Rebecca Đuran-Šilėnas (b. 1991), known as Bekki, is a Croatian artist whose contemporary approach showcases a distinct interplay between vibrant colour and deconstructed space. In her striking paintings, she takes on the role of a conductor, bringing together elements of beauty, impulse, and modern aesthetics to create a vivid celebration of colour. Her works reflect a continuous investigation into the interplay between structure and spontaneity across the painted surface.
Bekki’s method blends expressive colour spots with graphic and linear details, producing dynamic contrasts that still preserve a sense of openness. She deftly alternates between broad, sweeping gestures and meticulous details, achieving a nuanced balance of control and freedom within her paintings. Although she primarily uses acrylics, Rebecca seeks to replicate the fluidity and translucency typical of watercolour, resulting in canvases with a light, airy effect.
Rebecca’s paintings are infused with an unmistakable sense of movement and compositional vitality, inviting viewers to interact with both the images themselves and the spaces that surround them. She intentionally leaves aspects open to interpretation—her suggestive titles provide clues rather than clear answers, fostering an ongoing dialogue in which each viewer contributes to the artwork’s evolving significance.
Rebecca Đuran-Šilėnas earned her Master’s degrees from both the Academy of Fine Arts in Rijeka, Croatia, and the Vilnius Academy of Fine Arts. Her work has appeared in group exhibitions in Croatia and abroad, allowing her to establish herself in various artistic settings. Since 2017, she has resided in Vilnius, Lithuania, where she continues to expand her artistic vision.
About this artwork+
The painting presents a vivid, abstract landscape dominated by a serene expanse of sky and water. In the upper section, a series of horizontal stripes in varying shades of blue creates a calm, oceanic atmosphere, interjected by a vibrant yellow sun that sits partially obscured at the horizon line. Below, the water reflects a lighter shade of blue, evoking the stillness of a quiet sea. A large, irregular yellow blot, reminiscent of a landmass or perhaps a sunlit reflection, dominates the central portion of the canvas, adding a dynamic contrast to the linear simplicity of the upper half. Splatters and flecks of black, white, and pastels sporadically dot the periphery, injecting a playful, spontaneous energy into the piece, while a faint sketch of a bird in the bottom right corner adds a delicate touch of life to the otherwise abstract composition.
