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+
In the painting titled "River" by Rebecca Đuran Šilėnas, the artwork features a visually striking combination of colors and forms on a primarily pastel backdrop. At the center, a bold blot of deep blue ink, resembling the silhouette of a bird in mid-flight, dominates a large pink square, contributing a sense of dynamic motion. This central image is surrounded by smaller, abstract elements: speckles, dots, and brushstrokes in black, pink, blue, and yellow hues scattered across the canvas, adding a playful, almost confetti-like quality to the scene. Gently sketched leaves or feathers in gray tones drift near the edges, enhancing the effect of airiness and movement. A vibrant, colorful bar with small squares of different colors stretches above the central figure, possibly suggesting a measure of or balance within the chaotic spread of shapes and hues around it. The overall composition conveys a sense of freedom and fluidity, much like a river itself, unbound and sprawling, richly layered with textures and tones that draw the eye across and around the canvas.
