Fish Graffiti, Amsterdam by Sjem Bakkus 

Upon walking down Spuistraat, one of Amsterdam’s most derelict streets, you’ll most likely pass by a few of the Dutch capital’s artistic gems. And 0ne of the artworks you’ll most probably lay your eyes on is one that was painted by Dutch street artist Sjem Bakkus. Indeed, there’s no doubt that this menacing fish baring a pointed, toothy grin will stare out at you with its bulging eyes and call for your attention.

Bakkus’s Staatsloterij Fish

This spray painted fish, which Sjem Bakkus named ‘Staatsloterij fish’ in a facebook post found on his fan page,exemplifies the street artist’s style and eye for detail. Similarly to many of his other artworks, the graffiti artist seems to have used a solid black background together with a much blurrier thick white outline to make his artwork pop out. He also makes use of numerous lines to accentuate the fish’s form as well as to create multiple layers of detail to his work. Yet, in this artwork,  Bakkus appears to have deviated away from his archetypal colorless composition of just black and white. And has instead opted to also use tinges of orange and and some very light splashes of pink to transform the subject of his artwork which he sprayed on a metal shutter door.

About Sjem Bakkus

Dutch artist Syem Bakkus, whose real name is Daan Dirven, is best known for his passion for drawing complex and peculiar creators and spends most of his days using aerosol spray paint to complete whatever creation unfolds in his imagination. Typically, Sjem Bakkus nurses his obsession for strange creatures by injecting a heavy dose of humor and madness into each mural he paints.