Organic patterning that verges on Op Art tumbled with flatly folk outsider aesthetics, commercial diagrammatics and Picasso cut-outs, Spanish artist Alva Moca has a lot going on in his head.

Alva Moca. “Panther Power”. Fundación Contorno Urbano. 12 + 1 l’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona. (photo © Clara Antón)

Seen through a multi-practice lens of graffiti, collage, painting, illustration and advertising, this omnivore is multi-tasking at all times so it’s a surprise to you and probably him when it all comes spilling out on a wall, like this new “Panther Power” mural he’s just finished in Barcelona for the 12 + 1 project.

Mr. Moca says that this time he is thinking about the animal world and about colors as representing aspects of society; red for love and blood, blue for organic life and water, ocher for gold and power, black and white for conformity.

Alva Moca. “Panther Power”. Fundación Contorno Urbano. 12 + 1 l’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona. (photo © Clara Antón)

In his mind there is a Mateo Kigman electronic cumbia playing, and he hopes to impart some of that same hypnotic, shamanic rhythm to his mural.

He says he wants us “to be able to remember that we are tiny in the immensity of the universe; to feel more, to question the visible and invisible of society.”

That all sounds good, but can you dance to it?

Alva Moca. “Panther Power”. Fundación Contorno Urbano. 12 + 1 l’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona. (photo © Clara Antón)

Alva Moca. “Panther Power”. Fundación Contorno Urbano. 12 + 1 l’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona. Photo still from the video.

Alva Moca. “Panther Power”. Fundación Contorno Urbano. 12 + 1 l’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona. (photo © Clara Antón)

Alva Moca is painting as part of Project 12+1 in l’Hospitalet de Llobregat (Barcelona, Spain)

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