Remi Rough at Blackall studios: abstract-ive

February 16, 2011 Pierrick Senelaer 2 Comments

I have always been sceptical about abstract art, never knowing whether I like it or not. I can enjoy it but can rarely get ecstatic about it. Well Remi Rough and the likes of Augutine Kofie or Jaybo Monk are maybe about to radically change this.

They are (and a few others – find out who here) are members of what is called the urban abstract movement which has for starting point the reshape of letters of the alphabet and their integration into an urban context – find out more here

A exhibition presents us with works from Remi Rough and Steve More but I will here focus on Rough’s stuff and what an amazing display I had in front of my eyes!

Rough’s mix of shapes and forms combined with an excellent choice of colors make his works come alive. The perspective he manages to bring to his compositions seems to give some sort of pace to the whole thing making it anything but boring.

I may be well on track to love this stuff and ask to see more of it.

The show is now over.

PS: You will excuse the so-so quality of the pictures below but I had to use my i-phone that day.

REVIEWS

“The Ugly American” by Saber at The Outsiders

January 9, 2014 Pierrick Senelaer

“The Ugly America” show opening today at The Outsiders is the work of legendary graffiti artist Saber’. The artist spent 8 weeks immersed in the Outsiders Newcastle branch last autumn and created all the works on display in the gallery this time in London.

We stepped in and were hardly wowed by what we were seeing: a series of pale wooden pallets works. We quickly realised that they were all depicting “The Star-Spangled Banner”, understand the American flag.

But then we remembered that “The Ugly American” refers to a multi-million-copy best selling book and 1963 movie, in which Marlon Brando starred, and is all about telling about the dark side of the American foreign policy. I looked again at the pale stuff and could relate now. Off downstairs…

The mood was slightly happier down here and colours from Saber’s pieces smiling at me. The artist’s technique that consists of mixing aerosol art with oil and even charcoal pleased my little eyes.

What – “The Ugly American” by Saber
Where – The Outsiders London | 8 Greek Street, Soho, London W1D 4DG | Monday – Saturday, 11:00AM – 7:00PM
When – Friday 10th of January 2014 to Saturday 15th of February 2014

BLOG, FEATURE

London Art Fair – artists we enjoyed, Guy Allen

January 27, 2016 Pierrick Senelaer

We strolled through the London Art Fair for the fourth consecutive year and as always stumbled upon remarkable artworks from ever so talented artists.

In this series, we will tell you why we liked a particular piece from these artists as well as posting more works. We hope you will also enjoy it as we did.

Feel free to comment too at the end of this article. Let’s get started….
________________

Guy Allen

We stumbled upon the piece called “Horse Study Yellow” – etching, Aquatint with 1 colour screenprint and instantly got drawn to it. We like the contrast in this piece and when artists use 2 or 3 colours. Some may qualify this as minimalist art and this is fair enough. We think a grey on any colour is striking.

About the artist

British printmaker Guy Allen is highly skilled at drawing from the animal world. His limited edition etchings are beautifully detailed, and sometimes include abstract elements. He’s a graduate of Central St Martins who has also studied at École Nationale Supérieure Des Beaux-Arts in Paris.

He has worked with the highly respected Curwen Studios and now works out of London’s Artichoke Studios. Guy’s work has been included in the Royal Academy’s Summer Exhibition and is popular at London’s major art fairs including the Animal Art Fair.

Other works from this artist

Click to enlarge

PRODUCT DESIGN

Best designers toys from New York Comic Con 2012

November 2, 2012 Pierrick Senelaer

New York Comic Con 2012 has just happened and we are bringing you our top 5 favorites toys designs – this event is the East Coast’s biggest and most exciting popular culture convention.

Comics, graphic novels, anime, manga, video games, toys, movies, and television fans are mad about the stuff on display.

New York Comic Con is the second largest pop culture convention in America and the only one that takes place in the comic book, publishing, media, and licensing capital of the world — Gotham City.

Artist: Dai Tran
“Pandit” and “Bitsumo”

Dai Tran’s big-bellied custom action figures “Pandit” and “Bitsumo” — one a sumo wrestler and the other a panda — have a mythic rivalry that plays out on the graphic t-shirts he’s created for complimentary apparel line, as well as in his line of figurines.

Artist: Kaitlin Juarez and Maxwell Yax
“Madknits”

A certain ARTINFO editor (who will remain unnamed) couldn’t resist buying one of these heartbreakingly cuddly monsters herself. Each one is handmade, and comes with a backstory about their assimilation to planet Earth, based on the Madknits comic series.

Artist: Smoko
“Toast USB”

We wish we had the whole set of genius 4 GB toast-shaped USBs for our office. “Butta,” “Ry Ry,” “Crisp,” and “Tato” fit into a toaster hub, which also includes an SD card reader and works with any flash drive.

Artist: Mr. Munk
“Buddha B Pissed”

According to its creator, this trio of Buddha action figures — complete with big block heads and crazy eyes — was sent out into the world to rid it of its evils, absorbing bad energy and repurposing it.

Artist: Pete Fowler/Molvox
“Tribes of Monsterism Island Vol. One”

The natural earth tones used by artist Pete Fowler for his “Molvox” series of devilish tribesman are perfect; details like the felt applique on a textured helmet and the toothy face painted on another figurine’s jacket make his little guys unique finds when bought

Taken from the Blouin Artinfo website, check there for photo credits

CONTEMPORARY ART, IN THE NEWS

Jaybo Monk – I need a dollar

April 12, 2011 Pierrick Senelaer 1 Comment

This is this kind of event which propels creativity to the next level, this is when a collaborative effort becomes Art.

American R&B artist Aloe Blacc, musician and music-maker Mihalj “Miki” Kekenj and artist Jaybo got together and put on a what have been an amazing night at Berlin’s creative space MADE.

Aloe Blacc´s original music was interpreted by Miki and his string-quintet which transformed the soul and funk style of Aloe into classical music compositions. Jaybo got involved and took his inspiration from the lyrics of Aloe’s song “I Need a Dollar”and converted it into his own visual interpreation – one of the best piece of art I have seen so far this year!

Jaybo’s painting was put on dispolay for the first time during the event at MADE where Aloe and Miki’s quintet performed a bunch of aloe’s repertoire. The film below shows this performance and tell us about the project.

Hats off to MADE for pulling such a great show where great talents from different art disciplines get together for everybody’s delight.

i-need-al-dollar-jaybo-monk — I need a dollar by Jaybo Monk

Aloe blacc Jaybo Monk miki at MADE — Aloe Blacc - Jaybo Monk - Miki

GRAFFITI GALLERIES, STREET ART

Ludo, a street artist by nature

April 12, 2011 chasinghosts

LUDO is a French Street Artist who is enjoying enjoyed a very successful first solo show in Zurich at the Starkat Gallery.

LUDO’s style is very particular and his pieces always depict ominous and imaginary plants which always seem to want to grab you as you walk past them. His street art series is actually called Nature’s Revenge which he has been focusing on for the past two years or so. A way perhaps to warn you all about the irreversible force of Dame Nature.

The show is on until the 7/05/2011

LUDO took the opportunity while in Zurich to splash a few of his mighty plants. Photo © Roman @ Starkat Gallery

BLOG, CONTEMPORARY ART, FEATURE

Jota Leal’s Star Wars themed artworks

December 16, 2015 Pierrick Senelaer

Jota Leal was born in a humble little town in eastern Venezuela, in the mid-eighties. He began drawing and painting at a very young age, and never studied fine art. He attempted to sit in class as a child of six, but ran away after being forced to paint plastic fruit and empty bottles.

Jota’s style results in a synergy of remarkable painting skill and a probing sense of the subject’s soul, and often tweaked with a remarkable sense of humor. Leal works with pencil on paper, acrylic on board, and acrylic on canvas to achieve his amazing images.

Jota Leal from Venezuela probes the subconscious, showing that depth can be shown with humor and whimsy. — Juxtapoz Magazine

Jota Leal | Art-Pie — BOBA FETT
Jota captures Star Wars villian, Boba Fett in a classic pose, with exceptional coloring.
This dramatic acrylic on canvas painting measures 20″ x 28″.

Jota Leal — CHEWIE
Chewbacca with some robotic enhancement. What could be the story here? Maybe in the next, next episode in a galaxy far, far away. Beautiful landscape coloration by Jota. 36″ x 24″ Acrylic on canvas.

GRAFFITI

Ceda & Dume: graffiti writers

February 14, 2011 Pierrick Senelaer

Justin Nethercut has put a great video in which he interviews two Baltimore graffiti writers who have been rather busy as of late – Ceda & Dume.

This first film of a monthly video series Justin is going to be directing for them on street art and urban art in Baltimore City.

The photograph below is also awesome and as the video is courtesy of Justin Nethercut!

STREET ART SPOTTER

OsGemeos, Mataone & Smithe x Seher street art

September 24, 2013 Pierrick Senelaer

Part of our 3 street art works series you should see today: OsGemeos, Mataone & Smithe x Seher.

OsGemeos – located in San Francisco (United States)

Mataone – located in Queens, New York (United States)

Smithe x Seher – located in France

PREVIEW

BOILER ROOM – MAKE SESSION 007

February 24, 2013 Pierrick Senelaer

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.

Make Session 007 is invite only, but can be viewed at www.boilerroom.tv/live

WHAT – RED STRIPE® MAKE SESSION 007 BOILER ROOM | 14 Bike Co.
WHEN – 25.02.13 | 19.00-23.00

MUSIC – Steve Braiden, XXXY, Midland and Paul Woolford – Back to Back
EVENT – Live build of five bikes by 14 BIKE CO.

TWITTER – @RedStripeLager (#redstripeboilerroom )
FACEBOOK – www.facebook.com/redstripelagerbeer

Guy Allen

About the artist

Other works from this artist

STREET ART ENCOUNTERS