Nikolajs Kedo «Raudupiete» bas-relief

2024

Length: 52 cm

Width: 82.4 cm

Plaster

Nikolajs Kedo is an artist whose work spans two main directions: street art and gallery art. For his gallery and exhibition pieces, Kedo uses a unique technique he refers to as the “plaster pencil.”

This technique begins with a minimalist sketch created with a pencil on a small piece of paper, around 9x9 cm. The sketch features clear lines with no shading or volume. The sketch is then scanned and printed in a larger format. Kedo transfers the lines precisely onto modeling clay, where he molds the sculpture while maintaining the accuracy of the initial lines. Once the modeling is completed, he creates a silicone mold and casts the sculpture in plaster. The technique is called “plaster pencil” because the pencil lines are replicated in the plaster relief, even retaining unfinished elements typical of a pencil sketch. This method helps Kedo avoid unnecessary details, emphasizing overall composition—highlighting poses, silhouettes, and figures, rather than focusing on facial expressions or fine features. If the piece is a portrait, the viewer should feel the emotions and character through the pose, conveying human experiences through lines.

In around 2022-2023, Kedo began to explore street art, incorporating reliefs into this style. He shifted from plaster to concrete and replaced the wire with a two-component adhesive. The works in this style, typically around 24x20 cm, capture vibrant, unforgettable figures, often linked to the significance of their location. Kedo has installed around ten of his works in Riga—some with prior approval, and others without it.