Damien Hirst must be used to getting all sort of good and bad criticism by now and although he has got simultaneous show all over the world right now and therefore is regarded as a major player in modern art, I can’t help to think that his latest spots series does not deserve all the fuss currently going about it.
What best to describe how I feel that this street art piece “lazy”. No need to say more.
Photo by Laurence Billiet
Seen on Vandalog
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.
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.
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.
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
Already a legend within the international graffiti community, London’s ‘King Robbo’ will soon lead his entire UK crew (known to the world as ‘Team Robbo’) into Signal Gallery for their first gallery show of the year.
Team Robbo is an intentionally amorphous and anonymous graffiti crew, which has now grown into The Team Robbo Network. Its presence stretches across the world, overseas members working in collaboration with their UK counterparts.
Team Robbo UK will be represented in this show by core crew members: ROBBO, CHOCI-ROC, DOZE, FUEL, PRIME and P.I.C. – some of whom have worked together as a crew for around 25 years!
They will be supported by the artist known as ‘Pranksky’, who provides coverage of Team Robbo’s continuing war with street artists via his media organization, Prank Sky Media.
Several members of Team Robbo are already well-known to members of the street art/ graffiti community and to art collectors alike. This stemmed from several very successful shows last year, including Robbo’s solo show at The Pure Evil Gallery plus Fuel & Prime’s work in ‘The Architects’ Group Show at The Atom Rooms in London. Prime’s controversial piece ‘The Age of Shiva’ was widely publicised when it appeared again last year in Pictures on Walls’ show – ‘Marks and Stencils’ before Christmas.
The crew’s new show, ‘The Sell-Out Tour’ (which can be interpreted in a variety of ways), will be the first time that Team Robbo UK have exhibited in a gallery together.
It will showcase an impressive variety of their work: prints, canvases, sculpture and photographic work. The photographs trace Team Robbo’s joint output, (both legal and illegal) over the years. They will be shown alongside new solo work where crew members push forward the graffiti genre and develop their own work in highly divergent and novel artistic directions. The show is expected to tour the world after the Signal Gallery launch.
The Sell-Out Tour will be supported by work by the artist Pranksky. His work is described as hybrid art (merging art, photography and graffiti) providing a commentary on the ongoing art feud between street artists and graffiti writers that has received considerable media attention.
The show offers a rare chance to both view and purchase original new works and prints by this notorious crew. All work shown is for sale.
Words by Signal gallery
When
7th April: Private View and Press.
8th April: Writer’s night (By invitation only).
8th April – 7th May: open to public.
Where 32 Paul Street | Hoxton, London, EC2A 4LB.
www.signalgallery.com
Hogan Rebel recently released his book Rebel journey: Dream-Believe-Create
, narrating the career of a dozen of famous modern rebels, and defining the founding values of the Hogan Rebel lifestyle collection.
We were asked to look closely at one of these artists, Paola Pivi, to come up with a quote for an upcoming video. You can see the video below.
Here are a few words from the artist herself –
What’s your definition of rebel?
Not a sheep, not a wolf.
Who do you consider rebel?
Somebody who creates their own system.
What’s your dream?
Freedom and peace, which I lost the day I saw somebody was about to abuse a person I love and I started a trial to try to defend him.
In what you believe?
Now that I see on my own skin how unbelievably hard it is to try to stop bad actions in other men, I respect whoever did something like this.Why man creates?To develop our brain.
——-
The Rebel Journey, a book by Hogan Rebel
If you love spotting street art, but you’re never quite sure where you should look for it, then worry not. There are plenty of ways in which you can make sure you encounter great street art on a regular basis.
Where as street art was once considered to be little more than vandalism, these days it is a hugely popular art form. This means that there are plenty of books, magazines and websites dedicated purely to the subject of street art and where you van find it. Many works of street art are now protected, so you you may find that you have much more time to visit them. Spend time researching an area before you visit, and you are more than likely to be clued up on where to find local street art before you arrive.
However, some street art is far more temporary, and you’ll need to be on the ball if you want to be in with a chance of spotting it. Sites like Twitter can be a great way to keep up to date with the latest street art discoveries. If you’re keen to keep an eye on where new works of street arts have cropped up, whilst playing online games like Partypoker and checking your email from the comfort of your own home, then using sites like this can be the best way to do so. They’re also perfect if you’re on the go, and don’t mind making a detour to see some great street art before it’s gone.
Lastly, it is important to simply keep your eyes peeled. Even street art which may not have a big name attached to it can still be well worth seeing. Certain locations are fairly well known for attracting street artists, so it can be well worth keeping a look out should you happen to be passing through.
Although street art is inviting itself in auction rooms and household lounges these days, it is still regarded by a large majority of us as vandalism. It is hard to understand anything when you do not try to understand where it comes from but only look at the surface and leave your ignorance driven your judgement which is bound to be false.
New York Kings at Pure Evil and curator Christophe Demoulin would definitely like to put this point across to any visitor and underline the importance of the US graffiti movement that started along with the hip hop one in the 70’s and 80’s. The purpose of this writing is not to tell about the social or politic importance aspect of the movement but about looking at the creativity that came out of it which is on display in this show.
All the graffiti and street art pieces have been drawn on actual New York subway maps which is the new medium the “old kings” have found to pursue the tradition of “subway art”. This was a necessity more than anything since the authorities have actually banned any artistic intervention in the subway. The most prolific and subversive won the right among peers to use a crown symbol next to their work, meaning graffiti king.
The show spreads onto the two floors at Pure Evil and has got pieces from all the big names that made the graffiti genres used widely by other artists all over the world from BLADE for the 3D lettering to COPE2 for the bubble lettering. Other names includes FUZZ ONE, BOM5, SEN2, INDIE 184, STAY HIGH 149, POEM, RD 357, DECK, EASY & JOZ.
The show runs until the 18th november 2012.
Another month, another edition of The Creative Bubble and a myriad of emerging artists showcasing their work – visual artists, spoken word and Poetry, Music & the latest addition and now regular appearance of the guys from Let The Film Do The Talking who invite you to immerse yourself in short films and augmented reality.
As always, we are providing a selection of artists we feel should get some exposure just because we appreciate their work and hope you will to.
We are delighted to have James Kinsella involved in this pop up show. James currently resides in Austria, yes The Creative Bubble is international (!), who will be showing three of his screen print on acrylic paint latest work. We included below ‘Herschelgasse’ for you to see what you can expect to see on display if you come down.
‘Less is more’ is what we felt when we first saw James’ work. We like the “sketchy’ feel of this piece and above all the contrast between black outlines and bright and bold colours.
We cannot wait to hang it up on the walls of the Roxy Bar and Screen.
WHAT – The Creative Bubble, POP UP Art Gallery, Spoken Word, Poetry, Short Films, Music & Networking
WHERE – Roxy Bar and Screen, 128-132 Borough High Street, London SE1 1LB
WHEN – Wed 29/4/2015 (POP UP art gallery opening night) / Thursd 30 (Spoken word)
Too scared to get a real tattoo? How about a watercolour one, easily washable and as beautiful as the real ones. Here is a selection for you.
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
For a long time, artists have had to rely on their desktops and laptops to do work. Even with the dawn of smartphones, which are now as powerful as some PCs that were released over a decade ago, people still preferred working with their traditional computing devices. That all changed, however, when tablets were popularized by Apple. Now, professional artists can work in the comfort of their own home as well as on trains or buses when they need to do some work en route to the office.
If you’re in the business of producing art for a living, and are a tablet user, here are three apps that you might want to consider using.
Tayasui Sketches
Let’s start with the one of the most basic apps out there. If you don’t need a lot of advanced tools for drawing on your tablet, TayasuiSketches can be a good app for you. It is very easy to get used to, with over 8 essential brushes for users to choose from including watercolors, charcoals, and pencils. It’s free but those who are willing to pay for its premium fee get two extra brushes. It’s also a great tool for creating quick sketches and portraits.
We included a few examples of what can be achieved with the app
ArtFlow
ArtFlow is being marketed as a tool for kids but with over 70 paint brushes to choose from, it can easily become a professional’s best friend. It even has support for pressure-sensitive pens to help artists turn their tablet into a proper digital canvass.
What’s great about ArtFlow is that it supports high-resolution digital canvasses for up to 4096×4096. If you’re planning to use this resolution, however, make sure to keep an eye on your battery life. The last thing you want is to loose unsaved work. Alchemy Bet, an associate of the software company that runs Spin Genie Slots, suggests that people should check for apps that are running in the background and close them to save battery life. If possible, artists should only rely on WiFi and not data to save on juice since most tablets have short battery lives especially Apple products.
We included screenshots of the app
Procreate
Now this is for the seasoned veterans out there. Procreate is a fine app from world-renowned app maker Savage Interactive that allows people to create quick and accurate drawings of highly-detailed and striking artworks. It has advanced features such as GPU accelerated filters, and even a 64-bit support for high-end tablets. Check out the artworks that you can create with Procreate and see just how amazing this app is for work and leisure.
We included screenshots of the app
Do you have a favorite painting or drawing app that you use for work? Share them with us in the comments section below.
