Looking down as usual when I am on my way to the office, I must have heard them calling on me that day. I looked up that morning. One was proudly sat down on a wooden pillar while another little man and a woman had found refuge in small cavities of what looks like a very depraved wall. But they were all very glad, I spotted them as so many by-passers never do, they told me.
At first I loved them but was also eager to know what the hell these little characters were all about. After a what seemed to me a long chat, I did not know more than before I talked to them. What I knew for sure is that they were over the moon that someone took them out of their boredom by spotting them.
Slightly puzzled by this encounter, I was trying very hard to remember whether I had seen these guys elsewhere when right there in front me, was another little worker but this time amongst the display of some kitchen and bathroom furniture shop on Clerkenwell road. I was stunned and started to believe they were either following me or spreading all around.
I decided to step in the shop and find out once for all…
These little workers are actually part of an advertising campaign to increase awareness about the imminent opening of a new DOMUS shop on Great Sutton street. DOMUS is speacialising in tiles. Representatives have been around shops in Clerkenwell and gave away these little figurines to scatter around willing shopkeepers’ shop windows as well as right on the street nearby the new store.
Whatever this is, street art used in advertising, this is a genius idea and if the guys at DOMUS had in mind to get people to find out and talk about these guys, well they got it right. Look above, I mentioned three times their brand in this blog post and are about to insert a link about their new shop which is about to open. Clap, clap, clap.
Read more about the new DOMUS shop (might be of interest to you, huh?). Find out what they look like with photographs below.
Belgium, the country where Roa is from, must be a far away from what this artists get to travel to. I remember seeing a few years back the first street art pieces from ROA across London and thinking: what this guy does is quite fresh.
Then, when I heard about that show, I thought it is going to be the same shit: wildlife subjects, 2 colour artwork (black and white) on some wooden panels which can be manipulated by viewers to reveal the inside of the depicted animals.
Guess what? Bang on. However, I noticed that the quality of the paintings is sharper and that the artist uses in a bolder way, the red colour to emphasise the inside of his painted animals.
A friend actually sent me a link to that show and when I said to him, ‘You know what, I am sure I have seen it before’, he replied that accomplished artists have a style of their own, a signature and if people like it, and I am sure you are all like it, why change it. He, like of all us, need to fill his pockets with money so if what he does, sell, then be it.
Point made and agreed. Yes I have seen it before but I would fly to New York right after I finished writing up this post just because seeing ROA’s stuff is always enjoyable and fun.
The show runs until the 2nd May 2015.
Lucky enough to live in New-York and actually planning on checking it that show? We would love if you could share your pics and thoughts about it so get in touch today!
What – “Metazoa”, a solo show by ROA Where – “Jonathan Levine gallery, 529 West 20th Street, Gallery I, New York (USA) When – until the 2nd May 2015
We met up earlier today with Tom and Craig, better known at WeLikeStatic to have a sneak peak at their solo show opening tomorrow at Whisper Fine Art on Eastcastle street, London.
The place was buzzing with still “loads to do” but the team was at it and the display was shaping up nicely; this show, I could tell, will be a good one. Portraiture is what this show will try to tackle and we all know that it is rather an hazardous path to take, it does not take long to get it wrong and bore your audience with lifeless portraits, emotionless figures.
WeLikeStatic has managed with this new set of works to actually put the actual character depictation at a second plan and rather draw your attention to the making process of their pieces of art, this is for sure what got me interested here anyway.
“Look at it straight on and it will appear as one dimension work, but do two steps to left (or to the right) and a multi-layered artwork fades in front of your eyes”, giving a complete and unique take to the viewer’s eyes.
Spray paint, acrylic, screen printing, stenciling on layers of glass, Perspex and aluminum, you name it. A rather inpressive bunch of techniques and mediums got into that show which has been in preparation for months, we were told. And the result is something quite unique or in line with a trend I first had contact with when I encountered Adam Neate’s shows at the Elms Letters Painting Rooms: three dimensional art made of 21st century material – Perspex.
We also got a glimpse of the making of the front window display – the now recognizable space woman face. So far it looked like it will be ace. I cannot wait to see the end result tomorrow.
RSVP to Ruth at ruth@whisperfineart.co.uk, who will make you some lovely tea if you get there completely soaking wet, and lose your mind in the layered world of WeLikeStatic art
When – 27-28 Eastcastle Street, London W1W Where – Private view on the 26/04/2012 | Show runs until 26/05/2012
Let’s face it, 10 years ago that post would have not existed because ten years ago, street art, graffiti or urban art, let’s call it that, wasn’t around. I actually need to point out that it was around but not as popular as it is now. Now popular often leads to some sort of fame and wait fort it… money revenue, bucks, big bucks.
I must admit, I wad gobbed smacked when I learnt how much some street artists are actually worth. Kids, I am about to give a very good and valid argument to go up to your parents and defend your case about becoming a vandal or should we call it an ‘urban creative mind’
Here are the 5 money hoovers in the street artosphere…
5. Retna: $5 million +
Real name: Marquis Lewis –aka Retna
Age and residence: 33 year old, L.A (USA)
First show: 2010 that coincided with the New York Fashion week
Last auction fetch: ‘Young Blood’ for USD7500 (Source : http://www.findartinfo.com)
Latest gold mine collaboration: Louis Vuitton scarves series + mural creation on the storefront of the designer’s new location in the Design District of Miami.
4. Mr. Brainwash (or MBA): $10 million
Real name: Thierry Guetta –aka Mr Brainwash
Age and residence: 47 year old, L.A (USA)
First show: 2012 ‘Life is beautiful’. Banksy suggested to Thierry that he should do some graffiti work of his own. Gusto became his trademark and on overnight success followed. Profits exceeded over 1 million at his first show
Last auction fetch: ‘Tomato spray’ for USD6250 (Source : http://www.findartinfo.com)
3. Shepard Fairey: $15 million
Real name: Frank Shepard Fairey – aka Shepard Fairey
Age and residence: 44 year old, Charleston (USA)
First show: or rather what put him on the map – He put together ‘HOPE’ for President Barack Obama‘s campaign for presidency back in 2008. The red and blue poster is now an iconic symbol of the election. (Fairey’s Obama poster now hangs in the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C.)
Latest auction fetch: ‘CHANGE’ for USD2500 (Source : http://www.findartinfo.com)
Latest gold mine enterprise: His ‘Obey’ Andre the Giant images, which became viral online and translated into a clothing line, including t-shirts sold at Urban Outfitters.
2. Banksy: $20 million
Real name: ?? Most of us will know who this guy is even thought and quite remarkably, this artist continues to work under the radar as a faceless enigma. – aka Banksy
Age and residence: 39 year old we think, Bristol most probably
First show: or rather first known large wall mural was “The Mild Mild West” painted in 1997 to cover advertising of a former solicitors’ office on Stokes Croft Avenue, Bristol. It depicts a teddybear lobbing a Molotov cocktail at three riot police.
Latest auction fetch: ‘GOLF SALE’ for USD6144 (Source : http://www.findartinfo.com)
Latest gold mine enterprise: Banksy has published a number of books on his projects and directed two movies, one of which – “Exit Through the Gift Shop” – was nominated for an Academy Award in 2011.
Mild Mild Mild West by Banksy
1. David Choe: $200 million
Real name: David Choe – aka David Choe – real, no bullshit stage name
Age and residence: 37 year old, L.A (USA)
Latest auction fetch: ‘JIMMI’ for USD200 (Source : http://www.findartinfo.com)
Latest gold mine enterprise: Since he was approached back in 2005 by a small social media start-up by the name of Facebook, his life had changed and the bucks started pilling up. The president at the time, Sean Parker, was a fan of the artist and commissioned him for a series of murals for their office headquarters. What Choe delivered was his blend of frenetic style of abstraction, urban landscapes and sexuality. While Parker indicated it took a bit of time to get used to the distraction of the walls, Choe was presented with two options of payment; cash, or stocks. He went for the latter and damn his high-risk venture has paid off…
So there we had it – the 23rd London art fair, the biggest yet with a remarkable 24 ooo+ visitors this year. It has proven to me that this event is the place or one of the best places to discover, see or enjoy the best of modern and contemporary British art.
Over 120 galleries exhibited this year, a decent number but still lagging behind its big sister, the Frieze art fair, with its 170+ galleries but the two events should maybe not be compared as the Frieze fair is an international fair while the London art fair focusing on British art.
Another noticeable thing was that this year again, London based galleries made the bulk of the exhibitors with 80%. Painting and sculpture were also again the two main types of arts that could be seen but this is what the London Art Fair (LAF) has been about for a while now. The regular visitor will know this, the newbies not necessarily.
Selected works from the fair below.
William Martyr
Acrylics on canvas | Tag Fine Arts
Paul wright
Oil on canvas | Thompson gallery
John Hoylan
Acrylics on cotton duck | Beaux Arts London
Andrea Mastrovito
Cut paper collage and aniline dye on paper | Foley gallery
Dominic Shepperd
Oil on canvas | Charlie Smith
Marilene Oliver
Laser prints on card, red ink, bonded nylon and seed beads | Beaux Arts London
The much hyped Leonardo Da Vinci exhibition opens at the National Gallery from today with a seven room exhibition. The display is ideal for those who adore the technicality of the line and the workings of an artist , with many drawings and paintings by Leonardo and his pupils on display.
Its build up has been felt for many months, ever since its advance booking opened in May 2011 – a long seven months before its actual opening day.
With its future opening date released then came the capped visitor numbers announcement, with the gallery saying it would restrict visitors due to an, ‘unprecedented demand’. Today (9 November) The Evening Standard has reported how the tickets have sold out until mid-December. The pressure for this display to deliver to its global audience is immense.
The exhibition brings together an impressive collection of international loans never before seen in the UK, from the Queen, America, Poland, France, Scotland and from Art Fund acquisitions.
One difference with this exhibition from others is it the first to be dedicated to Leonardo’s aims and techniques as a painter. Don’t expect reams of glorious huge paintings, though there are a few pretty ladies, curly haired men and angels.
The whole display focuses on Leonardo as an artist, his technical skills and his teaching skills, showing how his works were often finished or copied by his pupils, and in some cases edited. In particular it concentrates on the work he produced as court painter to Duke Lodovico Sforza, in Milan in the late 1480s and 1490s.
As well as finished pieces, each room is peppered with Leonardo’s preparatory and experimental sketches.
The final part of the exhibition, a few mintues walk away in the Sunley Room features a near-contemporary, full-scale copy of Leonardo’s famous ‘Last Supper’, on loan from the Royal Academy. Seen alongside all the surviving preparatory drawings made by Leonardo for the ‘Last Supper’ it makes for an interesting viewing, but seems rather ‘tagged’ on to the exhibition.
Pieces to stop by:
The Musician (1486-7) Room 1 – An unfinished portrait demonstrating Leonardo’s skill in positioning of the face creating a life like portrait with depth.
Portrait of Bianca Maria Sforza (1493) Room 2 – Get your fill of opulence with this lavish picture showing a traditional Milanese style dress, with Leonardo’s profile technique on full view.
The Lady with an Ermine (1498-90) Room 2 – This piece is centre stage of the room and shows off Leonardo’s portraiture and colour skills. The lady almost leaps out of the canvas due to her 3/4 turned pose and the black back background, giving her a 3D quality that soon become sort after by Leonardo’s pupils.
Studies of the Nervous System (1485-8) and Studies of the Human Skull (1489) Room 3 – This is one of many anatomical studies in this room, and they took my breath away. He’s used hints of shadow and light to depict tiny features of the human body. The skull looks perfect in minature form and these observations were no doubt the ground work for his future paintings, making figures seem as real as possible. It astounds me how these delicate sketches are over 500 years old.
The Virgin of the Rocks (1493) Louvre and Virgin of the Rocks (1491/2-9 and 1506-9) National Gallery Room 4 – These pieces are obviously the focal point for this room and essentially a key point for the exhibition. They are on show together for the first time and are intended to show Leonardo’s difference in style and views of painting and art. The earlier piece is very rich in colour and could easily fit into a church altar piece. The second is restrictive in its colour palette and the figures are more sculptural with a porcelain quality.
The Burlington Cartoon ( 1499-1500) Room 6 – This lively large piece in charcoal seems to move as you move around it. The unfinished aspect of the piece almost makes it work more, it stands out in this room. The figures are fluid and contemporary, it’s a break away and step up from Leonardo’s meticulous anatomical studies.
Room 7 in the Sunley room has a handy time line of Leonardo’s artistic career, with significant events and works. This would of been suited to have at the beginning of the exhibition, putting this display into context even more, especially for those less familiar with his pieces. The room feels tagged on, an afterthought. It’s interesting to see the workings that may have gone into this work, and then the copy of the Last Supper is astonishing to see in its grand scale.
Head along to this exhibition for a peek into Leonardo Da Vinci’s undoubted skill as a technical drawer and creater of astonishing life like works, which capture humanity and idealised beauty in all its forms. He perhaps saw himself as a creator and observer of humanity, what’s key from the exhibition is that he was always striving for improving his skills and thankfully we get to see these still today in this exhibition.
‘If the painter wishes to see beauties that enamour him, he is the master of their production, and if he wishes to see monsterous things.. he is their lord and god.’
The exhibition is open now: 09 Nov 2011 – 05 Feb 2012 Mon – Thu, Sat, Sun 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM; Fri 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM Closed Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, Christmas Day.
Slinkachu takes figures from miniature train sets and painstakingly modifies them so that they can be used as part of his almost invisible world.
He creates comical, satirical and sometimes slightly dark scenes with these figures, places them all over the world, shoots them with spectacular quality and then leaves them to become part of the scenery.
The first of this series was “the little people project” the photos were formed into a lovely little hard cover book produced in 2008. I purchased a copy of it and was suitably impressed with the content and quality of print.
This left us very excited for the new show “Concrete ocean”, hosted by the Andipa Gallery in South Kensington. It had been two years since Slinkachu hosted a show in London and when it comes to most artists after such a period of time you would expect to see significant progression in their body of work. This however was not the case with the Slinkachu show, but it really didn’t matter. The gallery was laid out with huge high quality prints showing the detail of the characters and the photographs almost bring them to life. The large prints were accompanied by very small location shots to show you just how much they disappear into their surroundings.
Andipa Gallery is a large space located in a very upper class area, totally different to the Hackney / Shoreditch spaces we are used to attending, yet it seem more than suitable for this body of work, it was extremely well organised and the 3d installations were well spaced so you could appreciate the minute detail.
It would come as a surprise to us if this show did not make you smile, laugh and sometimes feel just that little bit sad.
Check out our huge collection of shots from the evening here:
Artists pushing the boundaries or going the extra mile are always worth talking about so meet Korean artist JeeYoung Lee who put together crazy dream-like worlds that she then use them as a back drop for her imaginative self-portrait photos.
The artist builds all this in a 10-by-20-foot studio and we heat that some constructions can take months! you can catch a glimpse of her portraits at the Opiom Gallery in Opio, France, February 7 to March 7, 2014.
At first I loved them but was also eager to know what the hell these little characters were all about. After a what seemed to me a long chat, I did not know more than before I talked to them. What I knew for sure is that they were over the moon that someone took them out of their boredom by spotting them.
We met up earlier today with Tom and Craig, better known at 
The much hyped Leonardo Da Vinci exhibition opens at the 
