New Banksy in Calais depicts Steve Jobs

Banksy in Calais | Art-PieYou’ve probably heard of Banksy‘s Dismaland, a dystopian amusement park which closed its doors in October of this year.  However you may not have known the installations used for this art project have since been transferred to the port-side town of Calais France by volition Banksy himself.  Labeled “Dismal Aid”, the timber and building materials have been repurposed into housing, children’s play areas, and community centers for the 7000+ Syrian refugees.

At the same time, Banksy has taken this opportunity to spread a few messages about the situation of “The Jungle”, the largest refugee camp in Western Europe. Three new pieces with very strong messages can be seen around Calais – read on below to see the images and brief descriptions.

The Steve Jobs Piece

With weathered clothing and an exhausted body language we see a depiction of Steve Jobs, sporting the now notorious expression from this iconic photograph.  Steve carries an old Macintosh computer and a bin bag or rucksack on his shoulders. The message? Jobs is himself a son of Syrian migrants, he is of the same lineage as the refugees escaping ISIS today.

In a rare public statement to accompany the piece, Banksy expressed his drive and the message:

“We’re often led to believe migration is a drain on the country’s resources but Steve Jobs was the son of a Syrian migrant. Apple is the world’s most profitable company, it pays over $7billion a year in taxes – and it only exists because they allowed in a young man from Homs.”

Banksy in Calais | Art-Pie
Banksy in Calais | Art-Pie

The Medusa Piece in the Center of Calais

Based on French artist Théodore Géricault’s Raft of The Medusa, Banksy updates the dark and striking piece with a small background image of a modern cruise ship or luxury yacht. The boat, like the original piece, is embroiled in an intense struggle with the sea.  The message of “We are not all in the same boat” speaks for itself.

Banksy in Calais | Art-Pie Banksy in Calais | Art-Pie

The Young Boy Piece on the Beach

A silhouette of a young boy can be seen looking through a telescope while a vulture watches over him. The message of hope, future and dreams is cast harshly against a looming potential reality of darkness and death.

Banksy in Calais | Art-Pie

These artworks have been well-received by the city of Calais with an official statement in the local newspaper by mayor Natacha Bouchart, describing their value for the city.  The city has expressed their commitment to protect the pieces behind transparent plastic shields, so the message and artworks remain intact for the foreseeable future.

Pancakes & Booze London, thank you for attending

Pancakes & Booze Apr 16 | Art-Pie
Pierrick & Adriana from Art-Pie “Thank you all!”

What a blast the second edition of Pancakes & Booze was!

We (Art-Pie) were on our knees by the end of it but would like to thank all the artists as well as the 649 people who came through the doors of Studio Spaces

We’ve heard so much positive feedback from the artists as well as attendees and are very chuffed about that however we always want to improve things. Feel free to comment below with any suggestions you may have.

We are already preparing the next edition so express your interest today by filling out this form.

We want to hear from you if you are a visual artist, DJ, body painter, music band or an outstanding pancakes maker.

Pancakes & Booze Apr 16 | Art-Pie

We included few pics below from the night – click any photos to enlarge and/or launch the slideshow

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Thank you to the artists who performed live art such as Mark Petty and Nathan Bowen – it’s always fun to watch and definitely a bonus for any show!

Mark Petty | Art-Pie

Mark Petty | Art-Pie Mark Petty | Art-Pie Mark Petty | Art-Pie Mark Petty | Art-Pie

We included more pics below from the night – click any photos to enlarge and/or launch the slideshow

Pancakes & Booze Apr 16 | Art-Pie Pancakes & Booze Apr 16 | Art-Pie Pancakes & Booze Apr 16 | Art-Pie Pancakes & Booze Apr 16 | Art-Pie Pancakes & Booze Apr 16 | Art-Pie Pancakes & Booze Apr 16 | Art-Pie

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As always, we produced a ton of pancakes throughout the night and much to your delight we heard… We thank all our “Pancakes Girls” for their efforts and for managing the steady flow of hungry people.

Pancakes & Booze Apr 16 | Art-Pie
The Pancakes Girls

French artists at Genty Fine Art’s Christmas Show

I have always loved the saying “you learn something new everyday”; mainly because it is a saying my grandfather always drummed into me and also because I think it is a very accurate description for the ‘art world’.

“L’arbre juane” by Francoise Bossut

This was especially the case when I met David Genty. Genty Fine Art mainly work with established French contemporary artists or artists who have lived and worked in France. For me this was an area I have not really come across as most of the artists I am friendly with, interested in or collect are predominantly English or British.

In addition to the French connection Genty Fine Art showcases sculpture as well as paintings which is another area I have never really ‘got in to’. I think this is predominantly a collector issue in that I can collect works of passion (that are on paper, canvas or print) without really thinking about where they will go, whereas with sculpture I have always felt that the piece has to be carefully thought about to ensure it fitted with the home – plus its not as easy to store sculpture!

David and Helen Genty founded Genty Fine Art as Galerie Genty in Western France in 2005 and changed to the current name when they returned to the UK in 2009. Having studied Philosophy, History & Theory of art and living in France for many years David has an excellent working knowledge and friendship with the artists they represent.

Genty Fine Art’s Christmas Show was therefore a great way to see the selection of artists Genty Fine Art work with, with my two favourites being Jean-Claude Mathieu (sculpture) and Francoise Bossut (paintings). David and Helen were on-hand to provide the right mix of enthusiasm and information about the works complimented with festive mulled cider and mince pies.

Christmas Show
Christmas Show

Exhibition: 10th – 23rd December
Genty Fine Art, Tygers Head, Tonbridge, Kent

For more information visit: www.genty.co.uk
© Genty Fine Art and the Artist(s)

Modern Panic @ The Old Abattoir – Guerilla Zoo

Modern Panic is our forth-coming exhibition, showcasing the work of provocative artists from around the world, from infamous prisoner Charles Bronson, Bolivian enfant terrible and coca-leaf artist Gaston Ugalde, taxidermy artist Iris Schieferstein, who’s hoof boots have been sought after by the likes of Lady Gaga, the provocative Kira O’Reilly, Tank Girl comic artist Rufus Dayglo and over 50 others!

Modern Panic is a well needed look into the worlds we inhabit and is designed to shake the viewer awake through a bewildering bombardment of the senses.

Modern Panic is a sequel to the popular Panic Exhibition we held in 2009, which featured the founding members of the Panic Movement (formed in the 1960’s by Fernando Arrabal, Alejandro Jodorowsky and Roland Topor), next to the new wave of controversial modern artists.

During our Private View on Fri 3rd June, we will be presenting a Panic Happening: Many artists will be spontaneously creating their art live in a 3 hour ‘Panic’ inspired happening, consisting of performance art, site specific characters, live sonic sounds, and plenty of interactive installations. ‘The Aftermath’ of this panic happening will then take the form of the exhibition.

Panic Movement (Mouvement Panique) was a collective formed by Fernando Arrabal, Alejandro Jodorowsky and Roland Topor in Paris, France in 1962. Inspired by and named after the god Pan, and influenced by Luis Buñuel and Antonin Artaud’s Theatre of Cruelty, the group concentrated on chaotic happenings containing performance art and surreal imagery, designed to be shocking, as a response to surrealism becoming petite bourgeoisie and to release destructive energies in search of peace and beauty.

For more information, including artist list, please visit
http://www.guerrillazoo.com/modern-panic

Where – The Old Abattoir

When – 4 till 12 June 2011

Hang-Ten at Hang Up Pictures gallery – Mark Powell live drawing session

Hang-Ten at HangUp Pictures gallery | Art-Pie

If a hot summer was not enough to enjoy London this summer, Hang Up Pictures gallery in Stoke Newington is throwing a ten week festival of art and entertainment. And if you know and like Mark Powell work, read on…

Nice.

To celebrate our tenth anniversary, this summer, we will be launching Hang-Ten; a ten week festival of art and entertainment. This includes a multimedia group exhibition, exclusive limited releases, a packed events calendar of talks and workshops, and of course, one huge party with free giveaways, music, food and drinks.

HangUp Pictures

Long story short, 10 years, 10 artists, 10 weeks, One huge party.

The next event taking place is Mark Powell Live Drawing Session | Sat 21 July, 12 – 4pm and you would not want to miss that, especially if you are a fan, as he is, of Mark Powell Bic Biro drawings.

Mark Powell will draw live at Hang-Up gallery on 21 July for what is set to be a fantastic afternoon. We also hear that there will be an exclusive limited edition print available at 50% off for the first 20 people through the door…

Mark Powell | Art-Pie

Hang-Ten is on at Hang-Up Gallery, 81 Stoke Newington Road, London N16 8AD from 23 June to 2 Sept 2018

Catlin Art Prize 2012

Julia Vogl's "lets hang out" - Catlin art prize winner
Let’s hang out by Julia Vogl

Catlin Art Prize (www.artcatlin.com)
When: Wednesday 16 April 2012
Where: Londonnewcastle Project Space, London, E2 7DP

The winner of the 2012 Catlin Art Prize is Julia Vogl, a 2011 graduate of the Slade School of Fine Art at University College London. She is the sixth winner of the annual Catlin Art Prize, a competition showcasing the work of recent graduates of UK art schools.

Julia Vogl won the 2012 Catlin Art Prize for her ‘social sculpture’titled ‘Let’s Hang Out’. The work invites visitors to create a communal area by selecting and affixing coloured carpet titles that colour-correspond with Julia’s suggestions of various pastimes (such as ‘call Mum’, ‘tweet’, etc.). The work will evolve throughout the duration of the Catlin Art Prize exhibition while encouraging visitors to interact – and hang out.”

The official comments on the Art Catlin website confirming the recipient of the £5,000 award, now it its 6th year.

The exhibition showcasing the finalists of the artists compiled in the Catlin Guide was hosted at the Londonnewcastle project space and in my opinion was laid out and staged to create an explorative feeling when entering.

Before hearing the winner I was one of the first people to interact with Julia’s “lets hang out” and felt that for me this was quite rightly a centre piece, seemingly the concensus as it turned out.

In addition to film and other mixed media work the next most enjoyable piece was marbles and sand staged in one of the corners of the show. A mystical and engaging feeling from starting at the work and felt very much similar to my own thoughts on moments in time.

The second piece which was a stuffed horse on its back clamping on to a made object. This was very striking but wasted on me.

The guide is fast becoming as much a tool for collectors as it is for the artworld in showcasing talent and clamouring for the prize.

For more information visit: www.artcatlin.com

#codefc show opens at Curious Duke gallery – 20:12

20:12, #codefc Olympic installationsWe had the chance to get a sneak preview of 20:12, #CODEFC’s London Olympics Installations show opening tomorrow at Curious Duke gallery on Whitecross street. The London-based artist’s 2 year long project is coming to maturation with this show and fits nicely the build up to the London 2012 Olympics.

Using stencil interventions onto London city landscapes, #codefc presents athletes’ imagery in all their splendour and vigour, performing the Olympian feats for which they are known against a backdrop of reconfigured and stretched Olympic rings, their faces replaced with cameras and camcorders – the artist’s signature mark.

The show breaks onto two floors in what is an awesome venue for exhibiting any work. A few pictures are included below of some of the artwork we noticed. We got there when Fab was putting up the stencils cut outs on the wall, you have below some pics of what could be an awesome mural. Come and find out tomorrow.

Curious Duke Gallery
207 Whitecross street, London EC1Y 8QP
Fri June 8th 2012 – Fri June 15th
Private View: Thu June 7th 2012

20:12 #codefc Olympic installations

20:12 #codefc Olympic installations

20:12 #codefc Olympics installations

Will Barras ‘Bad Reception’ at Stolen Space

I have always found that acrylic paint used in conjunction with spray paint is a definite winner and give you astonishing results. However, it is difficult to master both mediums for most of us unless you are Will Barras.

Bad Reception, his latest show at Stolen Space, brought to us a series of works never exhibited before which, for most of them, have been painted using acrylics and spray paint (oil and ink have also been used for some of the works).

I was walking towards the entrance of the gallery and could see some of Will Barras’ works and my first thought was ‘wow, it looks amazing from here’. I was eager to go in and check the show out.

The fact that most of the works are large scales pieces gives you the tone of the show – bold. A quick look around the gallery and it became obvious to me that the composition in his works is heavy and busy which, coupled with the large scale aspect make the whole experience very overwhelming. Add to this a varied and strong colour palette and often you get some sort of dramatic or epic feel to the painting, it is almost exhausting to look at his works as you need to look and look again to get the whole picture, to get the story behind it.

Indeed Will Barras intend to tell us a story, the story of Mr Benn – read more about iton the Stolen Space website

Will Barras’s technique is really remarkable, he manages to combine urban/graffiti techniques with more traditional mediums such as acrylics or oil and the result is breathtaking and definitely achieve to blur the line between abstract and reality – what is really going on these paintings?

“I want to maintain the natural flow and energy, the tension between abstract and figurative, while developing and elaborating on a narrative. To generate a multiple choice of possibilities of what could be happening Ideas usually develop from the everyday mundane, broken phone converations and awkward situations …” Will Barras

The show ran until the 14th November 2010.

NB: if you wonder whether the motorbike was part of the show, well not really. Will Barras decided to leave it there after the opening night. Random but it did fit well with the show!

ART-PIE

 

Edward Akrout ‘First Impression’ show at Hoxton hotel

Edward AkroutBest known for his roles in high profile TV series and films including; Mr. Selfridge, Midsomer Murders and The Borgias, actor Edward Akrout has kept his talent as an artist hidden from the public eye.

This was until recently, when he presented his debut solo exhibition at Café Royal in March to an enthusiastic crowd of gallerists, collectors and VIPs.

A big step in the art world

Akrout admits that even though he is capable of handling the daily rejection and criticism he faces as an actor, the idea of showing his art to the world terrified him. This autumn Akrout will exhibit a suite of new drawings and paintings titled ‘First Impression’ at The Hoxton, Shoreditch, offering visitors an insight into the world of Edward Akrout.

Emotions and studies in France

There is an unmistakable connection between Akrout’s two chosen disciplines, for as an actor his job is to inhabit different emotional states, and as an artist he has an uncanny ability to capture in only a few strokes of the brush or pen, the fleeting emotions and personality traits of characters he comes across on his travels in London, Paris and New York.

Born to a Franco-British mother and Tunisian father, 32-year-old Akrout grew up in France, studying philosophy at The Sorbonne and theatre at Le Cours Florent in Paris, and then spending time at the National Institute in Bucharest. He left Paris for London when offered a place at the prestigious London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. Akrout’s philosophical and theatrical training is evident in his expressive, psychological studies of the eclectic characters he encounters.

'Blue Man' by Edward Akrout | Art-Pie

WHAT – ‘First Impression’ by Edward Akrout
WHERE – The Hoxton, 81 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3HU | United Kingdom
WHEN – 2 Oct 2015 — 1 Jan 2016

First seen on WSIMAG

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