actually, I try to experiment a lot. For example, every winter I try to find the time to try something new. Thus, in the winter of 2017, I learned how to weave carpets”, he explains with a smile. “I must admit that I would love to work on my sculptures in the future. Moreover, I also paint canvases and do a lot of illustration work”.
He is one of the few artists in the world who takes on the task of directly applying his own works onto walls: “Creating these huge murals is actually the best part of my job, to be honest. It's a lot of effort, but it's a really rewarding feeling to stand in front of a finished, enormous wall. I also really enjoy working outdoors, chatting with people who pass by, and soaking up the city where I paint, capturing its vibe. The part of the process I enjoy the most is applying the outlines if I'm working in as graphic a manner as in this mural in Barcelona”.
A mural 50 meters long and 2.5 meters high which, as he himself points out, “aims to create a fun and fresh tribute to the beautiful city of Barcelona and to showcase its spirit. A multicultural, attractive, and friendly melting pot.” And he adds: “I really like the work that other artists have created for NN Wallery and I admire many of them. That's one of the reasons why I accepted the proposal.”
Regarding the creative process, Schuster explains that “this kind of whimsical artworks and settings always develop as they are created. I have a rough plan and design in my head, but most of the elements come to me during the creation. This can be a kind of meditation and a very satisfying process, because I never know exactly where the process will lead me and the final artwork can be truly surprising”.
For the project, in addition to capturing his own image and interpretation of Barcelona, the artist has prepared a game: DXTR has hidden 5 dodecahedron-shaped stars in his work, as a tribute to the star of the Sagrada Familia that tops the Virgin Mary's tower. With this nod, Schuster aims to invite his visitors and viewers to discover each of the hidden figures in the mural and take pictures with them.
As the artist states: “For me, the most important interaction with the viewer is that they stop and find their own interpretation and thoughts about the artwork. I try to inspire people and if I can inspire just one child with the work, all the effort has been worth it”. And he adds: “Most of the time, while I create the murals, people enjoy the work and like to stop for a chat. People enjoy the fun characters I paint. I like to bring something positive and fun, that's why I create these murals”.
To conclude, we talked with DXTR about his own conception of urban art. The German artist claims that it is “a wonderful opportunity for people who normally don't go to museums or gallery openings to also enjoy art. That's why I create works on the street. Art should be for everyone and not just for the elites”. More specifically, about urban art in the City of Barcelona, Dennis is clear: “Yes, of course. Barcelona is one of the best places in Europe in my opinion and I know many highly talented artists who live and work here”.
The mural by DXTR can be visited until the construction works of the new apartment development are completed, which intersects at Rogent 32 and Valencia 595 streets. At that time, it will be demolished and will become part of the virtual gallery of works that since 2019 have been added to this project to improve the urban environment of Núñez i Navarro. As Schuster himself remarks: “Graffiti or street art are always temporary, and I think that's absolutely fine. Everything has its time”.
Our project NN Wallery, curated by Norma Editorial and Il·lacions, was launched in 2018 with the goal of enhancing the environment of our performances in Barcelona through #culture.
Projects on construction walls transform private surfaces into urban art for everyone; that is, what could be a limitation is turned into a canvas for urban art and for the neighborhood to enjoy. The seed of this project dates back to September 2018, with the excellent reception of the mural by Pez Barcelona on the wall of the old Metalarte factory in Sant Joan Despí. The neighbors responded very positively to the project, interacting with the artist and thanking him for improving their neighborhood. Since then, multiple projects have been carried out. With the mural by DXTR, there are now 28 actions that the NN Wallery project encompasses, 11 temporary and 17 permanent. An original and pioneering project that continues to grow.
