R.I.P Street Artist Philip Cruz Villegas aka El Pun 18.

PUN 18

 

The Puerto Rican Urban Artist Philip Cruz Villegas aka El Pun 18, died around 11:00 pm yesterday, Monday 11 january 2016, in a Puerto Rico Hospital. Cruz Villegas suffered from Crohn’s disease eight years ago.
Born in 1985 in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, El Pun 18’s (Philip Cruz Villegas) art is truly a reflection of his surroundings; bright, colorful, and full of life. As a matter of fact, his graphic design background lends itself to his artwork, with an obvious keen eye for this respective skill throughout his works of art. Additionally, his graphic design background contributes to his graffiti use, another skill that is at the forefront of his works with the incorporation of detailed backgrounds. When looking at El Pun18’s work, the detailed imagery within his art takes you on artistic overdose of sorts, overwhelming your mind with such complex visuals that are placed front and center throughout his murals. Cluttered, colorful images with bright, bold color palettes take you into El Pun 18’s world of scattered thought processes that are thrown onto a mural for you to decipher. He also delves into black and white color schemes to deliver the same intricate shapes, swirls, patterns, and line work that make him recognizable to his audience.
El pun18

pun 18

There are certain images that are repeated throughout El Pun18’s works. For instance, the use of the cat with a slanted eye gives you a sense that no character is left behind in his world of intense, psychedelic imagery. These characters become distorted and exaggerated to enhance the effect of the specific idea he is trying to convey at the time. What’s more, his image use runs the gamut from dark imagery such as skulls to a more happy ElPun18 with the incorporation of beautiful flowers, for example. “Big Bang” is one of El Pun 18’s signature pieces that sets the tone for what he is bringing to the art world: an explosion of ideas and thoughts he skillfully manages to squeeze into his works of art. Ultimately, the variations of images throughout his work lead his audience to believe that there isn’t a set theme to his work, but rather a constant exploration into new concepts and ideas that keep El Pun 18’s work fresh and captivating.

El pun 18, miami                                                           pun-18

His good friend Mario E. Ramirez from tostfilms said: “Every moment that passes is one of learning and assess everything we have, Pun18is. Today is a day to celebrate your life and all the moments I shared with you. Thanks for including me and count on me for all the inventions you had. I will miss him dearly and continue forward like you taught me well. I love you like a brother. Rest in peace.”  I met Pun18 in one of its murals on the street Canals, where Pun created the event of Urban Art “The Canals“. Pun 18’s is sure to take you on a psychedelic art trip, and you’ll love every minute of it.”

R.I.P. EL PUN 18!

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