A plastic bottle of a drink that is 50% cheaper than Coca-Cola, an orange from a public school lunch, the image of Jesus, perched in house windows for good luck—the objects in the work of Argentinian artist Nicolás Romero aka “Ever” are symbols displaying the coexistence of different economic and cultural factors. He begins his pieces as “anthropological investigations”, plucking traces of social life and bringing them together. The objects signal human absence, but also (in contradiction), fully represent the human being. 

Ever’s vibrant scenes exhibit modern life in its mundane, routine consumerism and beliefs. At some level, they do not seem to say a lot. But when seen on huge walls, they appear oddly entertaining, also educational, like documents of sociological study for future generations.

“My areas of exploration can change and are nourished daily by the artistic experience itself,” writes the artist. “The conclusions always lead to the public space, which has been the focus of my research because of its boundary between the collective and the individual and the possibility for the convergence of different social sectors. The intervention of art within a systematised context governed by other rules and consequences is essential for the construction of my individual thought.”

Born in 1985, Ever began his career as a graffiti writer on the streets of Buenos Aires in the 90s. His style developed almost accidentally as he began painting portraits of ex-lovers and his brother. He found that the result of this was to give importance to the inconsequential, that the anonymous faces he was painting were imbued with an unintentional gravitas by the viewer. His philosophy was, and still is, that graffiti is a point of connection for people. His formation began in the year 1999 in painting and drawing with Ariel Olivetti (1999/2000). During 2007-2008, he studied at Centro Cultural Rojas. He is currently studying with the artist Diana Aisenberg.

In addition to themes of contradiction and everyday life, Ever frequently explores heavier matters of religion and politics in his murals. He is fascinated by the human body and uses this as an artistic vehicle, combining portraits or figurative studies with social criticisms.

Based in Buenos Aires, Ever has participated in several exhibitions, residencies and festivals, including Art Basel (Miami), Mammut Project (Mexico City), Public Festival (Perth), Lazarides Gallery (London) and the Inoperable Art Gallery Mural Project (Vienna). He was selected for Facebook’s artist programme in 2014.

Links: Website (eversiempre.com) | Instagram (www.instagram.com/eversiempre)