Time to show some support and also to expose the polluted water issue that is happening right now in China.
“Not only is China one of the world’s twenty most water deficient countries, but irresponsible corporations and slack government has made water pollution highly prevalent in China. Today, as much as 70% of all rivers, lakes, and reservoirs in China are affected by water pollution, and with each passing day the situation only gets worse.”
Greenpeace is using what can called ‘street art’ and has launched a campaign by some creative street installations across the globe recently – mannequins bearing the Chinese symbol for water – ? ‘Shui’
Some have been spotted in London, see the pictures below.
Let’s face it, 10 years ago that post would have not existed because ten years ago, street art, graffiti or urban art, let’s call it that, wasn’t around. I actually need to point out that it was around but not as popular as it is now. Now popular often leads to some sort of fame and wait fort it… money revenue, bucks, big bucks.
I must admit, I wad gobbed smacked when I learnt how much some street artists are actually worth. Kids, I am about to give a very good and valid argument to go up to your parents and defend your case about becoming a vandal or should we call it an ‘urban creative mind’
Here are the 5 money hoovers in the street artosphere…
5. Retna: $5 million +
Real name: Marquis Lewis –aka Retna
Age and residence: 33 year old, L.A (USA)
First show: 2010 that coincided with the New York Fashion week
Last auction fetch: ‘Young Blood’ for USD7500 (Source : http://www.findartinfo.com)
Latest gold mine collaboration: Louis Vuitton scarves series + mural creation on the storefront of the designer’s new location in the Design District of Miami.
4. Mr. Brainwash (or MBA): $10 million
Real name: Thierry Guetta –aka Mr Brainwash
Age and residence: 47 year old, L.A (USA)
First show: 2012 ‘Life is beautiful’. Banksy suggested to Thierry that he should do some graffiti work of his own. Gusto became his trademark and on overnight success followed. Profits exceeded over 1 million at his first show
Last auction fetch: ‘Tomato spray’ for USD6250 (Source : http://www.findartinfo.com)
3. Shepard Fairey: $15 million
Real name: Frank Shepard Fairey – aka Shepard Fairey
Age and residence: 44 year old, Charleston (USA)
First show: or rather what put him on the map – He put together ‘HOPE’ for President Barack Obama‘s campaign for presidency back in 2008. The red and blue poster is now an iconic symbol of the election. (Fairey’s Obama poster now hangs in the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C.)
Latest auction fetch: ‘CHANGE’ for USD2500 (Source : http://www.findartinfo.com)
Latest gold mine enterprise: His ‘Obey’ Andre the Giant images, which became viral online and translated into a clothing line, including t-shirts sold at Urban Outfitters.
2. Banksy: $20 million
Real name: ?? Most of us will know who this guy is even thought and quite remarkably, this artist continues to work under the radar as a faceless enigma. – aka Banksy
Age and residence: 39 year old we think, Bristol most probably
First show: or rather first known large wall mural was “The Mild Mild West” painted in 1997 to cover advertising of a former solicitors’ office on Stokes Croft Avenue, Bristol. It depicts a teddybear lobbing a Molotov cocktail at three riot police.
Latest auction fetch: ‘GOLF SALE’ for USD6144 (Source : http://www.findartinfo.com)
Latest gold mine enterprise: Banksy has published a number of books on his projects and directed two movies, one of which – “Exit Through the Gift Shop” – was nominated for an Academy Award in 2011.
Mild Mild Mild West by Banksy
1. David Choe: $200 million
Real name: David Choe – aka David Choe – real, no bullshit stage name
Age and residence: 37 year old, L.A (USA)
Latest auction fetch: ‘JIMMI’ for USD200 (Source : http://www.findartinfo.com)
Latest gold mine enterprise: Since he was approached back in 2005 by a small social media start-up by the name of Facebook, his life had changed and the bucks started pilling up. The president at the time, Sean Parker, was a fan of the artist and commissioned him for a series of murals for their office headquarters. What Choe delivered was his blend of frenetic style of abstraction, urban landscapes and sexuality. While Parker indicated it took a bit of time to get used to the distraction of the walls, Choe was presented with two options of payment; cash, or stocks. He went for the latter and damn his high-risk venture has paid off…
The concept is pretty simple – Art-o-mat machines sell small works of art from retired and converted cigarette vending machines. But each dispenser is also to my view a stunnig work of art.
The recurrent style of these machines is often retro and many artists have got involved a=ver the years and the span of art available would please any art enthusiasts. They are spread mainly across Americas so if you are not around, get yourself over on the website and won yours today and if you are an artist, submit your art for the Art-o-mat machines!
We have included below some of the best machines we came across (images from Art-O-Mat)
The Big Egg Hunt was a plan hatched by Elephant Family and Action for Children for a record-breaking egg hunt across Central London to raise money for these two eggshell-ent causes!
Over 200 uniquely crafted eggs, created by leading artists, designers, architects and jewellers, will be hidden across the capital this Easter. Get onto the www.thebigegghunt.co.uk for the full details and collect your map and download the app. All eggs are also up for auction.
An impressive bunch of artists are taking part and have crafted their own egg. Just to mention a few – Nick & Rob Carter, The Chapman Brothers, Anony Micallef. But the focus will be here on Nathalie Priem’s egg creation – a superb egg made of steel and gilded in 23.5 carat gold! (photo included below)
> Get bidding to make sure to get Nathalie’s Priem’s egg!
The artist, with the help of Wooden Horse London (www.woodenhorselondon.com), a new bespoke design and fabrication company in Hackney, is what she says about her artwork:
“The Golden Egg was born from my desire to understand where and how beauty is perceived in the artefacts we create. Stemming from an interest in the human need to create pleasing visual proportions within the things we construct and the seemingly contrasting chaotic driving forces of nature, the Golden egg is an example of mathematics within nature, and nature within rigid form. Built upon the Fibonacci series and the golden ratio, every curve within the Golden Egg portrays both precision and elegance. It looks to demonstrate that the inventions of mankind will always be dictated to by nature, a beautiful framework within which we are all held.”
DALeast is back painting another stunning cheetah inspired wall mural in Brick Lane, and his wife Faith47 whose also a professional street art recently arrived in London is painting a tiger artwork at Old Truman Brewery.
We are thrilled to have partnered with the Curious Duke gallery and are now able to bring you awesome art.
Representing only the best UK emerging artist, Curious Duke Gallery aims to change the way you buy art work. Curious Duke is fast becoming the go to gallery to buy affordable original and limited edition art.
Curious Duke is housed in Curious Duke Gallery a 400 year old subterranean space on Whitecross Street in Islington. One of the most welcoming and unique gallery spaces you will ever encounter.
I’m a terrible creature of habit. I like my routines because they free up brain space for more important stuff – the stuff where I can be really creative and unpredictable. Mostly, I live in harmony with my habits, enjoying their usefulness and the comfort they bring, but there have been times when my habits have given me cause for alarm.
Discussion topic 3: WHEN DO YOU TAKE WARNING FROM A HABIT?
Pop over to RECURSIVE to find out about a fascinating study from MIT which finds that habits are formed in the prefrontal cortex of the brain and not in the subconscious. Then join in the discussion by leaving a comment.
I was meant to post up the pictures from Dan Baldwin’s work at Signal, his first solo show with the gallery which happened last month.
I have inserted below what Signal says about the artist – Dan Baldwin’s colourful and deceptively alluring work has attracted the attention of international critics and buyers over the past few years. His images seem to speak of the innocence ‘gone wrong’ – whether this is societies or more personal wrongs. His work also have humour and wit in their playful use of familiar, sometimes kitsch, imagery.
The Big Egg Hunt was a plan hatched by Elephant Family and Action for Children for a record-breaking egg hunt across Central London to raise money for these two eggshell-ent causes!
I’m a terrible creature of habit. I like my routines because they free up brain space for more important stuff – the stuff where I can be really creative and unpredictable. Mostly, I live in harmony with my habits, enjoying their usefulness and the comfort they bring, but there have been times when my habits have given me cause for alarm.
