See How They Do It
“Pretty Portal is celebrating its 18th birthday!” greets Klaus Rosskothen. His gallery in Düsseldorf specialising in urban contemporary art has a Europewide following. “I represent about 10 core artists. I like experimental artists such as Alexis ‘Bust’ Stephens who comes from the banlieues of Paris. He combines dancing and painting in his artistic style. Bust started his artistic journey in urban culture in Parisian street art and the graffiti scene.” This artist’s brush strokes vividly express movement and rhythm through the medium of paint.
“My father took me to about 10 museum shows a year,” Klaus recalls. “I was a graffiti writer and artist in the 80s. I then took an apprenticeship as a photographer and worked in 3D animation. I later worked in marketing but I was always very much into art. I started collecting and buying art in 2000 and opened an early online shop. I then opened Pretty Portal on Brunnenstrasse in Bilk which is an area with nice independent shops and cafés.”
He shares, “The underpass concept at the northern end of Brunnenstrasse running under the S Bahn railway line is of an open air public museum. It was five years in the making from concept to railway company negotiations to planning to funding.” Paintings, drawings and mixed media installations by 10 artists transform this most urban of spaces. ARDIF, Demon, Roman Klonek, LET (Les Enfants Terribles), Theo Lopez, Top Notch, Oliver ‘Magic’ Raeke, SKIO, Alexis ‘Bust’ Stephens and Marc Woehr created art from abstract to figurative.
LET’s artwork on the corner of this outdoor gallery, spells out: “This is your life. Do what you love and do it often. If you don’t like something change it. If you don’t like your job, quit. If you don’t have enough time stop watching TV. If you lookin’ for the love of your life, stop. They will be waiting for you when you start doing things you love. Stop over analysing. All emotions are beautiful. When you appreciate life is simple, open your mind, arms and heart to new things and people. We are united in our differences. Travel often, getting lost will help you find yourself. Life is about the people you meet and the things you create with them. So go out and start creating live your dream and passion. Life is short.”
