This facade has an interesting history, as Ben Mathis also explains to me:

The original plan was to design only the first floor. But then the city had completely scaffolded the house and Ben and the residents did not want to miss this opportunity. So a new plan was needed. In the planned design, there was not enough color for the entire facade. With the support of Klaus von Ilusta, an elderly artist who coordinated the cooperation with the cultural office, the SWD and the artists, a slimmed-down version was agreed, which is now shown in different colored pixels. If the internet is to be believed, Mr. von Ilusta still lives at Kiefernstraße 19 and has already helped with the design of houses 1-5. The residents asked for the floating Buddha in return, so to speak, for the fact that the entire facade could now be painted. Ben Mathis actually didn't want it at all, but I think he's managed another great paradox here. A merging of things that don't really belong together. A popular stylistic device of Ben Mathis, which he has acquired in his interesting artistic career.

It is not surprising that the perfectionist Ben Mathis took into account the architectural features of the house, such as the pillars, in his design to attract the public. He prefers to work minimalistically, Ben chatted on the phone. As mentioned above, he likes the paradox, the apparently opposite.  Here the rigid, correct grid, on the other side the floating Buddha, who may stand for a free spirit. The red dots connected the Buddha to the house, grounded it so to speak, so that it would not float unsupported in free space.

According to Ben, such a grid requires relatively little color. He needed 2-3 buckets of primer and 40-50 spray cans for the grid and the Buddha. So this impressive project could be realized with relatively rudimentary means in about 2 weeks. When I asked what pattern one needs for such an event, he explained that the whole thing was quite simple: he used a 70 x 100 cm template. If this were placed accurately, the painting can actually be done quite well in successive work steps.

Again got to know a new technique of street art. I believe that there are 1001 interesting options for facade design and I am excited to see which ones I can get to know next.

Krefeld, June 21