BLOG, FEATURE

London Art Fair – artists we enjoyed, Doyle & Mallinson

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….

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Shaun Doyle & Mally Mallinson

We stumbled upon the piece called “Sumo Ergo Sum(I shop therefore I am)” – cast bronze, edition of 9, H 42.5 x W 45 x D 56cm.

Doyle & Mallinson | Art-Pie
Click to enlarge

The skeleton sculpture, like any other ones to be honest, tickled our eyes right away.

Looking at the skull face expression, it was clear to us that it conveys a strong social message which was confirmed after reading up about the artists – keep on reading below.

About the artists

Our work deals with political and social thought. The forms we use to articulate our ideas often come from popular culture or are second hand, borrowed from another source. The way we put things together is witty, cheeky and aggressive; it mirrors the way we talk to each other. Context within our work is deliberately inconsistent. That inconsistency is our attempt to accommodate the messiness of the real world and allows different audiences different readings.

The lived-in, shabby aesthetic employed reflects the environments that excite us – the underfunded regional museum, the car boot sale, the dump; places where value systems are fluid, more confused or don’t exist at all. In these situations, forms and ideas have the potential to acquire alternate meanings and take on a new life. Through re-imagining objects and their identities we explore the processes of cultural transformation that take place after an object or idea has served its initial purpose. This re-cycling is a means of distilling useful agents; elements approaching redundancy are stripped down, re-formed and re-packaged. The results challenge the cleaner more commercial concerns of some other art forms and celebrate the possibilities of extreme behaviour and belief.

Other works from this artist

Click to enlarge

Doyle & Mallinson |Art-Pie

ecce-homo-tesco-2_666

Doyle & Mallinson |Art-Pie

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

LATEST

5 street art pieces about Brexit

1 Comment

Some of you may know this – UK Parliament will debate on a second EU referendum at Westminster Hall on 5 September 2016, after an online petition attracted more than four-million signatures. As a reminder, 51.9% of the UK voted to leave the European Union on 23 June 2016, with a turnout of 72.2%.

We thought we’ll share with you guys 5 street art pieces about Brexit

WeAreEurope artist collective have claimed responsibility for the mural alongside Paintsmiths Of Bristol | Art-Pie
1. “Not #InForThis?” by The WeAreEurope artist collective& Paintsmiths Of Bristol, Bristol, England

honecker brezhnev kiss | Art-Pie
A kiss between ex-Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev and East Germany’s Eric Honecker

The work – a reference to a iconic Berlin Wall mural of a kiss between ex-Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev and East Germany’s Eric Honecker – went viral… and the idea has been copied this week for the UK’s referendum on EU membership.

A Bristol street artist created a new mural that features Trump – who has claimed that the UK would be better off outside the EU – instead making out with former Mayor of London Boris Johnson, the de-facto leader of the Brexit campaign.

The work, on the side of Bristol’s old Carriage Works, features the slogan “Not #InForThis? Register to vote on the EU referendum now!”

The WeAreEurope artist collective have claimed responsibility for the mural alongside Paintsmiths Of Bristol.

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By Odeith on Brexit | Art-Pie
2. By Odeith, Bristol, England

This mural was done for the Upfest festival help each year in Bristol. You will have recognised the actor Benny Hill who featured in his long-running internationally popular television programme The Benny Hill Show

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brexit-paris-ludo
3. By LUDO, Paris, France

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brexit-bristol
4. By (unknown artist) , Bristol, England

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andrea-angeli_brexit_eu-referendum-cartoon_dezeen_sqa
5. By Andrea Angeli

This is not a murtal nor street art but a nice illustration we thought so we wanted to share it with you

BLOG, STREET ART

Metazoa, a new show by ROA

ROA | Art-Pie

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.

Now, look what he is up to: a show in New York city at the Jonathan Levine gallery. Nice one.

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.

ROA | Art-Pie

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.
ROA | Art-Pie

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

ROA | Art-Pie

ROA | Art-Pie

ROA | Art-Pie

ROA | Art-Pie

First seen on Mashkulture

PREVIEW

Contemporary Vanitas at Light Of Sohos

Light Of Soho, London’s leading light art gallery is pleased to announce their next show in collaboration with Lee Sharrock, Contemporary Vanitas, a look at vanity and mortality.

Featuring 16 contemporary artists, the exhibition, which launches 26th May, will showcase the artists own interpretations of the Vanitas – is a category of symbolic works of art, especially those associated with the still life paintings of the 16th and 17th centuries in Flanders and the Netherlands – and features iconic memento mori symbols such as skulls, butterflies, and fruit, as well as more abstract interpretations in the form of celebrity portraiture and the written word in the form of neon.

"Lips" by Sara Pope | Art-Pie
“Lips” by Sara Pope (Click to enlarge)

Vanitas artworks were common in the 16th and 17th Century Dutch and Flemish still life painting, and were often created as metaphors for human achievements, as well as serving as reminders of human mortality. Memento Mori symbols of death, materialism, spirituality, earthly pleasure, temptations and corporality often featured.

 

Here is what Lee Sharrock had to say about the show –

I’ve always had a macabre fascination with the Vanitas paintings of the 16th and 17th century, and was intrigued to see how contemporary artists would interpret the enduring themes of mortality and vanity.

Each artist’s contribution provides an individual interpretation of the Vanitas theme, such as Pure Evil’s new ‘Angels Never Die’ portraits of departed screen idols crowned with neon halos is inspired by Marlene Dietrich.

Pure Evil commented:

After 1945, Marlene Dietrich’s attitude towards her native Germany remained shaky and it was not until after the fall of the Berlin Wall that she began to warm again to her homeland and especially her home town, Berlin. Shortly before her death, she expressed her desire to be buried in Berlin, in the very same cemetery as her mother. Her funeral, on 16 May, 1992, broadcast live on German television, was attended by thousands of fans. Her grave overflowed with flowers and wreaths from fans and admirers from all over the world. One of these wreaths, given by Wim Wenders, the director of Wings of Desire read, “Angels Never Die.

"Angels Never Dies by Pure Evil | Art-Pie
“Angels Never Dies by Pure Evil (Click to enlarge)

Other artworks also on display are Alexander James’ beautiful C-Type print evokes Old Master Vanitas still life paintings. or Alt-Ego has created a bespoke skulls series reflecting upon mortality and vanity.

Artists featured includes: Alexander James, Alt-Ego, Derrick Santini, Hannah Matthews, Jeroen Gordijn, Jimmy Galvin, Kalliopi Lemos, Lauren Baker, Nancy Fouts, Paul Broomfield, Pure Evil, Rebecca Mason, Sara Pope, Soozy Lipsey, Tom Lewis and Toni Gallagher.

PREVIEW

RETNA at The Old Dairy

The Hallelujah World Tour is RETNA’s first solo exhibition in the UK. This show will present new works by Los Angeles based artist RETNA and will be hosted at the Old Dairy, London.

RETNA mixed inspirations from Asian calligraphy, Incan and Egyptian hieroglyphics, Hebrew and Arabic script to traditional UK gang style graffiti writings seen since the 1970’s in Los Angeles .

Where – The Old Dairy | 7 Wakefield St | London |WC1N 1PB

When – 9/6 till 27/6/2011 | Tuesday to Saturday | 11am to 6pm

BLOG, FEATURE, GRAFFITI, STREET ART

Street art, graffiti and big big smackers

Mr Brainwash | Art-Pie

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.

Retna | Art-Pie

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)

Mr Brainwash | Art-Pie

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.

Shepard Fairey | Art-Pie

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 | Art-Pie
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…

LIKE

David Choe | Art-Pie
David Choe painting the Facebook HQ walls

Related links –
> “Dirty Hands: The Art and Crime of David Choe”
> “Exit Throuhg the Gift shop” – a Banksy documentary

STREET ART

Banksy new pieces in Los Angeles

Everybody is talking about so it would be almost rude not to feature the three new pieces Banksy has just dropped in Los Angeles.

The first piece depicts Charlie Brown holding a gas can, this piece was dropped on what looks like a house that burnt down. The second one is a child holding a gun and firing crayons.

And the most recent and probably the bolder one can be spotted on Sunset Boulevard and features the vision of the artists on Mickey and Minnie Mouse.

We will all have understood here that Banksy is preparing the ground for the upcoming Oscars.

Banksy in Los Angeles
Banksy in Los Angeles
Banksy in Los Angeles

STREET ART ENCOUNTERS