PREVIEW

Kelsey Brookes at The Outsiders

Kelsey Brookes has reinvented psychedelic art for the 21st Century for his UK debut exhibition.

His latest body of work consists of large scale canvases, with paintings of animals, bold geometric shapes and kaleidoscopic abstraction, which is unusually inspired by migranes.

The powerful affliction is often associated with not only visual hallucinations but all other ‘synaesthetic’ experiences (the interpretation of one sense as another, for instance ‘hearing’ colour). The geometric lines and colours come directly from the hallucinogenic experiences just before the headache.

The work is impulsive, extravagant and spontaneous, an echo of the spirit.

Words from The Outsiders website

Artist: Kelsey Brookes
Location: The Outsiders – London
Dates: Friday 4th of November 2011 to Saturday 26th of November 2011

Kelsey Brooks

REVIEWS

Ronzo art Pure Evil: creatures of Crackney

Even if you do not know Ronzo but hang out in Shoreditch or the City, you’ve probably come across his works, I want to talk about his ‘big teeth’ monsters who are (some have been removed) spread over the area, either in the form of small statuettes or on posters

Ronzo is well-known among street art fans in London so it was not surprised to see a large number of people up for his second solo exhibition at Stolen Space.

This show offers a large range of works and proves once again how Ronzo can be creative and juggle between mediums.

A series of paintings, collages, prints and sculptures stand proud in the gallery and should please a large number of people from various backgrounds or tastes. The theme of the show, Crackney’s finest, becomes clear quickly: Ronzo tells us the story of ‘Crackney’ (read Hackney) which he lives and lingers.

Crack smoking squirrels or giant cock-roaches delivering pizzas, Ronzo has gone for the surreal to give his vision of Crackney. And it is right: Hackney can be sometimes sort of surreal, mad perhaps but fun too.

This show also confirms Ronzo’s interest in sculpture, as in recent years he has use the medium more than anything else. The show proudly displays one such sculpture, a huge larger-than-life cock-roach riding a pizza delivering bike, emblazoned with the words: I love Crackney. This piece rotates right at the entrance of the gallery: unique and bold.

It felt good to be at that show and it was definitely enjoyable to look at works ranging from collage to sculpture. Anybody should find a special piece for their likings.

Ronzo’s show is an invitation to enter his vision of Crackney or Hackney. If you are an East London lover, you’ll love this show.

StolenSpace Gallery:
The Old Truman Brewery (Located at the end of the Car Park/ off Dray Walk)
91 Bricklane, London E1 6QL, UK
P: +44 (0) 207 247 2684

Crackney’s finest runs until this Sunday 28th November 2010

Opening hours: Tuesday – Sunday 11:00am – 7:00pm

Enjoy the pics below from the opening night as well as the video of the making of ‘Crunchy’ that can be seen on the Great Eastern Street side of Village Underground.

Related links
> Google map of Ronzo’s monsters from the Londonist website
> Ronzo on Vimeo

ART-PIE

 

CRUNCHY – The Credit Crunch Monster from Ronzo on Vimeo.

IN THE NEWS

Dick in FSB Captivity, the latest from VOINA

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Voina, a russian art collective, is making people to talk about them again. They have done crazy things in the past such as hurling live cats at McDonalds workers, engaging in a full-on orgy in a state museum, and shoplifting a raw chicken from a store by hiding it in one member’s vagina!

Their members got in all sort of problems of course with some being put in jail but they are now recognized by the establishment, VOINA has indeed just received one of the highest honors for contemporary art in their country Russia.

Dick in FSB Captivity is why they got this award. The artwork is a 210-foot outline of a penis on a drawbridge facing the the headquarters of the state security services, yes the KGB. When the drawbridge raises, the penis appeared to become erect – genius.

Bansky takes a keen interest in VOINA and gave a large amount of cash earlier this year to get two members of the collective out of custody.

Art terrorism like some call it?

Related links
The VOINA website – http://en.free-voina.org
Read more about Voina on Wikipedia
Read more about VOINA on The Guardian

REVIEWS

The ap-art summer show

I am so glad that the show got extended since although it has been on all summer, I did not manage to go down before last week end. I meant to go for ages but busy was my schedule or was it really? I don’t know but now I went and came across artists I need to tell you about.

I have to point out before I get going that the dude behind the mac was well a dude, but not engaging for a bit when I tried to talk to him. Shame but lucky enough that the line up of art is so worth it that I got distracted quickly enough to actually liked the dude, let me mention though that photographs aren’t allowed – meh, but this show has got some substance.

My first distraction took me to look at Joe Black’s work from the UK and in particular his “made in China” large piece made of little soldiers toys put together and painted so when you look from far enough, you do not even realise what is made of. Great “trompe l’oeil” technique that is. Choose the right coloured soldier and when needed, apply a very generous stroke of black or white and the whole thing is visually pleasant to the eye.

Joe Black - Made In China
Joe Black – Made In China

I will then mention here “Miss Bugs” series of paintings which are most definitely what I enjoyed the most but which only made to the wall of the gallery that most people would miss. Great mixed medias (mainly acrylics) pieces such as “Silence” – See below

Silence by Miss Bugs
Silence by Miss Bugs

Two more artists I need to mention are Finn Stone and Ryan Hadley. Respectively, a great sculptor artist with a few great pieces scattered around the venue. Who wouldn’t fall in love with his “Voodo child”? Then you get Ryan Hadley and his amazing stencil like piece made from a rusty plate – I wish I could show you a picture of it but unlike the dude said “All works are on the website”, I could not find that piece, not even on Ryan Hadley’s website. As a result, I’ll mention the work from Bomk entitled “La limite”, a complete surreal encounter.

Voodoo child by Finn Stone
Voodoo child by Finn Stone
Bomk - La limite
Bomk – La limite

Whatever the dude is all about, he’s got a fine collection of must-see artists works so go and get a peak at this show which runs until the 30th September 2011.

The APART 2011 London Summer Show
55-57 Great Marlborough Street, W1F 7JX

STREET ART

Cranio or street art from Sao Paulo

Fabio, a.k.a. Cranio is from São Paulo, Brazil and have been spraying around since 1998.

Still to have a show in the UK, I am sure it is just a matter of time, Cranio is getting more and more attentionI in his native country. Armed with sprays, latex paint, brushes and paint rollers, he leaves his imagination flow and his passion for indigenous art blossom.

Enjoy a selection of some of his works below. The first photograph is his latest work. We love the Brazilian pareo!

See more of Cranio’s street art

Cranio

Cranio

Cranio

Cranio

Cranio

Cranio

Cranio

Cranio

STREET ART ENCOUNTERS