BLOG, FEATURE, STREET ART

Visual Impact – Creative Dissent in the 21th Century

Liz McQuiston‘s new book ‘Visual Impact – Creative Dissent in the 21th Century’, is out now.   It is a richly illustrated exploration on art and design driving major social and political change in the 21st century.

Loads of events, such as Arab Spring, Occupy Wall Street, etc., plus social issues like poverty, equality, gun-control and more, have given rise to what is known as ‘activist’ or ‘protest’ art.

Visual Impact highlights the extraordinary power of art and graphic design to affect social and political change. Generously illustrated with over 400 images, this is a visual guide to the most influential and highly politicized imagery of the digital age.  Read more about the book

To celebrate the book and all dissident artists, we’ve included some famous and striking images below from artists conveying a strong (and often) political message.

Artist: JR

JR | Art-Pie
28 Millimetres: Women Are Heroes by JR, Kenya, 2009. From Visual Impact

Artist: ROA

The Lenticular Rabbit by ROA, London, UK, 2009. Photo by RomanyWG.
The Lenticular Rabbit by ROA, London, UK, 2009. Photo by RomanyWG.

Artist: unknown

From Visual Impact: Creative Dissent in the 21st Century
From Visual Impact: Creative Dissent in the 21st Century

Artist: Princess Hijab

‘Hijabizing’ intervention in the Paris Metro by Princess Hijab, France, 2006-11. From Visual Impact (Phaidon, 2015)
‘Hijabizing’ intervention in the Paris Metro by Princess Hijab, France, 2006-11. From Visual Impact (Phaidon, 2015)

Artist: Blek Le Rat

Stencilled poster of US soldier by French artist Blek le Rat, pasted along the route of anti-war march in Paris, France, 2003. Photo by Sybille Prou. From Visual Impact (Phaidon, 2015)
Stencilled poster of US soldier by French artist Blek le Rat, pasted along the route of anti-war march in Paris, France, 2003. Photo by Sybille Prou. From Visual Impact (Phaidon, 2015)
LISTS, STREET ART

10 Banksy facts – did you know?

He was behind a famous hoax in 2004, where Photoshopped copies of Paris Hilton’s album were distributed in HMV shops.
Banksy | Art-Pie

The same year, he created and distributed fake £10 notes.
Banksy | Art-Pie

This piece was commissioned by Bono when it was a guest editor at The Independent
Banksy | Art-Pie

He has had 6 exhibitions since 2002. These are Existencilism, 2002, LA. Turf War, 2003, London. Barely Legal, LA, 2006. Village Pet Store And Charcoal Grill, 2008, New York. The Cans Festival, 2008 London. Banksy vs Bristol Museum, 2009, Bristol.
Banksy | Art-Pie

The highest ever price for a Banksy work at auction was over £102,000 for his piece “Bombing Middle England”.
Banksy | Art-Pie

He visited New Orleans in August 2008, marking the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. But some of the pieces are now gone. Banksy told Time Out: “In New Orleans I painted on a dilapidated shop in a street littered with abandoned cars and rotting mattresses, then two hours later the piece was gone. It turned out I’d picked the side of a crack house and the proprietor didn’t like the attention.”
Banksy | Art-Pie

He designed the cover of Blur’s Think Tank.
Banksy | Art-Pie

He was nominated for an Oscar for his 2010 documentary Exit Through The Gift Shop.
Banksy | Art-Pie

He illustrated the opening credits to The Simpsons in 2010.
Banksy | Art-Pie

In 2007, a photo purporting to be of Banksy was released.
Banksy | Art-Pie

BLOG, PREVIEW

Press Play, the new show by STATIC at Lawrence Alkin gallery

Opening their 2016 exhibition programme, the Lawrence Alkin Gallery welcomes STATIC to host a solo exhibition presenting their unique layered glass reinterpretations of 8-bit video game graphics.

STATIC | Art-Pie

The show has been born out of the duo’s massively successful Game On! image released early 2015. Press Play reflects on the sub-culture of gaming and how since its inception in the mid-twentieth century it has carved for itself its own sub-culture and global following, which now has far reaching influences. The new work and exhibition also reflects back on how these early graphics have come to influence and inspire contemporary design.

STATIC | Art-Pie

Featuring images from a host of well-known, iconic, games from both arcade machines and early home entertainment systems such as Tetris, Asteroids, Space Invaders, Super Mario & Pac Man, this show promises to start your year with a bang!

REVIEWS

Fibre Femmes at Surfacepop

A all female paste up and stencil show:

for a show that features several artists, the layout of the works in the space felt as though it was seven minds working as one, with each artist using different tools and techniques, we found that all the themes were interlinked.

However, there were definitely pieces that stood out from the rest, this included artists such as Kaffe-eine and Precious little. The space was welcoming and well curated and we will definitely be keeping an eye out for future shows.

Enjoy the pics below and make sure to check out the full photoset here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chasingghosts/sets/72157626821556534

BLOG

So what’s next for the Fourth Plinth?

Thumbs Up by David Shrigley | Art-Pie
Thumbs Up by David Shrigley

If you have been near Trafalgar Square in London, you must have noticed a 7m high sculpture looking like a thumbs up.

This particular pedestal on the square is called the Fourth Plinth and the current artist showing their works is David Shrigley.

So what’s next for the Fourth Plinth?

2018 & 20 shortlists announced

London’s National Gallery has revealed the five shortlisted proposals for the 2018 and 2020 Fourth Plinth commissions by artists Huma Bhabha, Damián Ortega, Heather Phillipson, Michael Rakowitz, and Raqs Media Collective.

The shortlisted proposals, which are currently on show in the National Gallery’s Annenberg Court until 26 March 2017, include an empty white robe, a recreation of a sculpture destroyed by ISIS, and a scoop of parasite-covered ice cream.

Not long now to find out which two works will be selected to finally stand on the plinth in 2018 and 2020.

Shortlisted sculptures in images

“Untitled” by Huma Bhabha
– an imposing figure, the scale reflecting a modern comic sci-fi movie.

Untitled, by Huma Bhabha | Art-Pie
Untitled, by Huma Bhabha

“High Way” by Damián Ortega
– a playful and precarious construction of a truck, oil cans, scaffold and a ladder.

High Way, by Damian Ortega | Art-Pie

“THE END” by Heather Phillipson
– explores the extremes of shared experience, from commemorations and celebrations to mass protests, all while being observed by a drone’s camera.

'THE END' by Heather Phillipson | Art-Pie

“The Invisible Enemy Should Not Exist” by Michael Rakowitz
– a recreation of the Lamassu, a winged bull and protective deity, which was destroyed by ISIS in 2015.

The Invisible Enemy Should Not Exist, by Michael Rakowitz | Art-Pie

“The Emperor’s Old Clothes” by Raqs Media Collective
– explores how power can be both present and absent in sculpture.

The Emperor's Old Clothes, by the Raqs Media Collective | Art-Pie

About the Fourth Plinth

Uncategorized

What Barbie is really up to by Tyler Shields

Having two sisters, Barbie dolls have been in sight most of my childhood and seemed anything but wild individuals. But maybe my sisters had a secret, a can’t tell story about these dolls.

I know there was such a story now thanks to Hollywood Tyler Shield’s collaborative work with Emma Roberts, The Scream 4 star, which gets out there what is really going on in the life of this iconic figure that is Barbie.

I knew she never liked Ken.

See more photos after the jump. Courtesy of Tyler Shields

Bad Barbie by Tyler Shields

Bad Barbie by Tyler Shields

Bad Barbie by Tyler Shields

PREVIEW

Sound & vision by Shepard Fairey at Stolen Space

Sound & Vision by Shepard FaireyLast time Shepard Fairey had a show in London was five years ago and it was already with Stolen Space. In the meantime, the artist enjoyed a ever growing popularity so crowd are expected to pile up at the preview on the 19th October 2012.

This show is entitled Sound & Vision and will see Shepard Fairey collaborates with Z-Trip to supply the soundtrack to the artwork. We are told that the new works will include mixed media paintings on canvas, works on paper, retired stencils collages, rubylith cuts, and as well as serigraphs on wood, metal and paper.

Producer and DJ, Z-Trip has created a soundtrack that is meant to translate musically Shepard Fairey’s art vision. Z-Trip comments “Shepard does visually what I do musically“. A nice touch from the artist : he  provided records from his own collection as well as customised vintage turntables to enable viewer listening. This section of the show is complemented by a display of seventy-two works, which are inspired by the 12 inch LP sleeve cover.

The artist will therefore use both sound and vision to connect with his audience.

Sound & Vision, the exhibition title is taken from the David Bowie song of the same name so we have included the video clip below.

What – Sound & Vision’ By Shepard Fairey
When – 20.10.12 – 04.11.12
Where –  Stolen Space, Dray Walk, The Old Truman Brewery | 91 Brick Lane | London E1 6Q

CONTEMPORARY ART, REVIEWS

Wonderful World, solo show by Gérard Rancinan

Gerard RancinanWhere: Londonewcastle Project Space
When: 7-24 June 2012

Thursday evening I managed to drop by the Londonewcastle space to see first hand the Rancinan show presented by The Future Tense. I  had known about the exhibition for some time and was really keen to visit. I was not disappointed.

Opening from The Future Tense

“Gérard Rancinan is one of the world’s leading contemporary fine art photographers. For the past 7 years, Rancinan, along with writer Caroline Gaudriault, have been developing the ‘Trilogy of the Moderns’ – a revolution in three acts. Pitched somewhere between comedy and tragedy, this vivid photographic tableau and accompanying texts paint a picture of a confused humanity, blindly groping in the darkness, obsessed with fame and guided only by an absolute desire for generalised happiness.”

Gerard Rancinan

Walking through the show I envisioned myself watching the film Donnie Darko and playing out scenes from which include the infamous bunny head. In addition the irony was that I was humming “Mad World” the corresponding score to the film. Batmanesq and cartoon imagery which although perhaps has been included within other contemporary art, I do not feel this is in any way reproduced. It feels new, yet old, fresh yet re-worn and very much engaging.

Gerard Rancinan

The narrative which accompanies the show, actually does not waffle or meander through meaningless meanings, it provides a commentary, which I find sits well with me. This is the first time for many months where the ideals which are being conveyed actually mean something to me. References to a society documenting its own history via social mediums are made and the act of me writing these very words endorse this. In addition the term ‘non places’ and ‘non people’ have been used which when used in conjunction with the virtual Twitter & Facebook world actually have a relevant description of contemporary society.

Gerard Rancinan

The works themselves are comparable to hyper realistic painting, coupled with well staged and well shot content arranged in such a way that just works. The sheer size of the works give an air of importance to them whilst drawing you in to the content. Another perfect fit to the show is that the final piece of work for the series was actually shot in real time at the exhibition using real people attending the show. This for me bridged the gap between aesthetic and interactive art in a way which I hope everyone can appreciate.

Ed Bartlett of The Future Tense said to me that “to fully appreciate the show you must come back” and he is right.The show runs until 24 June 2012. For more information visit: http://londonewcastle.com/arts-programme/events/2012-06-07/wonderful-world

STREET ART ENCOUNTERS