FEATURE, STREET ART

Meet Plastic Jesus, street artist from Los Angeles

We only recently heard from Plastic Jesus, a Los Angeles based artist, and while his motivation are clearly political and on that basis can be compared to other street artists such as Banksy, although Plastic Jesus seems to vary a little more his mediums and art forms by often making bold installations which he will spread around the city of LA.

We have included below some of his works.

Reading a bit more about the artist, I quickly realised that we are looking at a “modern” street artist –

1. Mass audience attention thanks to The Huffington Post in particular which listed two works by Plastic Jesus in the end of year round up of “The Best of Los Angeles Street art 2012”, one of them was “No more heroes” featuring disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong connected to an IV drip

"No more heroes" by Plastic Jesus | Art-Pie

2.Concerns about his work ethic and try to harm as little the environment. The artist will even send someone to remove his work should you not like it

3. Does art galleries show, sell prints of his street artworks and he is represented in the UK by Walton Fine Arts located in Knightsbridge

The last point will make cringe the purists street art heads out there.

I have no particular issue with the points above and like the messages Plastic Jesus tries to get accross, what do you reckon?

"America Excess" by Plastic Jesus | Art-Pie "Credit Trap" by Plastic Jesus | Art-Pie platicjesus-stopmakingstupidpeoplefamous

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Katrina Rupit new show at Westbank gallery

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Click to enlarge
Kathrina was born in Mexico City and studied visual arts and photography at the University of Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Her native country means that her work is infused with a rich vitality and a colourful exuberance. As an Urban artist, she produces work which is perhaps softer and more lyrical than her male contemporaries. She has a deep admiration for iconic female figures, especially her compatriot Frida Kahlo.

Over the last couple of years Kathrina has lived and worked in Dublin, Ireland and has become a vital fixture of the vibrant street art scene there.

Kathrina uses an array of mediums to achieve an extraordinary effect – From spray paints, newspaper collage and urban markers to assemblage of cardboard, door parts and even Popsicle sticks. She is constantly challenging the means of urban representation, reinventing the genre in a feminist context.

Her work is deeply tied to her Mexican roots, addressing social issues such as racial discrimination and embracing a culture without the curse of violence and gangs.

She is the voice of a new generation, producing artwork that is bold and seductive. Like Frida before her, she is conscious of the innate power of her gender. She excites the male gaze with her portraits being alive with a raw sexual energy. They are alluring and even provocative.

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Kathrina’s technical ability and artistic representational skill are first rate, creating both an awareness of environmental issues and tapping into the Mexican concept of the cycle of life, seen in the celebration of ‘Dia de los Muertos’.

The physicality of life in Kathrina’s work is seen in her numerous performances and live events, which is a crucial aspect of her practice. She wants the work to be alive, she wants the audience to see the process in action and feel the creative energy as it happens.

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Star wars as greek statues

Greek sculpture | Art-Pie
Classical Greek sculpture

We all went to a museum one day (well I hope you did, if not you guys are missing out!) which has a Classical art collection often consisting of a series of nude hunks sculptures.

In the Classical period there was a revolution in Greek statuary, usually associated with the introduction of democracy and the end of the aristocratic culture associated with the kouroi. The Classical period saw changes in the style and function of sculpture. Poses became more naturalistic (see the Charioteer of Delphi for an example of the transition to more naturalistic sculpture), and the technical skill of Greek sculptors in depicting the human form in a variety of poses greatly increased.

Star Wars Greek Sculptures by Travis Durden | Art-Pie
Click to enlarge

But enough of Greek sculptures in their “Classical” sense, let’s look at the series of digital manipulations by French artist Travis Durden adds a Star Wars dimension to it.

Star Wars, for those who don’t know it (…) is an American epic space opera franchise, centered on a film series created by George Lucas.

I do not know for you guys but the chap is pretty gifted at sculpture right? Well it may be but these works will not prove it because these  are a series of images manipulated using Photoshop, the popular image editing software.

Durden reimagines Darth Vader, Boba Fett, Yoda, General Grevious and a Storm Trooper as “Darth Resurrection,” “Gladiator Boba,” Angel Yodea,” “General Niobides” and “Storm Reader.”

About the artist

Travis Durden is a pseudonym, as the Parisian artist behind the project would prefer his art be the center of attention, not himself. Fascinated by the construction of myths & idols, he interrogates how we, as humans, determine what will be raised to popular culture or elevated to divine cult, and how history has influenced us in making this choice.

Star Wars Greek Sculptures by Travis Durden | Art-Pie

Star Wars Greek Sculptures by Travis Durden | Art-Pie

Star Wars Greek Sculptures by Travis Durden | Art-Pie

STREET ART

When Da Mental Vaporz crew hit Melbourne

I must admit when I heard that this crew, originally from France, were heading down under I completely geeked out.

We have been big fans of DMV, seeing pieces from them go up in Paris, Barcelona and their epic wall at London’s Meeting Of Styles.

Even though the show at Rtist gallery is a great way to see each artists individual style, the true abilities of this crew shine when they collaborate on big walls.

It seems that everything came together for them here in Melbourne, the weather was great and the wall they were given was in China Town a unique and oddly appropriate setting.

Find below a few pics of the wall they painted.
> I want to see more photographs
> I want to see Da Mental Vaporz at the Meeting Of Styles London photos

Photographs by chasinghosts

Da Mental Vaporz

Da Mental VaporzDa Mental Vaporz

Da Mental Vaporz

Da Mental VaporzDa Mental Vaporz

BLOG, LATEST, STREET ART

Banksy’s new work on a wall of a Bristolian school

Bridge Farm School Banksy | Art-Pie
The finished work by Banksy of the wall of the school – Copyright Local World

A large number of people always get quite to very excited when a new Banksy work is discovered and we must admit, we were one of these this time round when we read this morning about this new work somewhere near Bristol… Keep reading on.

A contest amongst pupils at the origin of all this

Bridge Farm School Banksy | Art-Pie
Click to enlarge

Bridge Farm Primary School in Bristol, where Banksy dropped his latest piece, organised a little while ago, a contest amongst the pupils in the aim to name houses at the school after famous people and Banksy was one of the names that came up the most and which was therefore chosen. The other names were Brunel, Blackbeard and Cabot.

Geoff Mason, the head teacher wrote to Banksy’s team before they broke up for the half-term to let him know they had named a house after him…

Surprise when kids got back to school this morning

Children, staff and parents from the school in Whitchurch were surprised by the artwork this morning we hear as no one expected Banksy to produce some street art right in the courtyard!

The painting was done over the weekend, when Banksy was supposedly going to collect an award elsewhere namely the Sky Arts Awar.

Although Banksy rarely signs his work, a spokesman for him confirmed this morning it was indeed the elusive artist’s work. It is thought to be the first verified artwork from Banksy in a primary school.

Bridge Farm School Banksy | Art-Pie
Copyright – Local World

Even more surprised to get a letter back from Banksy

Bridge Farm School Banksy letter| Art-Pie
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Here is what Geoff Mason, headteacher at the school, said the school had received a letter from the artist himself.

“I think it went up over the weekend, and completed last night, but we’re not entirely sure.

“It was done after we ran a competition to change the house names, and we decided to name them after Bristol legends. We had to include Banksy.

We thought it would be a good idea to write to the PR company and let them know we’ve run the competition.

“I’m sure this is Banksy’s work. We had a call from his PR team, and a letter signed by him.”

The letter reads:

“Dear Bridge Farm School, thanks for your letter and naming a house after me.

“Please have a picture, and if you don’t like it, feel free to add stuff.

“I’m sure the teachers won’t mind. Remember, it’s always easier to get forgiveness than permission.

“Much love, Banksy.”

Bridge Farm School Banksy | Art-Pie
A detail of the Banksy piece
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

STREET ART ENCOUNTERS