On the stairs leading down to the back of Subtopia’s main building, you will find an artwork by the Belgian street and graffiti artist ROA, in the form of a black and white badger.
Our outdoor gallery was born in 2011 when ROA, in collaboration with the Stockholm-based Scarlett Gallery, was looking for a wall to paint in the Stockholm region. The collaboration with Scarlett Gallery continued and the gallery took shape.
As a teenager in the 80s, American culture and the music scene were a major inspiration for ROA, especially hip-hop. Around the same time, he became interested in street and graffiti art. At that time, the graffiti scene was not established in Belgium, so ROA had the freedom to experiment with different styles and techniques. Eventually, he developed the unique style he is recognized for today.
ROA’s works can be found all over the world, and the motifs are always black and white but sometimes with colorful elements. The animal paintings are a tribute and love letter to nature and all living things that make the Earth a beautiful place. Sometimes they include elements of blood, skeletons, and organs, but the intention is not to scare the viewer but rather to make them think. ROA believes it is humanity’s responsibility to coexist with animals and that their habitat is not so different from ours.