Thursday, 28 January 2010
BANKSY/MCGEE AT AUCTION
Great to see both Barry McGee & Banksy at Christie's auction with the heavyweights. Auction runs on Feb 12th. More info here. The Banksy was originally shown at the Severnshed exhibition in Bristol back in 2000. The website for that is still live, if you wanna check out some early canvas works, go here
Tuesday, 26 January 2010
PAINTBALL POPART
Ok, enough Banksy already, getting back to basics with some paintball popart, Warhol would be proud.
www.bonyurt.com
Monday, 25 January 2010
EXIT THROUGH THE GIFTSHOP
First review of Banksy's "Exit through the Giftshop" just in. This from the LA times. Read the full article after the jump.
The movie doesn’t appear anywhere in the Sundance Film Festival’s catalogue. Outside a small circle of ultra-secretive confidantes, nobody knows its director’s identity and whereabouts. And the film’s place in the Sundance schedule wasn’t even announced until last week.
That hasn’t stopped acclaimed British street artist Banksy's “Exit Through the Gift Shop” from becoming Park City’s hottest ticket.
Outside Park City’s 446-seat Library Center Theater, Banksy fans started queuing up hours before “Gift Shop’s” 8:30 p.m. screening in 15-degree weather, even if their chances of getting in were slim. The screening, which was also a sales event for the film’s representatives, Cinetic Media, felt more like a feverish night club, with Jared Leto, Adrian Grenier and uber hipster Danny Masterson (of “That '70s Show”) in the packed house.
A film-within-a-film that begins as a chronicle of guerrilla art and its most prominent creators but morphs into a sly satire of celebrity, consumerism, the art world and filmmaking itself, “Exit Through the Gift Shop” is a nearly impossible work to categorize. That doesn’t begin to describe the contradictions that surround the new movie that’s both about -- and made by -- the controversial and hugely popular artist.
LA TIMES
Saturday, 23 January 2010
Friday, 22 January 2010
BANKSY "EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP" THE PLOT !
So, the story so far, In 2005 Shep Fairey introduces the much criticised "street artist" and filmaker Thierry Guetta aka Mr Brainwash to Banksy, Thierry a cousin of French Street Artist Invader has been compiling footage of street artists at work for almost 9 years, including Kaws, Shepard Fairey, WK interact, Space Invader, Faile, Barry McGee, Malcolm McLaren, Dov Charney, Zeuss, Monsieur A and many more, how did he gain access to these renowned artists, well.. Thierry is a relatively wealthy property owner in LA and through Invader, had been acting as a "spotter" and providing walls for visiting artsist for years. The film he's working on is called "Life's Remote Control" and is slated for release in 2006..the film includes footage of Banksy at work.
Thierry subsequently falls in love with Banksy and his work and his sticker and small paste up campaign promoting the film gathers pace and begins to grow into something else. Rather than revealing Banksy, Banksy talks Thierry into the film being about him, takes control of the footage and director duties and starts about setting up and supporting Thierry as a bone fida street artist. Now keep in mind that the film "Life's Remote control" also features the original rock and roll swindler Malcolm McLaren ! This was stated in the films first press release.
Banksy then sets up Thierry as street artist aka Mr Brainwash with an enormous show in LA, keep in mind Thierry is wealthy and now emplys many assistants. The show mirrors Banksy's show of the year before "Barely Legal", how ? well the show "Life is Beautiful" was produced by none other than Daniel Salin, the same producer that set up Barley Legal, Roger Gaston of Swindle fame acting as consultant, it even had Shep Dj'ing at the opening night.
Banksy then sets up Thierry as street artist aka Mr Brainwash with an enormous show in LA, keep in mind Thierry is wealthy and now emplys many assistants. The show mirrors Banksy's show of the year before "Barely Legal", how ? well the show "Life is Beautiful" was produced by none other than Daniel Salin, the same producer that set up Barley Legal, Roger Gaston of Swindle fame acting as consultant, it even had Shep Dj'ing at the opening night.
Both Shep Fairey and Banksy discuss MBW here
“Mr. Brainwash is a force of nature, he’s a phenomenon. And I don't mean that in a good way.”
- Banksy
How do we know all of this ? Well I guess a lot of people suspected it from the very beginning, there's been speculation since day 1. Then suddenly Shepard Fairey revealed all but the punchline back 2008 when speaking at the Bonhams auction project organised with Carmichael Gallery, check out this video from 07.01. If you can't be bothered with that, read the transcript below.
Transcript from the video..
"He’s cousins with Space Invader, he lives here. He owns a lot of property around Hollywood. And he got hip to my work through Space Invader, went out with me and starting documenting me and then in 2005 I introduced him to Banksy and he really fell in love with Banksy and he wanted to make a film about me, a film about street art in general with several artists including Banksy in it.
And then it just turned into his obsession with the artform switched over to him becoming an artist , but the thing about him is, is that he is motivated, but he also has a lot of money and a lot of assistants and so a lot of that work doesn’t even have his own hand in it. And I have mixed feelings about all of that.
But His show was a very manufactured thing, in that Banksy, in order to try to get Terry’s film that he never completed to come out said ‘why I don’t make this film about you and I’ll direct it and then can I get the footage of me back, so I can put that into the film.’
So the coup de grâce of the film is Terry transitioning from being just a voyeur and admirer of street art to being a street artist which I think is part of Banksy’s sick sense of humor. It’s a very complex situation, but I personally think he kind of rushed things to suit Banksy’s agenda and a his lot of work was derivative of Banky’s work, Warhol’s, my work, Damien Hirst, But anyway I don’t know, it’s weird…."
So there you have it..the great Rock n Roll Swindle of LA's Contemporary Art scene, ladies and gentlemen, we give you, Mr Brainwash, the Sigue Sigue Sputnik and Milli Vanilli of street art
Can't wait to see it !
Thursday, 21 January 2010
BANKSY "EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP"
Set to open in British Cinema's on March 5
Notorious street artist Banksy, whose work has decorated his home town of Bristol and Israel's West Bank barrier, has turned his hand to film-making.Well this looks absolutely hilarious, Banksy's "Exit through the Gift Shop", the first street art disaster movie. Scheduled to run at Sundance. Featuring Shep Fairey, MBW and many more.
Duration 85 mins
Paranoid Pictures
More info here
Duration 85 mins
Paranoid Pictures
More info here
From the BBC
Exit Through The Gift Shop will have its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, his agent told the BBC. It will be the first time the elusive artist, who has never revealed his identity, has been heard speaking. Billed as "the world's first street art disaster movie", its inclusion in the festival has been shrouded in secrecy.
Sundance organisers are due to announce its inclusion at a press conference on Thursday.
Unexpected stunts
Exit Through The Gift Shop was left off the official programme, but speculation about the festival's Spotlight Surprise turned to Banksy after four stencils, believed to be by the artist, appeared on walls in Park City, where the festival is held.Banksy is known for teasing his audience, toying with authority, and continually pulling the wool over people's eyes to stage unexpected stunts. Last year, he installed 100 of his artworks in Bristol's council-owned museum under the noses of top officials, and once smuggled a life-size statue of a Guantanamo Bay detainee into Disneyland.
"Exit Through The Gift Shop is one of those films that comes along once in a great while, a warped hybrid of reality and self-induced fiction while at the same time a totally entertaining experience," he added.
Unexpected stunts
Exit Through The Gift Shop was left off the official programme, but speculation about the festival's Spotlight Surprise turned to Banksy after four stencils, believed to be by the artist, appeared on walls in Park City, where the festival is held.Banksy is known for teasing his audience, toying with authority, and continually pulling the wool over people's eyes to stage unexpected stunts. Last year, he installed 100 of his artworks in Bristol's council-owned museum under the noses of top officials, and once smuggled a life-size statue of a Guantanamo Bay detainee into Disneyland.
Exit Through The Gift Shop will have its world premiere at the festival on Sunday.
It is described as the story of how an eccentric French shop keeper turned documentary maker attempted to locate and befriend Banksy, only to have the artist turn the camera back on him.
Infamous artist Banksy said: "It's the story of how one man set out to film the un-filmable. And failed".
It is described as the story of how an eccentric French shop keeper turned documentary maker attempted to locate and befriend Banksy, only to have the artist turn the camera back on him.
Infamous artist Banksy said: "It's the story of how one man set out to film the un-filmable. And failed".
The film contains exclusive footage of Banksy, and many of the world's most infamous graffiti artists at work. But until the film is shown, it is not known whether Banksy's identity will be revealed. In the past, the artist has both mythologised and subverted his own image, so the film could raise as many questions as it answers. John Cooper, director of the Sundance Festival, said the story was so bizarre that he questioned whether it could be real.
"Exit Through The Gift Shop is one of those films that comes along once in a great while, a warped hybrid of reality and self-induced fiction while at the same time a totally entertaining experience," he added.
Exit Through The Gift Shop is due to open in UK cinemas on 5 March
Wednesday, 20 January 2010
Tuesday, 19 January 2010
BANKSY, UTAH PART 2
Note : These are not confirmed, hopefully the second one never is, but you know, alcohol and utah and rich people.. can have a strange effect.
BANKSY IN UTAH
New Banksy piece, rumoured to be one of at least four works that just went up in Park City, Utah ? Sundance Film Festival tonight !!! Mr B is rumoured to be working on a film.
Thanks to Thugs/Wallkandy for posting
URBAN INTERVENTIONS
Looks like a very interesting read.
Releasing in February from Gestalten, Urban Interventions highlights a group of artists whose work is (in essence) a progression from graffiti and street art. Larger in scale, these works challenge viewers to rethink their notions about the urban environment. The volume is edited by R. Klanten, S. Ehmann, and M. Huebner.
Evolving from graffiti and street art, urban interventions are the next generation of artwork to hit public space. Using any and all of the components that make up urban and rural landscapes, these mostly spatial interventions bring art to the masses. They turn the street into a studio, laboratory, club, and gallery. Modified traffic signs, swings at bus stops, and images created out of sand or snow challenge us to rediscover our environment and interact with it in new ways. The work is an intelligent and critical commentary on the planning, use, and commercialization of public space.
With a rich visual selection of projects and methods, Urban Interventions documents this new artistic approach to urban art that is currently making a profound mark on our contemporary visual language. The book shows the growing connections and interplay of this scene with art, architecture, performance, and installation. Propagators of urban intervention surprise and provoke with work in cities including New York and London, but also in countries such as China, Columbia, and Turkey. Everywhere the work appears it turns public spaces into individual experiences.
Urban Interventions is the first book to document these very current, personal art projects in a comprehensive way.
More details and images here
New solo show from David Choe set to open on Feb 5th.
From Upperplayground
Fifty24SF is proud to host “Character Assassination” – a solo exhibition by David Choe.
Friday, February 5th, 2010
One of the most diverse and prolific living artists, David Choe combines his interest in American and Asian pop culture, graphic novels, and cityscapes to produce some of the most dynamic work seen today.
His often lewd expressions of the female form, considered offensive to some, is, in all actuality, the most raw and honest appreciation of the male/female sexual interaction. Erratic brushwork and wild compositions convey a superficial sense of anarchy and abandon while the delicate and exotic portraits betray the implied chaos, revealing a passionate love of women.
In Dave’s work, discordance and serenity exist in impossible harmony as proof to the truest constitution of life. His paintings are testament to the fact that the gritty and the perceived offensive are necessary constituents of raw beauty.
David’s disinterest in social conformity and lack of need for social approval allows him to exist in a realm of indulgence, allowing his creativity to abound unfettered. Whether he be painting murals, paintings, or quick street commentary, that raw honesty is the element that drives his work deep into the psyche of the viewer. Truths that we as an audience are not always brave enough to admit, even to ourselves, fuels the mastery behind the work. A subliminal stirring of still waters, his paintings are thought provoking and engaging in a way that cannot always be justified as simply, aesthetically pleasing.
A seasoned globetrotter, David Choe’s murals cover walls from his native Los Angeles to Vietnam. His intricate brush strokes and characters translate well to consumer products and he has worked with Marvel Comics, Levis and Nike. His art, photos, and writing have been featured in Giant Robot, Hustler and Vice Magazine. David Choe has also self-published comic/journals: Bruised Fruit, Cursiv and Slow Jams. Most recently, he was featured in the documentary about his work “Dirty Hands.”
Fifty24SF is proud to host “Character Assassination” – a solo exhibition by David Choe.
Friday, February 5th, 2010
One of the most diverse and prolific living artists, David Choe combines his interest in American and Asian pop culture, graphic novels, and cityscapes to produce some of the most dynamic work seen today.
His often lewd expressions of the female form, considered offensive to some, is, in all actuality, the most raw and honest appreciation of the male/female sexual interaction. Erratic brushwork and wild compositions convey a superficial sense of anarchy and abandon while the delicate and exotic portraits betray the implied chaos, revealing a passionate love of women.
In Dave’s work, discordance and serenity exist in impossible harmony as proof to the truest constitution of life. His paintings are testament to the fact that the gritty and the perceived offensive are necessary constituents of raw beauty.
David’s disinterest in social conformity and lack of need for social approval allows him to exist in a realm of indulgence, allowing his creativity to abound unfettered. Whether he be painting murals, paintings, or quick street commentary, that raw honesty is the element that drives his work deep into the psyche of the viewer. Truths that we as an audience are not always brave enough to admit, even to ourselves, fuels the mastery behind the work. A subliminal stirring of still waters, his paintings are thought provoking and engaging in a way that cannot always be justified as simply, aesthetically pleasing.
A seasoned globetrotter, David Choe’s murals cover walls from his native Los Angeles to Vietnam. His intricate brush strokes and characters translate well to consumer products and he has worked with Marvel Comics, Levis and Nike. His art, photos, and writing have been featured in Giant Robot, Hustler and Vice Magazine. David Choe has also self-published comic/journals: Bruised Fruit, Cursiv and Slow Jams. Most recently, he was featured in the documentary about his work “Dirty Hands.”
Monday, 18 January 2010
GAIA & NohjColey
Last Friday two young and hungry New York Street Artists combined their artistry, critical intellects, and kinetic energy (and questionable dancing skills) to help define street art for a new generation on the cusp of the 2010’s.
More on this from our friends over at Brooklynstreetart
Saturday, 16 January 2010
Friday, 15 January 2010
FAILE NEWS
FAILE
Waiting for the End, 2009
Acrylic and silkscreen ink on wood, steel frame
42 1/2 x 64 1/2 x 2 1/2 inches (108 x 164 x 6 cm)
Waiting for the End, 2009
Acrylic and silkscreen ink on wood, steel frame
42 1/2 x 64 1/2 x 2 1/2 inches (108 x 164 x 6 cm)
Jeffrey Deitch at MoCA, Faile showing with Gagosian. Whatever next !
News from Faile
If you find yourself in LA tonight we have a group show opening at Gagosian Gallery in Beverly Hills. Should be a great show.
Meet Me Inside
Jan 15th - Feb 27th
You can find details of the show at:
http://www.gagosian.com
Also coming up here on February 11th we will be opening a Faile & Bast show at Lazarides Gallery in London. We will pass along a few more details soon. It’s going to be pretty wild, don’t want to give away too much here as we’d like to have it be a bit of a surprise. We hope to see you there.
Details can be found at:
http://www.lazinc.com/
Tuesday, 12 January 2010
JEFFREY DEITCH TO MOCA
LA's Museum of Contemporary Art (MoCA) just announced that Jeffrey Deitch will be their new Director from June 1st. He will also soon close his gallery, one of New York's finest, Deitch projects. Home to Swoon, Barry McGee & Os Gemeos amongst many others. Let's hope New York's loss is LA's and the world of contemporary arts gain.
We can't underestimate how astonishing this unprecedented move is. A very brave and adventurous journey undertaken by both the board and Deitch. Can't wait to see how this develops.
From the LA times via Arrested Motion
The Museum of Contemporary Art has confirmed that Jeffrey Deitch will be its new director.
We’ll have more details as they become available, but the appointment marks a step into new and controversial terrain: Deitch becomes the only art dealer/gallery owner to assume leadership of a major U.S. museum as MOCA eschews the usual approach of drawing from the ranks of established museum directors and curators or from the world of academia or other nonprofit ranks.
“I think that the news out of MOCA is, frankly, stunning,” said Selma Holo, director of USC’s Fisher Museum of Art and director of the university’s International Museum Institute. “Deitch has done amazing work as an extremely innovative art dealer. At the same time, we would be remiss not to ask ourselves how he and MOCA are planning to make the transition from the world of commerce and its values to another universe. One understands that these worlds blend, but there are still or should be some lines that are not crossed.”
– Mike Boehm and David Ng
The Museum of Contemporary Art has confirmed that Jeffrey Deitch will be its new director.
We’ll have more details as they become available, but the appointment marks a step into new and controversial terrain: Deitch becomes the only art dealer/gallery owner to assume leadership of a major U.S. museum as MOCA eschews the usual approach of drawing from the ranks of established museum directors and curators or from the world of academia or other nonprofit ranks.
“I think that the news out of MOCA is, frankly, stunning,” said Selma Holo, director of USC’s Fisher Museum of Art and director of the university’s International Museum Institute. “Deitch has done amazing work as an extremely innovative art dealer. At the same time, we would be remiss not to ask ourselves how he and MOCA are planning to make the transition from the world of commerce and its values to another universe. One understands that these worlds blend, but there are still or should be some lines that are not crossed.”
– Mike Boehm and David Ng
Sunday, 10 January 2010
NUART 2010 IN THE NEWS
Planlegger to gigantverk til Nuart
Martyn Reeds Nuart-planer: Et gigantverk på en kornsilo i Verven. Tårnet på Tou Scene som graffiti- landemerke. Og ti artister i ti bygninger på kulturaksen Stavanger sentrum – Østre bydel.
Nuart 2010 plans are under way. Full article from Rogalands Avis (Norwegian only) here
Friday, 8 January 2010
TURMKUNST 2010
Turmkunst 2010 from webaffairs on Vimeo.
looks like an ambitious and interesting project, cool to see "KR" involved.
From the website
In April four international artists will commence work on the most complex canvass Europe has to offer: Honet (France), Sozyone (Spain) and Flying Förtress (Germany) visited Berlin in December to fill their sketch books with studies of the 70ies building Bierpinsel.
More here
Wednesday, 6 January 2010
Tuesday, 5 January 2010
FROM TOY TO KING
From Toy to King from kreisone on Vimeo.
“If you want to get into graffiti, you should pay attention to this!”From upcoming communication designer Sebastian Thieme comes this remarkable and exciting animated short movie.
This exhilarating animation gives you a brief introduction into the fascinating urban subculture ›graffiti‹, and explains in an incredibly simple way how to become a professional writer yourself.
SHEPARD FAIREY (OBEY). STENCILS
A nice little behind the scenes look at Shepard Fairey's stencil collection
Monday, 4 January 2010
OS GEMEOS. NEW SHOW
Brand new show from Brazilian twins Os Gemeos !
OS GEMEOS
Nos braços de um anjo
Opening: Monday January 25, 2010 at 6:30 PM
until March 25, 2010
After the enormous success in 2007, Galleria Patricia Armocida is proud to announce the return of OS GEMEOS for their second solo exhibition at the Milan gallery, which opens on Monday January 25, 2010 at 6:30PM.
Otavio and Gustavo Pandolfo (1974, São Paulo, Brazil), identical twins better known as Os Gemeos, were pioneers of Brazilian writing in the mid 80s. Aside from the incredible works they’ve created in the streets of São Paulo, in recent years they’ve also been invited to show their creations in museums and in some of the most important art expos worldwide.
For this exhibit, entitled Nos braços de um anjo (In the arms of an angel), they will present never-before-seen works: large canvases, musical sculpture-objects, mechanical and interactive site-specific installations which will be created in the gallery itself.
The exhibit includes works that reflect their imagination which is influenced by daily experiences in the urban outskirts of a huge metropolis rich in contrast, and by cultural and musical folklore of the northeastern part of the country, which have been translated by the sensitive eyes of the artists into poetic visions with surreal and dreamlike atmospheres.
Os Gemeos’ distinctive characters, recognizable by their yellow skin and garish clothing embellished with gems and sequins, create delicate portraits of musicians, fishermen, women, and children who populate simple and sensual scenes of Brazilian reality that are melded with imaginary figures conceived in their oneiric universe. The precision of their lines, the delightful details in background landscapes or in the texture of the clothing, generate a sense of amazement and lead us to magical and fairytale-esque places imbued with a subtle and at times melancholic sense of lyricism which touches the soul.
Nos braços de um anjo
Opening: Monday January 25, 2010 at 6:30 PM
until March 25, 2010
After the enormous success in 2007, Galleria Patricia Armocida is proud to announce the return of OS GEMEOS for their second solo exhibition at the Milan gallery, which opens on Monday January 25, 2010 at 6:30PM.
Otavio and Gustavo Pandolfo (1974, São Paulo, Brazil), identical twins better known as Os Gemeos, were pioneers of Brazilian writing in the mid 80s. Aside from the incredible works they’ve created in the streets of São Paulo, in recent years they’ve also been invited to show their creations in museums and in some of the most important art expos worldwide.
For this exhibit, entitled Nos braços de um anjo (In the arms of an angel), they will present never-before-seen works: large canvases, musical sculpture-objects, mechanical and interactive site-specific installations which will be created in the gallery itself.
The exhibit includes works that reflect their imagination which is influenced by daily experiences in the urban outskirts of a huge metropolis rich in contrast, and by cultural and musical folklore of the northeastern part of the country, which have been translated by the sensitive eyes of the artists into poetic visions with surreal and dreamlike atmospheres.
Os Gemeos’ distinctive characters, recognizable by their yellow skin and garish clothing embellished with gems and sequins, create delicate portraits of musicians, fishermen, women, and children who populate simple and sensual scenes of Brazilian reality that are melded with imaginary figures conceived in their oneiric universe. The precision of their lines, the delightful details in background landscapes or in the texture of the clothing, generate a sense of amazement and lead us to magical and fairytale-esque places imbued with a subtle and at times melancholic sense of lyricism which touches the soul.
CONOR HARRINGTON VIDEO
Terrific video of Conor Harrington in action outdoors for the recent Grifter show in London.
DOEL-STREET ART VILLAGE
Some amazing images from RomanyWG documenting the village of Doel. Check out the flickr set below.
Nuclear Plant Doel is one of the two nuclear power plants in Belgium. The plant lies on the bank of the Scheldt, near the village of Doel in the Flemish province of East Flanders.
Doel is threatened with complete demolition due to the future enlargement of the harbor of Antwerp. This has seen many people having to sell their homes to the development corporation of that enlargement. Many historical buildings will be destroyed including a beautiful church.
More images
Saturday, 2 January 2010
BROOKLYN STREET ART, A YEAR IN PHOTO'S
This from our friends at Brooklynstreetart
STREET ART PHOTOGRAPHER JAIME ROJO CAPTURED A FEW THOUSAND IMAGES IN 2009 TO HELP DOCUMENT THE WILDLY GROWING STREET ART SCENE IN NEW YORK.
A veteran of 10 years shooting the streets of New York, Rojo has amassed a collection of images that capture the scene with the appreciation of an artist. To celebrate the creative spirit that is alive and well on the streets of New York, this slide video gives a taste of what happened in ‘09, without pretending to present the whole scene or all the artists, known and anonymous, who add to the ongoing conversation.
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