Philharmonic Orchestra by Roy Karsky and Paul Watty

Philharmonic Orchestra is a mural by Roy Karsky and Paul Watty, commissioned by the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra. The Orchestra is known for its performances at de Doelen, just a short distance from this wall. The mural is situated on the corner of West-Kruiskade and Diergaardesingel, in the Kruisplein. The architectural firm Meccano designed the building where the painting is.

In the top left corner, you can spot chief conductor Lahav Shani, along with other musicians from the Orchestra. At the top and spanning both sides of the wall (extending beyond the wall’s separation) is the Orchestra logo. The artists had to use mostly brushes and no spray paint. They faced restrictions imposed by the building’s owner, limiting the use of spray cans. During this period, the building faced some maintenance before the execution of the artwork, which highly influenced this decision. Before this mural, another one was placed on this wall; you can learn more about it here. 

About the artist:

Roy Valk, also known as Karski or Karsikione, began to do graffiti in 1986 at only 10 years old after his cousin introduced him to painting with spray cans. He studied graphic design and also at the Academy of Fine Arts in Den Bosch, the Netherlands. Karski is one of the pioneers of the Dutch graffiti and street art scene, experiencing the rise of this art form in the country, which has been growing over the years. He founded the creative agency MooieMuur, which helps commercial and non-commercial parties connect with their community through murals. His advertising background makes him excel in translating a brand’s identity into a street art mural.

Throughout his career, he has engaged in charity projects, including work with orphans in Zimbabwe, where he made his first large-scale mural. Karsky worked with the artist Beyond for years, forming the duo Karsky and Beyond and collaborating on different projects. They started to work together in 2012, and in 2017, they won a prize from the Dutch Street Art Awards for “Best Dutch Mural.”

His trademark style combines a photorealistic approach with abstract elements and graphic design’s influence on his compositions, always using vivid colors.