The Crystal Q&A — Episode 2: SODA
Italian artist Soda on illusions, architecture, and the curiosity that keeps us looking
The full line-up for the 10th edition of The Crystal Ship has been announced. For this anniversary year, curator Matthias Schoenaerts, working under his artistic name Zenith, brings more than twenty national and international artists to Ostend. His vision is rooted in the three disciplines that shaped him, graffiti, street art, and contemporary painting, and he invites them to meet, clash, and strengthen one another across the city’s walls.
For the second chapter of The Crystal Q&A, we met SODA, an Italian artist based in London whose work bends perception, merges disciplines, and challenges the eye to decode what it sees. With roots in early‑90s graffiti and a background in architecture, design, and sound, SODA creates visual illusions that feel both futuristic and deeply grounded in the traditions of letterform culture.
His mural for this edition fits the theme that continues that exploration, inviting viewers to look twice, and then again, as they unravel the layers of his abstract, volumetric world.
About the artist
SODA’s artistic journey began in 1993 with graffiti, where he focused on 2D lettering before gradually shifting toward volumetric shapes and the interplay of light and shadow. Architecture and design sharpened his sense of structure, while music and sound design became unexpected but essential influences.
“Minimalism and music are my core inspirations… It’s all about visual and sound-based synergy.”
His style blends graffiti, architecture, and contemporary art into a language that feels both precise and otherworldly, a kind of sculptural abstraction that tricks the eye while honoring the roots of letterform culture.
Follow the adventures of Soda on his website & Instagram
“Keep looking.” How did curiosity shape your concept or process for the mural you’re creating in Ostend?
This year’s theme, keep looking, aligns perfectly with SODA’s approach. His work thrives on the viewer’s curiosity, the moment when someone stops, notices something unusual, and begins to decode the illusion.
“I want to catch the attention of a random passer-by, like spotting a UFO in the sky.”
The mural becomes a puzzle, a visual anomaly that invites exploration.
Between graffiti, street art, and painting, where do these worlds meet?
SODA doesn’t see graffiti, architecture, and contemporary art as competing forces. Instead, he merges them intentionally:
Graffiti provides the foundation of letterforms
Architecture informs structure, depth, and spatial logic
Contemporary art opens the door to abstraction and experimentation
The result is a 3D illusion that appeals to both graffiti insiders and viewers unfamiliar with the culture.
“I aim to blend graffiti letters with architecture in a way that almost camouflages them.”
Contributing to a decade of the Crystal Ship
Being part of the festival’s 10th anniversary holds special meaning for SODA.
“To be a piece of the festival’s larger puzzle is a rewarding experience.”
He recognizes the scale of the event and the curatorial effort behind it, seeing his participation as a milestone in his own artistic journey.
What keeps the festival relevant
For SODA, The Crystal Ship remains culturally significant because it evolves with the times. Its open‑minded approach to contemporary art as well to graffiti, its sensitivity to both artists and audiences, and its geographic positioning all contribute to its continued relevance.
“Hard work yields great results… I believe this will resonate with future artists and generations of viewers.”
Working in public space
While public space brings unpredictability, SODA approaches it with preparation and clarity. Weather is the only true variable, everything else is planned with precision.
“Once the preparation is done, the rest of the environment adapts to my work.”
This mindset allows him to execute complex illusions even under challenging conditions.
Cross‑breeding traditions
Zenith’s curatorial vision, blending graffiti, street art, and painting, aligns naturally with SODA’s practice. His architectural abstraction moves freely across traditions, allowing him to create without boundaries.
“This openness lets me think freely and creatively.”
His work becomes a bridge between cultures, disciplines, and audiences.
A democratic encounter
For Schoenaerts, public space is not a backdrop but a necessity. Art belongs in the streets, where anyone can encounter it freely. Guided by the theme “keep looking,” this edition encourages passers-by to pause, return, and experience the city with renewed curiosity. SODA hopes those encounters spark curiosity, reflection, and maybe even a moment of wonder. Whether someone seeks out his mural or stumbles upon it, he wants the experience to feel unexpected.
“My abstract and architectural style already blends naturally with different traditions, so this curatorial approach feels very aligned with my practice. It allows me to think freely, without limitations, knowing that different audiences will interpret the work in their own way.”
On ephemerality
Murals fade. Walls weather. Cities change.
SODA doesn’t mind.
It reflects the natural process of aging. Everything evolves with time, including art. That evolution adds character to the piece.
For him, it’s simply the natural aging of things, a reminder that art, like everything else, evolves with time.
Festivals as cultural bridges
Festivals like The Crystal Ship, he says, are essential. They transform cities into open-air galleries and bring art into daily life. And platforms like Street Art Cities extend that experience, helping people discover works they might otherwise miss. Together, they shape the future of muralism by making it accessible, visible, and part of the urban fabric.
SODA’s mural for The Crystal Ship 2026 is more than an illusion — it’s an invitation.
To pause.
To look again.
To keep looking.
A living archive of The Crystal Ship
As Ostend’s walls continue to evolve, so does the story behind them. All stories remain visible, documented, and accessible to everyone on Street Art Cities.
All new murals from The Crystal Ship’s 10th anniversary edition will be added to Street Art Cities, allowing locals, visitors, and art lovers worldwide to explore the festival’s evolution, discover the stories behind each wall, and revisit the works long after the paint has dried. Download the free Street Art Cities app and join the conversation!
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Such a great artist!