Rizek: Street Art as Social Conscience and the Power of the Message

Rizek, a pioneering graffiti artist from Puglia who helped shape the region's scene in the early 1990s, discusses his practice, techniques, and philosophy in an interview with Artribune. His work addresses freedom of expression, human rights, environmentalism, and antimilitarism, using irony and provocation to challenge visual habits. In 2019, he won first place at the Luz y Vanguardias video mapping festival in Spain and participated in IKEA Loves Art, Matera Street Art, iMapp Bucharest, Stramurales II, and Casalabate Art District. He also exhibited at Pop Now. Nuove identità nelle arti pugliesi. Earlier, he took part in festivals like Versosud, Oltremare, Zona Temporanea delle Arti Urbane, and Street like a rainbow, and exhibited in Armenia for Ankapital and in Piacenza for #STREET-Basquiat. Recently, he painted a mural titled "Brick by Brick" at the former distillery in Barletta and "TO BE OR NOT TO BE" for Stramurales festival 3rd edition in Stornara, Foggia. Rizek uses spray paint, acrylics, and stencils, blending photography, drawing, calligraphy, optical art, and codes. He emphasizes authenticity and rejects trends, stating that many self-proclaimed artists are "copies of copies." During the pandemic, he focused on drawing and painting at home and collaborated on a virtual art project. He plans to merge disciplines like installations, video, music, and technology, and aims to hold a solo exhibition of his unpublished works.