Can you decipher the message in this artwork?

We're suckers for hidden meanings here at Creative Bloq. So when we find a piece of art with secrets, we tend to get excited. And today's find of an unassuming painting of a door mat ticks all the hidden meaning-related boxes. 

At first glance, PEJAC's painting of a doormat (see above) looks fairly normal with its cliched 'welcome' in a Serif font (you can find plenty of Serifs for your own work in our roundup of the best free fonts) and rough-looking texture. However, look closer and you realise that the design is a painting made up of hundreds, if not thousands, of tiny people (see below). And there's more to it, because the artist says that there's a message behind this door mat made of little humans. 

What does it all mean? Well, according to the Spanish painter, the artwork is "dedicated to all those people that have felt marginalised and stepped over by society". PEJAC has explained that "The multitude of tiny figures that make up this doormat come together to stand for every aspect of the welcome concept".

The heartfelt design was created for the Nuart Festival 2022, which took place last week in Scotland. The theme of the event was to "reconnect the city and its people". And the property the artist chose to use as his canvas is home to a number of people facing social exclusion. 

This piece is very reminiscent of the great Salford painter L.S Lowry's artwork with its tiny 'matchstick' people – also often depicting the marginalised. With its deep meaning and attention to detail, I certainly wouldn't mind if a similar design landed on my doorstep.

PEJAC is a well-established artist with a number of beautiful indoor and outdoor artworks. The artist doesn't just paint though; he uses a range of different mediums to create thought-provoking and original artwork. One of my favourites is 'A tribute to René Magritte' (see below), where PEJAC has carved the silhouettes of Magritte's famous birds into a window, making it look at first glance as though the glass has been smashed.

If you wanted to have a go at painting (on your doorstep or on an actual canvas) then we recommend checking out our roundup of the best art supplies. And if you want to admire some more clever designs for inspiration, you'll love our favourite Trompe l'oiel illusions.

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