A Girl and a Cat Jumping on a Mattress

Marek ‘Looney’ Rybowski’s mural was created in 2015 on Szara Street on his own initiative: the artist selected a wall that intrigued him and decided to add more life into the area.

Dimensions: ca. 6 m × 4 m

Object: The mural is located on the gable wall of a building, easily visible to viewers. The composition is dynamic, built around two parallel diagonals running from the upper left corner of the wall to its lower right corner. The mural depicts a red-haired girl playing with a grey cat. The energy of the scene is conveyed through the girl’s flowing hair, her arched pose, and the cat’s movement. Together, they jump over a skipping rope. A ball is also visible, and beneath them is a mattress that allows them to bounce freely. The piece is cheerful and dynamic; upon its unveiling, it became a local attraction and has often been featured in the media.

Location: The building wall on Szara Street is visible from the street, the tram, and nearby stops. In the artist’s own words: ‘I often passed by this wall, and for some reason, I couldn’t get it out of my head – I knew I had to paint it. I started going door-to-door among the residents, asking for permission. At first, they were wary, but once I explained the idea in detail, they warmed up to the concept of a mural. I roughly said that I wanted to paint something cheerful for Szara Street. Signatures were collected, and after a few months, I finally received approval from the housing cooperative. Painting the mural took several days, and the whole courtyard cheered me on. The atmosphere was very positive’. Unfortunately, the wall is made of poor-quality plaster, which is peeling off in several places, causing the mural to deteriorate and require conservation.

Information about the author: Marek ‘Looney’ Rybowski (b. 1977) has been active since 1995. Alongside Tuse, he is one of the most recognisable graffiti artists in the Tricity area. He co-founded DSC, the first graffiti artist group in the region, and was also a member of the legendary EWC crew. He graduated from the Faculty of Painting and Graphics at the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk in 2008. Rybowski creates works on walls and canvases, using spray paint, stencils, and brushes. His murals and paintings are full of colour, energy, and joy, often depicting children, animals, and older people. His works have been exhibited in solo and group shows in Poland and abroad and are frequently featured in art magazines. Rybowski has participated in many artistic events, graffiti festivals, and street art projects. His pseudonym comes from the animated Looney Tunes series, popular in the 1980s and 1990s.

Condition of the object: damaged

Owner/guardian: Nasza Wspólnota

Author of the entry: Oriana Radziuk