This artwork was inspired by the western swamphen, also known as the "sultana bird," one of the only birds not consumed by the Romans, being regarded as a noble bird that was cared for and kept as a pet. The fire portrays both the destruction as well as the resurrection of the city following the eruption in 79 AD. The pearls in the bird's beak depicts a detail from an ancient mosaic discovered in Pompeii's House of the Faun. As an added detail, we can observe the necklace, which symbolises a link to the ancient missing “Musica”, an indigenous culture in Colombia, the artist's native country. 
 

Julian Santamaria, known as Santa Gross, is a Colombian illustrator and street artist. He's been working on illustration and painting on the streets for over 7 years. He has a distinctive style derived from the use of flat colors that create volumes enriched by contrasting shades and a halftone texture similar to screen printing which, combined with his illustration and compositional skills, achieves a particular style of muralism on large formats. Santa has created murals for both private commissions as well as well-known brands.