Strap on tight and take a ride on the wild side with Johnny Romeo’s rollicking homage to living dangerously, Gritty Rider. Brimming with bold, striking colours, the painting depicts a gritty jaguar-panther hybrid baring his teeth ferociously while donning a vintage motorcycle helmet. The artwork channels the spirit of vintage bikers, and the free-wheeling defiance of the classic 1969 motorcycle film ‘Easy Rider’ with its teen-rebel anthem, Steppenwolf’s ‘Born to be Wild’. References to ‘Easy Rider’ are cleverly interwoven with the lion-hearted spirit of the wild biker cat though the artwork’s brazen title Gritty Rider, a perfect encapsulation of the bravery, courage, and determination of the cat. Within the context of the work, the wild cat represents the inner beast that lives within each of us who encourages us to push the limits and live life on the edge. Romeo expresses this sentiment by transforming the text passage ‘Grumble Ready’ into the powerful declaration ‘Rumble Ready’. With its allusions to street fights and Muhammed Ali’s ‘Rumble in the Jungle’, the phrase is a call to action that beckons the viewer to leave their grumbling days behind them and embrace a lightning-like readiness to tackle life head-on. Like the wild cat, we should heed the thunderous roar of our inner beast, strap on our helmet and embark on a journey of self-discovery with unwavering resolve.
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