Dormant Antennae

On the exposed brick wall of a pre-war tenement building in Warsaw, a large animal composition appears to hover across the surface. Countless intertwined lines form the shapes of a bird and a snake or cobra. Rather than being defined by solid outlines, the animals seem to be constructed from a dense network of metallic threads, creating a strong sense of movement and almost three-dimensional volume.

The mural was created by Chinese street artist DALeast in July 2014 as part of the Street Art Doping festival. Documentation by the Puszka Foundation dates the execution to 9 July 2014 and identifies the central motifs as a bird and a snake.

DALeast is known for his dynamic animal figures constructed from extremely fine, interwoven lines. Here, too, the forms partly dissolve into a dense mesh of black, blue and reddish lines. The rough brickwork remains visible underneath, creating a striking contrast with the intricate drawing.