The Meeting place by Paul Day

The Meeting Place by Paul Day | Art-Pie
Of all the public art on display at the St Pancras station in London (UK), one piece stands out.

I am talking about the bronze statue called The Meeting Place that proudly stands at the south end of the upper-level beneath the station clock. The numbers: 9-metre (29.5 ft) high, 20-tonne (19.7-long-ton; 22.0-short-ton), impressive isn’t it? But have you been near it and noticed the frieze, a myriad of smaller sculpture works all around the plinth?

No? I did and was genuinely seduced by it.

This whole sculpture is the work of British artist Paul Day, and is intended to evoke the romance of travel through the depiction of a couple locked in an amorous embrace. However this is for the main part of the work, the part that everyone can see from the window of the train…. but, what about the work located at the pedestal? At first glance, there is nothing romantic.

Paul Day controversial "Grim the Reaper" | Art-PieThe frieze was actually added by the artists in 2008 and caused a stir as it was branded as ‘controversial’. It indeed originally depicted a commuter falling into the path of an underground train driven by the Grim Reaper (understand ‘Death). The image was one of many featured on a frieze for a controversial sculpture planned for St Pancras in London.

A spokesman for the company said: ‘The frieze as originally suggested will not go ahead and work on it has stopped.”

In his defence, the artist replied that the image was created in a tragi-comic style meant to be a metaphor for the way people’s imaginations ran wild. He added: ‘The imagination and real life are often intermingled.”

Day revised the frieze before the final version was installed and it can be seen today. No trace of Grim Reaper but a multitude of faces with strong or bold expressions, often hard to pin point. Are they sad, happy, tired, pained? I do not know, but what I do know is the artist mastered conveying feelings in this work.

Have you seen this work? What do you think?

If you’ve not seen it, please do as it’s worth the trip.  Enjoy the photographs below in the meanwhile.

The Meeting Place by Paul Day | Art-Pie

The Meeting Place by Paul Day | Art-Pie

The Meeting Place by Paul Day | Art-Pie

The Meeting Place by Paul Day | Art-Pie

The Meeting Place by Paul Day | Art-Pie

The Meeting Place by Paul Day | Art-Pie

2012 London art fair private view invitation

London Art FairLondon Art Fair is the UK’s premier Modern British and contemporary art fair. Galleries from across the UKand overseas will present the work of over 1,000 artists covering the period from the early 20th century to the present day. You will see museum quality British art presented alongside exceptional contemporary work from leading figures and emerging talent. The Fair provides a uniquely welcoming atmosphere in a spectacular venue in the heart of Islington, attracting visitors with a genuine passion for art; from experienced collectors to those buying their first original work.  Source: www.londonartfair.co.uk

London Art Fair would like to invite friends and client’s of  Brownhill Insurance Group to the Private View on Wednesday, 18 January 2012, from 6pm – 9pm.

This is an exclusive invitation-only evening reception and it’s a perfect place to catch-up with friends in the New Year and enjoy a complimentary glass of wine in the informal and welcoming atmosphere of Private View.

To receive your complimentary Private View invitation, simply visit http://www.londonartfair.co.uk/brownhills  before 9 January 2012.

For all art insurance requirements remember to get in touch with Brownhill Insurance Group on 0208 353 8907 or visit www.loveartinsurance.co.uk

London Art Fair
18 – 22 January 2012 | Business Design Centre London N1

New York Kings at Pure Evil

New York Kings at Pure Evil | Art-PieAlthough 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.

New York Kings at Pure Evil | Art-PieNew York Kings at Pure Evil | Art-Pie

New York Kings at Pure Evil | Art-PieNew York Kings at Pure Evil | Art-Pie

New York Kings at Pure Evil | Art-Pie

New York Kings at Pure Evil | Art-PieNew York Kings at Pure Evil | Art-Pie

New York Kings at Pure Evil | Art-PieNew York Kings at Pure Evil | Art-Pie

Jaybo Monk – I need a dollar

This is this kind of event which propels creativity to the next level, this is when a collaborative effort becomes Art.

American R&B artist Aloe Blacc, musician and music-maker Mihalj “Miki” Kekenj and artist Jaybo got together and put on a what have been an amazing night at Berlin’s creative space MADE.

Aloe Blacc´s original music was interpreted by Miki and his string-quintet which transformed the soul and funk style of Aloe into classical music compositions. Jaybo got involved and took his inspiration from the lyrics of Aloe’s song “I Need a Dollar”and converted it into his own visual interpreation – one of the best piece of art I have seen so far this year!

Jaybo’s painting was put on dispolay for the first time during the event at MADE where Aloe and Miki’s quintet performed a bunch of aloe’s repertoire. The film below shows this performance and tell us about the project.

Hats off to MADE for pulling such a great show where great talents from different art disciplines get together for everybody’s delight.

I need a dollar by Jaybo Monk
Aloe blacc Jaybo Monk miki at MADE
Aloe Blacc - Jaybo Monk - Miki

ROA at Pure Evil gallery: raw

I have been going around London many times to try to snap up some street art and came across ROA’s stuff on several occasions. I knew little about the guy from Ghent (Belgium) and was therefore very keen on finding out more about him and his obsession with picturing large scale urban wildlife through his spray paint cans.

I headed then to Pure Evil gallery for what I was pretty convinced would be something very different with most exhibitions I have seen so far this year. Continue reading ROA at Pure Evil gallery: raw

Ron English and Risk at Black Rat Projects

Signs by TrustoCorp - Art-PieWe managed to get a look at the latest show at Black Rat Projects called “Letters From America” where works from Ron EnglishTrustoCorpRisk and Saber are on display. Pictures of the artworks below.

As soon as you step into the gallery, you are greeted by the “Big Boy”,an original 7 foot or so statue customized by the Los Angeles graffiti writer RISK Big Boy is a brand of meal kits for kids which infamously got in turnmoil when some of their products were tested positive for Listeria contamination back in 2009, but instead of a burger  Big Boy holds a spray paint can which will remind visitors that they are about to see artworks from street artists.

Very quickly, another piece from RISK acts as a magnet for your eyes and illuminates the whole room. A graffiti made of neons. Sublime. What a piece to be made when you know how difficult neon making can be. Looking on the ‘Big Boy’ quietly from the back of the room, are pop surrealist painter Ron English’s colourful pigs that will make smile even the hardcore vegetarian out there. Just above them, a series of photographs by the same artist all very loyal to the artist’s style – pop surrealism. The “Telegrinnies” series have to be our favorites one, you will have figured out that Ron English’s work here is base on the “Teletubbies”.

Slightly hidden in a corner of the gallery, we enjoyed reading and laughing at TrustoCorp small scale signs

This show runs until the 18th June 2012 and is linked to another project that launched on June 30 at the London Pleasure Gardens where outdoor installations can be seen by the same artist until december 2013. Read the article about it on Arrested Motion website.

Big Boy by RISK (left) | Pigs by Ron English(right)
Big Boy by Risk - Art-PiePigs by Ron English - Art-Pie

Neons by Risk (left) | Spray paint and acrylics by Risk (right)
Neons graffit by Risk - Art-PieBy Risk - Art-Pie

Telegrinnies by Ron English
Telegrinnies by Ron English - Art-PieTelegrinnies by Ron English - Art-Pie

Signs by TrustoCorp
Signs by TrustoCorp - Art-PieSigns by TrustoCorp - Art-Pie

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