“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

CONTEMPORARY ART

Social Organisation of Appearances

March 25, 2013 Jane Boyer

Death To Me, Death To Everyone, (c)2008 Edd Pearman

“The concept of ‘the spectacle’ interrelates and explains a wide range of seemingly unconnected phenomena. The apparent diversities and contrasts of the phenomena stem from the social organisation of appearances, whose essential nature must itself be recognised. Considered in its own terms, the spectacle is an affirmation of appearances and an identification of all human social life with appearances. But a critique that grasps the spectacle’s essential character reveals it to be a visible negation of life – a negation that has taken on a visible form.”[1]

Guy Debord from Society of the Spectacle

This Me Of Mine ! Art-Pie — Whilst I Breathe, I Hope, (c)2011 Edd Pearman

I didn’t have to delve far into Guy Debord’s Society of the Spectacle to find what I was hoping to find. This quote by Debord states the nature of the spectacle as an affirmation of ‘appearance’, while a critical look at spectacle reveals the spectacle to be a ‘negation of life’. This is the very essence of what Edd Pearman explores in his work. “Duality has a strong influence throughout my work, each work maintains a two-fold characteristic in its content i.e. Humour and horror, life and death, hope and despair. All initially appear to embody one intention, yet possess in equal measure, opposite qualities,” says Edd.

Appearance is seductive – and deadly. Is that a hyperbolic statement for effect? Possibly, but think of all the little deaths you’ve experienced for the sake of appearance and you may find you agree with me.

Read more of our interview, False Together, for This ‘Me’ of Mine.

[1] Debord, Guy, Society of the Spectacle, trans. Ken Knabb, Rebel Press, London, pg.9

Uncategorized

Elissa Franceschi EP Launch at Nothing Hill Arts Club

June 25, 2013 Pierrick Senelaer

Introducing Elissa Franceschi, a prolific songwriter with a distinctive powerhouse vocal who has built a reputation based on organic, grass roots promotion and haunting live performances. Having previously performed in some of the UK’s most famous venues (Brixton Academy, The Roundhouse, Astoria and Wembley Arena – supporting Paramore and You Me At Six), Elissa spent the majority of 2012 performing all over the UK with her live band, and being teamed up with the country’s top songwriting production houses (of Jessie J & Ellie Goulding fame) to co-write for other artists.

The release of ‘Devoid of Rue’ on 24th June 2013, the follow-up EP to Elissa’s three independent album releases ‘Touch’, ‘I Hold My Breath’, and ‘Into The Light’. Recorded and mixed by Matt O’Grady (You Me At Six, Don Broco, Deaf Havana), ‘Devoid Of Rue’ was funded without label support but instead through a successful fan-funded Pledge Music campaign, where Elissa gave fans exclusive access to bonus tracks and videos, opportunities for one-of-a-kind experiences, along with live updates which gave fans a unique interactive look at the process of making the EP. The embedded stream can be found here;

The record is an evolution of songwriting for Elissa, giving new listeners a taste of previous albums in the beautiful piano-and-vocal-only track ‘Oceans’, and existing fans something new in the form of the rockier ‘Outside My Body’. With additions of atmospheric ‘Chasing Something’, epic ‘Dust’, and the anthemic brand new single ‘All These Days’ – this EP really showcases the exciting and emerging talent Elissa Franceschi has become.

Elissa saw even greater success in 2012 as the first artist hand-picked to perform at the London 2012 Olympics as part of the Emerging Icons search for the UK’s best unsigned talent, and saw her track ‘Rainbow On Fire’climb Number 14 on the iTunes Singer-Songwriter chart through word of mouth alone. Now, 2013 has seen Elissa scale new heights with recent single ‘Salt’ being voted as ‘Track Of The Week’ on the Radio 1 Review Show with Edith Bowman, beating global superstar artists Beyoncé, will.i.am, Justin Bieber and 30 Seconds To Mars; while also hitting Number 1 on the National Student Radio Charts.

What – Elissa Franceschi EP Launch
Where – Nothing Hill Arts club
When – 25/06/13 from 7pm

BLOG

“Chasing ghosts” by Andrew Millar at Curious Duke gallery

April 14, 2016 Pierrick Senelaer

Andrew Millar | Art-Pie — Click to enlarge

Award winning Curious Duke Gallery are proud to present the first UK solo show of Polaroid transparency artist Andrew Millar, with Chasing Ghosts. The East London based gallery invites you to rejoice in all things retro glamour this April 2016.

East London’s Curious Duke Gallery is known for nurturing young talent into the bright stars of the art world: Andrew Millar is no exception. UK born Millar joined CDG last year and took the gallery by storm with his distinctive ethereal style.

Hailed as a big hit at Moniker Art fair 2015, the artist creates the little known process of Polaroid collage transparencies with finesse and vintage beauty. If you haven’t seen his back catalogue yet, you will soon be falling in love with his latest collection, Chasing Ghosts.

Breathing new life into vintage imagery, like his forebears such as Andy Warhol before him, Millar collects from markets and antique dealers, the artist revives forgotten faces with his little known process of Polaroid collage transparencies. Millar explains how “When I produce the pieces I use a lot of old facial imagery so whilst lifting the polaroid and applying the gold it kind of brings them back.”

It is the final touches of these artworks that create experimental images that call to filmmaking of the 1960s and beyond, with layers of black and gold giving a touch of Hollywood glamour.

IN THE NEWS, PREVIEW

Jester Jacques gallery pop up event at Boxpark

February 10, 2013 Pierrick Senelaer

Jester Jacques Gallery, a newly created entity in the art world, have been offering shopping experience, both online and in their Pop-Up Shop since 2011. Their latest event just launched earlier this week at Boxpark with the set up of a pop up show and shop.

“We have a thoughtful collection built up by personal relationships and investment pieces.” Karen Shidlo, Co-Owner of Jester Jacques Gallery

With famous names as Shepard Fairey and Sweet Toof being sold alongside the work of up and coming young artists, JJ Gallery has created an exciting online shopping experience as well as pop up events as the one currently held at BoxPark.

The Pop Up will include a unique installation by Nathalie Guinamard and a street art piece by Nathan Bowen. We have included photgraphs from the opening which happened on the 7th February.

When –
Jester Jacques Pop Up Shop at Box Park February 18th – 21st
Where –
Boxpark, 2-4 Bethnal Green Rd, London E1 6GY

DIGITAL ART

New York – The Big City

March 10, 2013 Pierrick Senelaer

We have come across to this stunning time lapse video from Pedro Simão and could not resist to share it. Ah we miss the Big Apple, we gotta get back there asap.

NewYork – The Big City (Time lapse video) from Pedro Simão on Vimeo.

STREET ART

Conor Harrington hit East London

April 17, 2013 Warren

Despite the dodgy weather in what’s supposed to now be spring, some of our favourite artists haven’t been deterred and continue to get up with some excellent work appearing in recent weeks.

No one fits that description more than Art Pie favourite Conor Harrington who added this stunning portrait to the East London streets.

This piece follows on from the Irish artist’s work at the recent Wide Walls Paint Jam in Mallorca where another exquisite black and white piece was added.

STREET ART

Metal Gear Rising mural

April 2, 2013 Pierrick Senelaer

The guys over at END OF THE LINE were commissioned by Konami to paint three enormous murals across the UK for the release of their new game Metal Gear Rising : Revengance. They painted the sides of buildings in London, Liverpool and Leeds with original artwork by Yoji Shinkawa.

Photograph of the London piece and footage are included below. The video is just a must-watch!

GRAFFITI

Top quality graffiti spotted on Great Eastern Street (London)

December 22, 2009 Pierrick Senelaer

On my way back home a couple of days ago, I spotted these top drawer graffiti.

I could not help but snap them up even though my hands were crying for some warm inside pockets comfort.

Enjoy. And go and see it with your own eyes, it is worth it! Continue reading Top quality graffiti spotted on Great Eastern Street (London) →

REVIEWS

Joram Roukes at Signal gallery

June 8, 2012 Pierrick Senelaer

Another show that was one not to miss so I pressed on to get there asap. Joram Roukes is a regular at Signal gallery, this is not his first show in the premises – Find out more

As soon as you step in, you cannot get your eyes off the large canvases that run along the walls. Joram Roukes mainly paints on a large scale with his preferred medium : oil once again. He clearly masters it and give us another set of figurative paintings where humans, animals and objects assemble.

As always, the artist’s work composition is simple: characters or simply a face on a plain background which emphasizes the figurative work. Joram Roukes breaks down to the extreme the usual sight we may be used to normalize when it comes to people’s apperances. You find yourself spending some time on each artwork, there is so much going on the canvas. Look closer and paintings within the painting shows up – see an example below.

STREET ART ENCOUNTERS