This recent piece from Belgian artist ROA can be seen in Miami and precisely at the Wynwood Walls. The artist’s work coincide with this year’s Art Basel 2011.
Pictures from streetartnews.net
ROA at Art Basel Miami
Star wars as greek statues
We all went to a museum one day (well I hope you did, if not you guys are missing out!) which has a Classical art collection often consisting of a series of nude hunks sculptures.
In the Classical period there was a revolution in Greek statuary, usually associated with the introduction of democracy and the end of the aristocratic culture associated with the kouroi. The Classical period saw changes in the style and function of sculpture. Poses became more naturalistic (see the Charioteer of Delphi for an example of the transition to more naturalistic sculpture), and the technical skill of Greek sculptors in depicting the human form in a variety of poses greatly increased.
But enough of Greek sculptures in their “Classical” sense, let’s look at the series of digital manipulations by French artist Travis Durden adds a Star Wars dimension to it.
Star Wars, for those who don’t know it (…) is an American epic space opera franchise, centered on a film series created by George Lucas.
I do not know for you guys but the chap is pretty gifted at sculpture right? Well it may be but these works will not prove it because these are a series of images manipulated using Photoshop, the popular image editing software.
Durden reimagines Darth Vader, Boba Fett, Yoda, General Grevious and a Storm Trooper as “Darth Resurrection,” “Gladiator Boba,” Angel Yodea,” “General Niobides” and “Storm Reader.”
About the artist
Travis Durden is a pseudonym, as the Parisian artist behind the project would prefer his art be the center of attention, not himself. Fascinated by the construction of myths & idols, he interrogates how we, as humans, determine what will be raised to popular culture or elevated to divine cult, and how history has influenced us in making this choice.
Astro Naut – 3D toys
We met with Astro Naut who can be described as a street art sculptor. We need more of his stuff out there as what he does is just awesome and more importantly we like very much the manufacturing aspect of it. Did I mention that he is from Spain, a very creative place.
Astro Naut was kind enough to answer a few questions:
ARTPIE: Tell us about yourself/your crew in a few words?
ASTRO NAUT: Astro Naut is just me, myself and I. I started drawing and pasting up my street art character in 2008 in Madrid, Spain
A-P: For how long have you been doing street art?
A N: I started doing street art in the beginning of 2008, I think. I discover the freedom and the exiting of illegally and I fall in love with it..
A-P: And what drove you towards sculptures rather than other mediums such as paint?
A N: I do all the techniques with my character. I paint, paste up, but what I prefer the most is the sculptures, the toyz. I think It´s another step in street art and I love it!
A-P: What are you trying to say if anything through your sculptures, if anything?
A N: mmmm, there´s no a specific message.
A-P: Tell us a bit more what your sculpture are made of/ your making process?
A N: The mattress if made of silicon. The toyz are made of plaster and painted with spray and markers.
A-P: Any other project in the pipeline
A N: Well, I´m developing the second generation of my sculptures. And I´ve just finished this mural in Madrid.. (see photo below)
Mural in Madrid
The Space Between The Stars at Scream
‘The Space Between The Stars‘ opens this Friday at Scream. Expect London and international artists and the recurrent yet infinite “light” as a medium in art. Many artists in the past experimented with it, such as Robert Irwin for example, and as the artists in this show, gave an immersive experience for the viewer.
This show promises a variety of approaches in trying to break down light.
Korean-born US based artist Bohyun Yoon gives us an installation of silicon rubber figures suspended like puppets from a steel bar with a spotlight. Caroline Jane Harris works with paper and will present us with an epic landscape titled Sylvan Landscape over two metres in width. Chris Bracey, a veteran in working with neon and lights and who has worked for big names or productions such as Vivienne Westwood or the Batman films will impress. James Hopkins’ will use sculptures to create illusions. Regine Schumann also works with sculptures but made of acrylic glass and a special phosphorescent pigment that allow the works to glow from within.
The collaboration between Hsiao-chi Tsai (Taiwan) & Kimiya Yoshikawa (Japan), masters in Mixed-media textiles and Sculpture respectively, their light sculptures and installations might steal the show. Shane McAdams ‘ landscape made with a ball-point pen, oil and resin has also to be something to look for. Last but not least Sylvia Hommert experiments with a range of mediums including pigment, beeswax, holographic paper and glitter on birch panels to capture this ephemeral and iridescent quality.
Artists featured; Bohyun Yoon (Korea), Caroline Jane Harris (UK), Chris Bracey (UK), James Hopkins (UK), Regine Schumann (Germany), Tsai & Yoshikawa (Japan & Taiwan), Shane McAdams (USA) and Sylvia Hommert (USA)
Exhibition opens on 11th January to 16th Febuary.
RSVP for Scream group show preview to info@leesharrock.co.uk
Facebook page related to the show – http://www.facebook.com/events/458881274161027/
Linder Sterling: Collage and Montage
John Stezaker once said of Collage that it “is a yearning for a lost world and reflects a universal sense of loss”. Those sentiments are certainly reflected in the work of artist and radical feminist Linder Sterling (also known as Linder).
In her series Pretty Girls, Linder reacted to visual world she occupied, a society of inequality and the gender specific rhetoric. Linder used the magazines of the late 70’s and 80’s as her painters brush. Splicing images of naked women from pornography, and kitchen appliances from those awful home improvement catalogues, she created a curious and slightly disturbing, yet telling depiction on the representation of women of the time.
Looking back at these images from the 70’s and the post punk era it’s amazing how contemporary they feel. Is this due to the inherent nature of collage and it’s yearning for a lost world (as Stezaker put it). Or is it that in a time when we are bombarded with imagery on a daily basis that more and more contemporary artists and looking back in time in an attempt to decipher it all?
Guest post by Brian J Morrison
Franz West dies at the age of 55
The artist Franz West has died. For those familiar with the artist or keen on sculpture, this must feel like the art world has lost one of its valuable creative thinker. The trademark of Franz West’s work was largescale bursting with colours sculptures often querky in their shapes and defintely surrealist.
West’s artwork would be made out of plaster, papier-mâché, wire, polyester, aluminium and other, ordinary materials. He had a go at paintings first but rapidly turned his interest to collages, sculptures and in particular portable sculptures called “Adaptives” or “Fitting Pieces”, environments and furniture.
“It doesn’t matter what the art looks like but how it’s used” Franz West.
As a tribute, we have included picture of his most iconic sculptures. Franz West was definitely original with hus approach to sculpture and our pavements and park will be more sad now.
Tutorial: David Samuel’s graffiti tips (video)
David Samuel gives is graffiti tips via the program Blast (BBC)
Meet Stephen Whatcott, pastel artist at its best
Stephen Whatcott is now a regular with The Creative Bubble, a multi-discipline pop up event at Roxy Bar and Screen, London.
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)
LEGO’s new wii remote: play and build remote
LEGO’s ‘play and build remote for Nintendo wii’, what an amazing thing. I was about 3 years old when I got my first LEGO set and in my teens when I first played game consoles and now I can unify the two – sweet. Continue reading LEGO’s new wii remote: play and build remote
Pancakes & Booze London second edition almost on!
In short…
ART . PANCAKES . BOOZE . DJ . LIVE ART . EAST LONDON .
Live art & free pancakes
While talented DJs will be throwing tunes, we also have a few live art happenings on the night. We particularly look forward to see Mark Petty in action. Mark will produce screenprints on the night which will be up for sale.
And as always, there will be pancakes getting flipped over all night. Just queue and get your free pancakes.
Submit your application
There is still time to apply, we take artists submissions until the last day before the show so do not wait and fill out this form. We hope to have you with us for this edition
About
Pancake batter is sizzling, beer froth is flowing, and bare flesh is slathered in paint. Indie musicians and DJs break sound waves off the canvas-lined, graffiti-strewn walls, while revelers stuff their faces with endless amounts of free pancakes.
The Pancakes & Booze Art Show is an LA based artist movement that started in 2009 and has quickly spread to over 20+ cities throughout North America.
They currently organise some of the largest pop-up underground art showcases in the country, with the best local emerging artists, musicians, and performers each city has to offer.
You can read more about the Pancakes & Booze show
WHAT – The Pancakes & Booze Pop Up Art Show
WHERE – Studio Spaces E1
WHEN – 7th April 2016