We arrived in Zurich to find that the centre of town, near where we are staying is insanely upper class. Ferrari’s and Bentleys cruising the streets typically driven by what looked like teenage boys and the main streets lined with cafe’s filled with people wearing Gucci sunglasses laughing and sipping their cocktails.
It was not something that we were expecting and thought that it was extremely superficial, until we ventured of the beaten track in search of Starkart gallery that was hosting the LUDO solo show.
The neighbourhood that Starkart is located in is very culturally diverse and much more down to earth.
Starkart is one of the most understated spaces we have come across, set inside an old residence turned commercial space that gives no impression of what is happening behind the scenes.
The Ludo show is set over multiple rooms on two levels, it is a minimalistic show, with the works widely spread out to make use of the vast space provided.
The ground floor displays originals from his “nature’s revenge” series and the basement features two video installations of his work processes, from creation to installation on the street.
It really felt like urban exploration venturing into this show, moving from room to room, some brightly lit and others very dark with the sound of what seemed like a old French record echoing from the basement.
I could not sound more hipster than saying – “I am going to the latest instalment of the Boiler Room Make Sessions, the world’s leading underground music show, where there will be some Red Stripe to drink at will. The whole thing is Hackney and 14 Bike Co will build five bespoke Red Stripe inspired fixed-gear bikes – live.”
I have not made this up. It is happening tomorrow and I am going to such a thing. I am actually looking forward to it as I have heard from Boiler Room and it has rather been a positive feedback.
Added to the bike sort of live workshops, the tunes should be banging.DJs Steve Braiden, XXXY, Midland and Paul Woolford are there for that and will play the decks back to back.
We will report back on here after the event but if you cannot wait that long, why don’t you logon tomorrow from 7 and check out the live streaming of the event- address below.
We at Art-Pie have enjoyed following the work of contemporary British Artist Dave White for many years. We are drawn to the energy of his explosive and dripping paint style, and moved by his primary subject matter of animals.
This November 4th – 28th sees Dave’s new show Critical open at the Loughran Gallery in Chelsea. Focusing on animals from the critically endangered list and near extinction, or the tiers just below, it’s the labor of an artist impassioned by the plight of animals.
The Art-Pie team had the pleasure of interviewing Dave this past September at his studio in Dorset, exactly half-way through the creation of his new collection.
Dorset in South West England is a landscape dominated by spectacular nature, and it is breathtaking. We toured his studio, conducted a very insightful interview, and saw prints from several past collections, including his recent shows Albion based on native English wildlife, and Apex which documents great white sharks.
“I love cities…. I am in London all the time but I can’t live there. I love Dorset. There’s a tranquility, a complete silence that just works for me. [It’s a] headspace that ….almost cements the 1:1 relationship you have with the medium that you work with…there’s no distraction for me. It’s just me, and that.”
We too felt the strength and power of the natural surroundings, and in learning more about Dave’s formal background as an artist, came to understand how it shaped the progression of his career. Dave graduated with a BA (Hons) in Fine Art (Painting) from Liverpool John Moores University, and was “blessed” as he describes, to be a working artist since his first show in ‘94 at the Royal College of Arts, which was his initial animal series.
Some of Dave’s pieces for his next show ‘Critical’ at Loughran gallery
Dave is an experienced artist of 24 years who knows himself, but has incredible humility.
“You never ever stop learning. And the most important thing is, never ever ever ever give up, ever. The best advice I can give people is discover yourself. Don’t look at anybody else’s work. Just know in your heart and soul that you want to make something. [It’s ok to be influenced] Don’t become obsessed with other people’s work. Do your own thing. Do what makes you happy.”
Our drive to Dorset from London was stunning as we enjoyed the beautiful winding country roads, rolling hills with stunning coastlines, and multiple stops into the medieval ruins of several castles and churches. It was impossible to not feel the power of his environment, and the nature evidenced in his work. He told us his passion for animals comes from childhood, and how he still views them in awe with the “…same wonderment from being a child, amazed that we live in the same world.”
Dave describes his interaction with the wild animals in Dorset as “…blessed and lucky that I see almost daily stags, foxes, owls”. That influenced him to create his Albion series which focused on native English species, and really cemented his incredible affinity for animals. The more research he did, the more his passion grew, as he realized so many of these animals are being pushed to brinks of extinction. He described his shock at headlines touting articles like “40 Million Mobile Phones Sold in the Last Quarter”, while the demise of entire species attracts so little attention.
Dave White talking to us in his studio
The depiction of animals has been a near constant throughout Dave’s career, allowing him witness to the forefront of their sad demise. So many factors have contributed but the crux is modern times; Dave cites climate change, habitat destruction, and hunting amongst others. While maybe not intentional, Dave’s work has come to immortalize these animals. Brave use of color, eyes that jump off the canvas and grab the viewer, it all comes together to heighten their heartbreaking destiny. Dave’s shows such as Natural Selection, Apex, Albion, and now his greatest effort yet Critical, raise this awareness.
Dave White is also a big fan of video games
While Dave described how the peace and inspiring nature of Dorset allows him to connect with his craft, he admits “I would never paint in silence”.
Dave told us excitedly that he enjoys an eclectic variety including Jazz (his father was a jazz drummer), finds himself stuck in an old-school time warp of ‘91 – ‘02 hip hop, and loves ‘93 – ‘07 jungle, and drum and bass.
However more than any other style, it seems Dave is moved to his core by classical music which he feels “approaches perfect“, describing the extreme volume as he would “...blow my head off in here, playing Appalachian Spring by Leonard Bernstein”.
Dave approaches his painting as a serious craft and a consummate professional. He told us multiple times, “You’re only as good as your last piece.” Arriving at his studio by 7am, he fully prepares himself before he starts the work. Does the sketch, lays underpaints, mixes his colors. But then he loses himself in a zone he likens to a meditative state. He locks the door, he is completely unattached to thought, and that is how he produces, “….its an organic process”.
“I don’t actually think about painting when I’m painting, at all. ….I just basically know I need to do this, and do that, and how I get to the end I have no idea. I just go into a zone, ….it’s just a spontaneous thing. And I guess the older I’ve got, the more personal it it for me.”
We were curious about his inspirations, about the artists he admires and why. Japanese artist Takashi Murakami was his first mention, describing “I love his color, love his palette. When I saw them in the flesh, it literally blew my mind. …It’s an incredible skill to be able to put down what he does, the way he does… and it looks almost like it’s a print.”
We discussed Murakami’s long-standing collaboration with Louis Vuitton, and Dave described the partnership as “incredibly brave on both sides. Collaborations work if they’re genuine, if they aren’t one-sided and they are the best of both”. Dave speaks from experience as he has past collaborations with Nike and Jordan, as well as MTV.
Dave went on to describe his greatest admiration for Van Gogh, “A man who did it his way, tried to fit in with convention, but said you know what, fuck it. I’m just going to do what I do, and I’m so blessed to be able to do it.” Dave revealed his personal affinity for that, and how he’s read his diaries and is “…completely blown away by him”.
Dave described his second favourite artist to be Picasso:
“A man who reinvented himself throughout his career. The best work is that he did before he died, when he’s 80 years old. ‘I live in a castle. I’ve got a pet owl living above me. And I’m just going to paint and really not care what it looks like.’ There’s a life, and a zest, and a kind of beauty in the naivete of those late works, and I love it.”
Animals continue to shape Dave’s career as he explores different collections over the years, but always with his signature style of explosive and expressive colors, vibrant and dripping. The plight of animals and their march to extinction upsets him greatly, and his style conveys the strength of that conviction, “I want people to be confronted by these things, and look at them as they are looking at it”.
We support Dave and his artwork, and the message it drives to raise awareness for so many animals at risk. Dave offered much wisdom during his interview and we came to understand the heart and soul depicted through his paintings is very much his own. In parting wisdom, we leave you with this from Dave:
“Do your own thing. Do what makes you happy. Never ever give up. It’s not quick and there’s no formula. Produce things that are honest, true to yourself. High quality. Make the best shit you can. Do what is yourself, be yourself.”
You can find Critical running this November 4th – 28th at the Loughran Gallery in Chelsea.
What – ‘Critical’ Where – Loughran gallery, 43 Cadogan Gardens SW3 2TB When – 4 to 28/11/ 2015
The Summer Season application received many exciting interpretations on the true values of Havana and the final winner was LXOne. See the finished Wall at Rich Mix (or the photo below) from now until August and enter for the final Wall Project to showcase your art between August and October
From LXOne: “I’ve used shapes and symbols that refers to my work and interpreted the brief using colour and movement. Orange is for the sun, red is for the passion and yellow is for the happiness – all characteristics I see in Cuban humanity. The geometrical patterns convey both accurateness but also spontaneity with my use of the arrow. The value of creativity can be seen in the finished product from submission to completing my work and†the whole creative process been something I have hugely enjoyed having the opportunity to do”
Entries for the final wall are submitted by e-mail to visualarts@richmix.org.uk, a selection will be posted on the Havana Club UK and Rich Mix facebook page to invite public feedback.
Entries must be submitted by:
Friday 5th August – with the winning wall design on show from August to October 2011
For further enquiries please contact Manuel Suarez manu@theneonhub.com or 0207 460 5359
The guys over at END OF THE LINE were commissioned by Konami to paint three enormous murals across the UK for the release of their new game Metal Gear Rising : Revengance. They painted the sides of buildings in London, Liverpool and Leeds with original artwork by Yoji Shinkawa.
Photograph of the London piece and footage are included below. The video is just a must-watch!
We need transportation for the players of the 2014 World Cup football, don’t we? How about a mean that will definitely stand out of the crowd and make us the coolest football team out there?
Well, as if the Brazilian team needed to become even cooler, they actually did. Their team’s airplane for the World Cup follows the street art theme that Brazil authorities have been using to get the word out there. They asked street artists Os Gêmeos to come up with some ideas and give their plane a face lift.
The result, an unmissable aircraft which took over 1,200 cans of spray paint to be done.
We have all seen these handwritten flyers taped on bus stops or telegraph poles and for most of them if not all of them, they look rather boring and plain, aren’t they? This is what the New York designers at Cardon Copy must have thought and decided to do something about this.
This involves ‘high jacking’ these infamous fliers and give them a full make over in order to over powering their message with a new visual language. They are then stick back up where they were first snatched.
The Outsiders is proud to present I Dont Care About My Face, the first UK solo exhibition by the artist Woozy. Downstairs in The Dungeon, Woozy will exhibit a colourful showcase of his most recent canvases, works on metal and paper.
Originating from Athens Greece, Woozy is renowned for his large-scale murals and outdoor wall paintings that have graced the international urban landscape. Collaborating with a wide network of street artists most notably Os Gemeos, he has travelled his utopian vision across Europe into China and down to Brazil. Whilst maintaining his passion for painting the outdoors, Woozy has now after 20 years turned his focus inside to brightening gallery walls.
Woozys latest series of work retains his signature minimal, yet colorful forms interweaving
an array of diverse materials, styles and techniques. Transcending the limitations of a specific setting or known face, the characters in his paintings are those who journey through space and time embracing a sense of universal beauty found in the abstract.
Texture, light and colour are the Woozys means for the collective expression of freedom.
From the artist on the subject of his forthcoming show: There is a moment, an instant, an incident, a point of contact where the mind pauses. Painting is an action and the action of a painter is a scream. Society has no face. Its the echo of voices, the scent of life. Colors are the expression of movements in the light. When one looks behind his shoulder, everything will fade away, flames will burn out and the bombs will take away the veil from the eyes of those who have lost their freedom.
When: 18th March – 9th April 2011 Where: The Outsiders, 8 Greek Street, W1D 4DG | Monday – Saturday 11am – 7pm, free entry
I am now back from Barcelona where I had the chance to enjoy a warm winter sun, delicious tapas but also and above all eye-catching graffiti.
You can see quite a few scattered around the city and especially in the main avenues of the city but head down to the port, look for the maritime museum and you will definitely spot the Jardins de Walter Benjamin, a very formal name for what is a hotspot for so-called underground activity: graffiti.
A selection of best shots is below as well as a map where this spot is located.
I could not sound more hipster than saying – “I am going to the latest instalment of the Boiler Room Make Sessions, the world’s leading underground music show, where there will be some Red Stripe to drink at will. The whole thing is Hackney and 14 Bike Co will build five bespoke Red Stripe inspired fixed-gear bikes – live.”
We were curious about his inspirations, about the artists he admires and why. Japanese artist 
