Click to enlargeKathrina 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.
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.
The first time we came across his work, we just thought that the talent was obvious so we are very happy to have it once again in our upcoming pop up art gallery (see details at the bottom of this post).
Although, his pastel and acrylic works are mostly using black nuances, we think a touch of colours could be a winner, the quality of the drawing is remarkable and some of his pieces are pretty large and imposing when hung on the wall
We asked the man a few questions about himself and his art –
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Art-Pie – Can you tell our readers about yourself in a few words?
Stephen Whatcott – Well, I kind of see myself as a painter who draws or something like that anyway. I think my work is difficult to categorise: I paint with acrylic but draw with pastel, it’s realistic but with a kind of comic book feel, and I often merge lots of images together like a collage to put an idea across to the viewer.
Art-Pie – Can you tell us about your creative process and where does your inspiration comes from?
Stephen Whatcott – I illustrate people in everyday life situations, or doing everyday things, with the intention of capturing the mood or the feelings that the people are experiencing. I’m primarily concerned with the notion of what it is to be human. I like the idea of capturing the time we live in right now and our moment in human history.
Art-Pie – Give us the names of three artists you admire or like?
Stephen Whatcott – It’s hard to name just three. When I started painting in an attempt to earn a living I was massively influenced by the New York artists from the mid twentieth century like Jackson Pollock, Franz Kline and Willem de Kooning. But Edward Hopper was my first fine art crush back in high school, and Egon Schiele, too. Contemporary artists I admire are guys like Erik Jones, Joel Daniel Phillips, Andrew Salgado, Herbert Baglione, Robert Mars, Francesco Francavilla, Rich Kelly… there are so many. I blog about art I like at www.thatguywhodrawsstuff.blogspot.co.uk/.
Art-Pie – Street art is something we like at Art-Pie, what is your take on that form of art?
Stephen Whatcott – I think Street art is another organic art movement that happened as a natural reaction against the formal art world, like Impressionism was. Why enter the gallery arena when the world, and the public, are outside your door? It’s also a political movement, like Punk was in the 70s, but unfortunately it tends to get ignored by the fine art world for whatever reason, because it can be low brow or something, who knows. I think it’s culturally relevant and very important especially in today’s political landscape.
Art-Pie – Are there any other projects or shows that you will be involved with for the rest of 2015 that you want share with us?
Stephen Whatcott – The past year has been pretty crazy on a personal level due to moving house and studio which has eaten into a huge chunk of my work time. I was in the Pastel Society’s annual exhibition at the Mall Galleries last month though which was great. I’m currently concentrating on producing some new work at the moment which I’ll be showing as and when throughout the year… so I’ll be around.
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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)
Nixon ART MOSH is a melting pot of some of the freshest talent in contemporary art and music. It is a series of one-night only Pop Up exhibitions showcasing international artists, designers, photographers and musicians. After the success of the Paris and New York events, ART MOSH pop up again in London for one night only. Continue reading ART MOSH is coming to London→
Adam Neate (as much as Joram Roukes) is the sort of artists that will challenge whatever perception of portraiture in art you might have by giving you something radically different to look at. Do not look for resemblance in Adam’s work, his portraits are more expressions of characters in their social environments but what makes his work unique is the mediums he uses – Perspex, metal, fabrics, lenticulars and film.
“Neate’s subject matter is in the strong British tradition of social realism, yet the materials he uses to make his brush strokes challenge tradition. In his iconic portraits, as well as in his portrayals of domestic life, the self-taught artist continues to push boundaries and challenge himself. Neate wrestles with new ideas in painting while working through the powerful emotions that are ever present in his overtly personal work.” Elms Lesters Painting Rooms.
What – ‘HISTORY’ ADAM NEATE . PORTRAITS FROM 2006 – 2013 Where – Elms Lesters Painting Rooms, London When – 16Nov 2013 – 14Dec 2013 | Tuesday – Friday 12 noon – 7pm Saturdays 11am – 5pm
We recently had the chance to get ourselves to Oslo and were eager to discover the street art scene the city could offer and came across the wonderful pieces below.
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
This is what of those shows that when you hear about them, the automatic and systematic next thing you do is to pencil that in your diary in a big font.
If you have been near Trafalgar Square in London, you must have noticed a 7m high sculpture looking like a thumbs up.
This particular pedestal on the square is called the Fourth Plinth and the current artist showing their works is David Shrigley.
So what’s next for the Fourth Plinth?
2018 & 20 shortlists announced
London’s National Gallery has revealed the five shortlisted proposals for the 2018 and 2020 Fourth Plinth commissions by artists Huma Bhabha, Damián Ortega, Heather Phillipson, Michael Rakowitz, and Raqs Media Collective.
The shortlisted proposals, which are currently on show in the National Gallery’s Annenberg Court until 26 March 2017, include an empty white robe, a recreation of a sculpture destroyed by ISIS, and a scoop of parasite-covered ice cream.
Not long now to find out which two works will be selected to finally stand on the plinth in 2018 and 2020.
Shortlisted sculptures in images
“Untitled” by Huma Bhabha
– an imposing figure, the scale reflecting a modern comic sci-fi movie.
Untitled, by Huma Bhabha
“High Way” by Damián Ortega
– a playful and precarious construction of a truck, oil cans, scaffold and a ladder.
“THE END” by Heather Phillipson
– explores the extremes of shared experience, from commemorations and celebrations to mass protests, all while being observed by a drone’s camera.
“The Invisible Enemy Should Not Exist” by Michael Rakowitz
– a recreation of the Lamassu, a winged bull and protective deity, which was destroyed by ISIS in 2015.
“The Emperor’s Old Clothes” by Raqs Media Collective
– explores how power can be both present and absent in sculpture.
The 500 Festival, a new art and music festival is coming to Shoreditch this October and promised to entertain you all day and night and showcase of some of the most talked about DJ talent on the festival scene and an array of artistic gems.
Originally from Devon and normally happening outdoors, the festival invites itself in the heart of London and will take over Village Underground from midday till late on the 06th October 2012.
The art line up will include Mikel Kruminswill, the up and coming Scottish designer who had worked for the last 5 years or so as a designer in the creative industry and who will be exhibiting a project specifically for The 500.
One of Mikel Kruminswill’s latest work
Another artist that will probably worth seeing is Raoul Simpson, a self taught lighting / video artist who is as passionate about art as he is technology. Raoul’s works includes lighting designs within the entertainment industry as well as interactive public art installations
‘Illuminated canvas” by Raoul Simpson
Holly Foskett-Barneswill on the other hand will certainly impress us with her rice sculptures made of 500 grains of rice while Nicholas Harvey installation and three dimensional sculptural work and especially his glass sculptures should wake our senses.
On the music level, Grammy nominated (The Garden) Zero 7will be headlining The 500 with a DJset. The Zero 7 gents are well known for their work with artists such as Sia, José González, Mozez and Sophie Barker.
The Festival is an all day midday-02.00am event promoting artists, new music and some famous names.
WHEN – October 6th 2012 | 2pm – 2am
WHERE – Village Underground | 54 Holywell Lane Shoreditch, London EC2A 3PQ
Get your discounted tickets now from this link – http://bit.ly/QtnlUn
