Blog Archives
Stéphanie Martin Petit
Stéphanie was kind enough to offer INFX these words on her online photography exhibition that centres on Barcelona‘s graffiti scene:
“I began taking pictures of graffiti painted on the shutters of Barcelona ten years ago and walk after walk grew this collection.”
“To date, with almost 1200 images, I have the evidence… that the drawings do not foul shutters or devalue the city but give colour, life and uniqueness. Day life is going to sleep and get up the pictures of the night, giving light and personality to our streets. Showing these photos around the world is a tribute to Barcelona‘s great artists and their talent. It is also a pacific scream towards the Barcelona administration; hoping that the law regarding the graffiti will be removed.”
You can view the online exhibition here: https://stephaniemartinpetit.virtualgallery.com/
SPOK
From the massive Spanish crew TBC and hailing from Madrid, this is one writer that has continued to evolve epic styles. SPOK found his feet on the rail lines during the ‘90s and was burning hard, up until around ‘05 when he muscled in on the Fine Arts set. Ever since, SPOK has made inroads onto the international scene with varied forms and magnificent aerosol algorithyms. See for yo‘ self:
Street Dreams 2012
After its success in 2011, the urban art festival Street Dreams returned to Adelaide in March of 2012 to showcase and celebrate local street artists and their work. The festival is run entirely through the work of volunteers to put together two days full of events centred on appreciating urban art forms and, most of all, having fun with it. Events included street art tours, workshops, mural painting, a “Pimp My T-Shirt” party and the famous “Dumpster Biennale“.
Precede Pictures have put together this short film documenting the highlights of the festival:
http://streetdreams.com.au/
FruitJam (Narcoze)
Narcoze is a European street artist from Holland. His techniques ranges from illustrative to aersol-based endeavours. Much of his work references escapism and “works inspired by the way people try to escape their own reality“. We recently hit Narcoze up on the FruitJam production he formulated and participated in; alongside fellow Euro street artists and graffers including Edo Rath, Simian Switch, Klik, Ominous, 524, Amik, CES53, Bust, and Sivanksi among others.
INFX: What got the FruitJam project started?
Narcoze: Mutual friends just got together to paint at this place called LerenDoen which literally means learning, doing. So it‘s a place where teenagers learn skills, when otherwise they might not have a chance to learn these things. Keeps ‘em off the streets and not turn into thugs and graffiti writers [ 
]
INFX: How did the artists relate to each other?
Narcoze: Most of us know each other from the graffiti or street art scene, even though they are very different from each other there‘s still a bond which will bring us together to paint at spots like these.
INFX: Do you have any future collabs on the horizon?
Narcoze: Not anything big planned at the moment but we try to get together in the weekends and just paint as often as we can. Good to get the juices flowing.
INFX: What‘s special about the graff scene in Europe?
Narcoze: I think the most important thing that stands out in European graff is that people from all over europe can easily meet up with each other and learn from each other‘s style.
Thanks to Narcoze for allowing time to give us the word-up on the FruitJam project. Check the video:
www.narcoze.com
Klara
Klara is quite lovely: easy going with a can-do attitude. And do she does -you will witness Klara‘s paste-ups all over town: often without realising it is her handiwork. But there is no missing the quality of her exploits, and this West Australian native‘s quest to make her art happen here in Melbourne. Klara was happy to meet me in the studio last week to interview herself with the aid of some super-maxxed up technology bonuses. Check it out:
Iepe Rubingh
Iepe Rubingh is a Dutch installation and performance artist. He currently lives and works in Berlin and has been a practicing artist for just over a decade. He‘s renowned for his The Joker Performances whereby he has shut down and disrupted traffic at busy intersections around the world. One such production caused traffic gridlock in Tokyo; for which he receieved a jail sentence of 10 days (which he had no choice but to serve). Below is a video from his 2010 Painting Reality series. In this video some 500 Litres of water-based (non-Solvent) paint is splashed over the Rosenthaler Platz in central Berlin. The resulting artwork serves as both a nod to Action Painters such as Jackson Pollock; but also invokes questions about the environment. However, despite its‘ overt political overtones; this artwork is splendid to view:
http://www.iepe.net/
El Mac
I‘m not hugely into graffiti art, but every once in a while an artist will grab my attention and remind me why spraypaint is so versatile to work with. One such artist is Miles “Mac“ Macgregor, better known by his pseudonym El Mac. Hailing out of Los Angeles, El Mac has become an established name in the street art community and has an incredible repertoire of murals all over the world. His styles and methods are as flexible as his canvas, creating a number of pieces on both brick and paper, using spraypaint and brushwork. Most notable is his distinct style of grooving line patterns through the images to create a “lines in the sand“ effect. The result is nothing short of astonishing, and his latest work for purchase titled The Prayer demonstrates his ability to create a flood of emotion straight from the canvas. Watch out Banksy, there‘s a new kid on the block!
http://www.elmac.net/
War of the Walls 2011
December again brings the 2nd annual War of the Walls live graffiti battle back to Collingwood. Last year‘s winner, the industrious ADNATE is also back to present the event, fresh from a tour-of-duty in Berlin. He joins industry judges alongside the definitive Crowd Vote that holds a lamp to the current batch of writers; 5 graffiti up-and-coming Kings comprising RAD 11, Ohnoes, Mr Reliable, Eltoasto, and Broes. The 5 finalists will compete in an epic 2 hour aerosol battle, with hip-hop and soul breaks on the make by DJ Tom Showtime.
From 7pm at The Void, 1-35 Wellington St Collingwood Saturday 3rd Dec. Tickets: Click Here.
www.warofthewalls.com
Writers Bench
Oriel Guthrie directs this documentary film tracing the development of the graffiti scene in Melbourne. Following on from her 2004 short Skip Hop, this film explores the stories and perspectives of those who grew up with the movement, and also those that are engrossed in its contemporary incarnation. It traces the Street Art scene in Melbourne from 1980 until the present day. The film explores its roots in political slogans, through to the development of styles that are uniquely Australian.
The film screens at ACMI weekly, on Saturdays 12th, 19th, 26th of November at 4pm.
Deb
Deb is one of the most popular street artists working in Australia today. Her female characters adorn many businesses and commissioned walls throughout Melbourne & Sydney, and she has held many exhibitions whilst still engaging in grassroots events. This week, INFX was able to hit Deb up for some words on her current state of affairs:
INFX: Having been on the scene for a long time now, what would you say has been one of your biggest artistic (career) highlights?
Deb: It‘s hard to say because there‘s always so many projects going on, it‘s really hard to highlight the most outstanding. Every time I have a solo show I put months of work into it, so no matter what other exciting jobs I have going on, these always feel like the best and most rewarding achievements as after each show, I‘ve just spent months pushing my style further. The Outpost Festival on Cockatoo island, Sydney, starting 4th November has been a big and amazing project to work on. There is so much amazing work to see over there.
INFX: Cockatoo Island seems to be a heavy event. You‘ve said before that your characters somewhat amplify some of your own character traits -how would you say they‘ve developed in recent years?
Deb: If they amplify some of my character traits it‘s due to different times of my life and things I may be going through or feeling. They are also sometimes infused with issues around the world that bother or move me, or sometimes purely fantasy art. If you look through my stuff it‘s pretty diverse and always changing, there are many themes, creatures, characters and colour palettes.
INFX: Being such a prolific artist during your years in Melbourne (with jaunts to Sydney & LA), and with widespread acclaim, what motivated you to move to Sydney?
Deb: I really don‘t know… I was becoming agitated in Melbourne, regardless of how my art was doing, I just felt like I really needed a change. I started doing more painting projects up here and thought I‘d give it a go. I live in Sydney for now but again I think I‘ll be wanting to move again,and next time will be overseas.
INFX: Yeah, and with shows such as ‘Young & Free‘, Australian artists are doing well in the US at the moment -do you see yourself Stateside anytime soon?
Deb: I think about it all the time I feel like I‘m meant to go there now and that it would be a bigger push towards the direction I see my art going. I will never be at ease till I‘ve gone and spent some time over there doing my thing; as I have wanted this move for years now. It will happen next year.
And no doubt things will continue to happen for Deb. A big thank-you for the interview; and we wish Deb all the best in Sydney and abroad!
Adelaide’s Forgotten Outlaws
In the past year, I‘d noticed a staggering rejuvenation of the Adelaide street art scene. What initially caught my eye was a large poster of Albert Einstein riding a bicycle past alongside Her Majesty‘s Theatre in the Chinatown district. Until now, I had always wondered who was behind these quirky exhibits emerging throughout town.
Peter Drew is the man responsible for this surge in creativity, and his work can be seen on almost every building in the Adelaide CBD. Inspired by his recent arrest for a series of pixelated faces quoting “All you need is Like“, his latest project titled ‘Adelaide‘s Forgotten Outlaws‘ exhibits black and white portraits of prisoners from a forgotten era; providing a solemn yet endearing look into the past. The artists‘ identification with the individuals portrayed, and indeed with the criminality of street art itself, provides a vibrant backdrop to the once grey city; and a compelling statement to street art‘s opponents.
Keep a look out for Peter‘s work the next time you‘re vagabonding through town, or check out his previous online:
peterdrewarts.com
Cake
INFX this week put the word on the hip, hot-and-happening street artist Cake. From Brooklyn, NYC, Cake has recently made an appearance in the Italian Vogue Magazine and also featured in last month‘s Juxtapoze magazine issue. She studied the fine arts at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn -following in the footsteps of street artist Swoon, and the notorious Rob Zombie.
How did studying at the Pratt Institute influence the direction of your art?
I think I would feel the influence from Pratt many years later in regards to my public installations. My dear friend Polina and a group of super talented people really began doing work on the streets, and at the time, I watched them but kept myself and my work contained in my studio. I wasn‘t ready to be so connected to the public and to people back then, I was much more comfortable being isolated and alone. I‘m so grateful that I finally became more interested in expanding my practice, it has brought me much joy.
Your inclusion in the May edition of Italian Vogue magazine was stunning -how was that experience?
Thank you- that was incredible from start to finish. It‘s not everyday you have talented people doing your make up and hair and photographing you. It was a total honor- Vogue Italia is the bible of all fashion magazines, so there‘s really not much to compare it to.
Since featuring in Juxtapose magazine recently, have you found your art (or you as exhibitor) in higher demand?
Juxtapose is another great publication. That interview was part of the group show that is up in LA right now at C.A.V.E. Gallery- it was curated by my boys at Brooklyn Street Art. Some really amazing work in that show by a real array of artists.
Although you‘ve exhibited in Berlin and on the U.S. West Coast; you‘ve mostly exhibited in Brooklyn -is that because you‘re a local?
I do live in Brooklyn and I have my beloved studio here. I would say that there is a strong community of people invested in street art and graffiti here. There‘s alot of great people in this scene- from artists, to photographers and bloggers. I love being here with all of them.
After your first solo show last year; are you keen for another? And where would you love most to exhibit?
I would love another opportunity to have another solo show. I work feverishly, and I am surrounded by many paintings and drawings and would love to get them out there to an audience. I believe I am patient and allow for things to take their natural course in regards to my art career. As long as I keep making things I‘ve got all my bases covered.
cakestreetart.com
Emma ‘Danger’ Bertoldi
Emma Bertoldi -street art stalwart and artistic extraordinaire confesses her sins of the street to INFX. Growing up in Brisbane, Bertoldi remembers hitting the skateboard and cruising down to the park where she “adored the art that was scattered over the concrete“. She admits she was never the best skater but found grand artistic influence there and revelled in the scene.
INFX: You‘re from Queensland, living in Brisbane -what got you into street art?
EB: There are a few combinations that hooked me on street art. When I was nineteen I [began] to study Fine Arts (Animation). The computerised direction of animation, just wasn‘t cutting it for me. I‘m an old school 2D illustrator with pens, ink, pencils and a light box. I started to really notice the art that grows on the Brisbane streets and felt that rush you get when you’re about to drop in on a 6ft pipe… (6ft is huge to me as I’m short as fuck!) that was it for me, I was sold.
INFX: That‘s the shit! What artistic influences resonate with you; influences found outside of your university Fine Arts studies?
EB: I adore old school animations and comics like Otto Messmers ‘Felix the Cat‘. There‘s this brilliance in being able to do so much with such a basic character structure. The expressions and gestures have to really be bold to convey the story as the majority where silent films. That element is the most influencial in my works.
INFX: Your works are amazing; how are the t-shirts coming along?
EB: T-Shirt Art is my naughty little crush! I have so much fun working on my Donnie Danger label. It‘s awesome walking down the street and spotting someone rocking one of my tees!
INFX: Do you have any shows coming up, and when are you next in Melbourne?
EB: I‘m [currently] organising the 3rd Lucky Duck paint-off in Highgate Hill. This awesome new bar in West End ‘JamJar‘ has asked me to paint [their] wall. I‘m saving [for] Berlin next year and heading to San Fran to live for a while. There will definately be a trip down to Melbourne before I head off but whether it‘ll be for business or pleasure is still unknown.
Well, we hope Bertoldi meets many pleasures during her inter-continental crusades; and no doubt INFX will take note of her whereabouts! So Stay Tuned!
Benny Diar
Benny Diar (AKA Benny Boggs) is a notable street artist that began life as a graffiti supremo; bombing walls and freight trains across the United States.
He started out writing DIAR at the tender age of 11 and went on to lord it up with DTC crew, among San Jose kings SAER, PUZLE, PIER and VEKS. However, Benny became the victim of a severe car crash that left him paralysed from the neck down, in 2008. Henceforth, his bombing and burning career was tragically over. During his recovery, though, DIAR “remained dedicated to art, exploring other mediums” as he learnt how to command the paintbrush regardless of disability. He has since “started to use acrylics [to] paint using my mouth” and specialises in pop-like portraiture that homages aerosol (or graffiti) art forms. Also, just the other day DIAR decided to return to painting railcars for the first time in years. Albeit model railcars (see below). INFX was lucky enough to be granted an audience with DIAR, and thus asked:
MTW: What are your earliest memories of bombing?
BD: I remember really starting to see graffiti and bombing when I was five or six years old When I started walking to school in the morning. I messed around with it ever since but didn‘t get serious with my own name until I was 11 years old.
MTW: How close do you feel you’ve been to death? Did you think you’d die after your accident?
BD: I‘ve been close to death hundreds of times. I never thought I would die after my accident but I was expected to die 10+ times at the hospital in the weeks following my accident.
MTW: What motivation do you find within your thoughts to create art?
BD: After my accident I was just happy to still find a way to create. Now my thoughts about my art are a lot deeper. Although I‘m just being the person I am, hearing from people about how I inspire them has become a cycle because it in turn inspires me to push myself more.
MTW: Will you ever hit up a freight train again?
BD: I doubt it unless they come up with some major medical advances, but even then I don’t know. I guess we‘ll just have to see.
Check DIAR in action last week:
http://bennydiar.com/
“No Time For Regrets“
Carbon
The absolute in Graff and Street Culture showcase hits town this weekend.
With an outstanding line-up of artists of multiple persuasions turning out en masse for parties & workshops, Carbon also features talks by industry stalwarts including Futura, The Hundreds, Noah Callahan Beaver, and local heavy-weights Tristan Ceddia & Dan Preston. Hosted by Acclaim Magazine, this primo event promises relentless insight and privledge to those that fork out for the rather outlandish ticket prices. However, it is also set to offer unprecedented access to all your favourite street art and associated customary endeavours.
Be sure to catch a glimpse, even just for a day -and we‘ll be there to check some of the action if you cannot.
Check it fo‘reals: This weekend, April 29th ‘til May 1st at Federation Square.
acclaimmag.com/carbon
Secret Wars: Deb vs. Ken Taylor
Round Three of Melbourne Series 2 was upon us tonight, with the heavyweights pulling some hefty punches upon one another.
The crowd favourite was Deb as she brought the house down with a fascinating ‘novel‘ piece that could be said to reflect an aversionary character synthesis; or such.
Ken Taylor was the certain victor, though: his skullduggery hastily enduring the whitewash.
Without further adieu, do view the photography, and stay tuned for the next exciting instalment in 2011.
check: secretwars.com.au
Secret Wars: Phibs vs. Pierre Lloga
Wednesday evening hosted the 2nd heat in a glorious round-robin of graffiti battles that featured two of the finest ‘street‘ artists in Australia. Phibs and Pierre Lloga went head-to-head in 90 minutes of madness defined by marker pens and rollers: without aersol paint, pencils or sketches.
The crowd shaped up with plenty of enthusiasm en mass. This turnout eclipsed the first heat; and with Deb vs. Ken Taylor to battle it out on Wednesday, 8th December just before the end of year break, these numbers are set to continue to swell. So be sure to get your tickets from moshtix.com.au and get your arse into gear.
Secret Wars began in Shoreditch, London in 2006 and has since steadily risen to become one of the biggest live art movements on the scene. From these humble beginnings, you may now witness the graff battle showdowns that your parents warned you about.
check: secretwars.com.au
