Art Of The State News - London

Ronzo's Pity Of London - the video!

Editor — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 22:20:00 +0000

Earlier this year Ronzo created some incredibly detailed replicas of the dragons that mark the entrances into the City of London - albeit with the exception that they had been re-formed to be sculptures of Ronzo's making rather than the emblem of one of the world's leading financial districts. He called the silver painted figures clutching coins 'Crunchy' and explained at the time that they marked the point where we should be celebrating the end of the recession (the economy had reportedly just grown by an altogether not too convincing 0.1% just as the bolts were being driven in to the pavement to secure the pieces). I managed to track down a couple of survivors (and found the remnants of one that had been lost) a couple of days later. Sadly none now remain but Ronzo has now released a three part video showing their installation. Interesting viewing - especially as this area is one of the most closely monitored square miles in the world. Pictures of the Crunchy's appear under the video link below.

Ronzo's Pity of London part one, part two and part three

Old Street

Aldgate

New from Dr D

Editor — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 07:54:00 +0000

Maybe a bit more subtle in approach than this effort but David Cameron's rather smooth face is still attracting the attention of London's billboard hi-jackers. This one in Dalston is the work of Dr D (where you can find a lot more of this kind of work).

Dr D 'Suck My Goldman Sachs'. I'm not really that tall - this was taken from the number 76 bus.

Last chance to see the Eelus show

Editor — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 22:28:00 +0000

Saturday March 6th is the last day (and last chance) to see Eelus's solo show 'The Colour Out Of Space' at the Blackall Studios (73 Leonard Street, EC2A 4DS). I finally managed to check out the gallery yesterday and was really impressed by the ideas, art and execution of a well put together body of work. As well as a wealth of major new pieces there is kind of a retrospective feel - basically everything Eelus has put out over the past few years is represented here in some way. It's great to see the progression made over the years and the development of a distinct style. If you can't visit in person I'd recommend for a truly comprehensive look around the show Wallkandy's excellent Flickr set and also RJ from Vandalog's video interview where Eelus reveals inspiration came from both early Santa's Ghetto shows and heavy metal stalwarts Iron Maiden(!)

Lung mixture (detail)

Firestarter (detail)

Icarus (detail)

Icarus (canvas on right is an edition of 3)

Banksy interviews in the Times and Time Out

Editor — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 08:21:00 +0000

Proper Banksy interviews are rare things indeed so its a surprise to see two appear together. Of course its hardly a coincidence that they've come along at the same time as the Banksy film ' Exit Through The Gift Shop' is due to go on national release in the UK from March 5th. The movie itself has been running for the past few days in a specially constructed cinema in a tunnel under Waterloo station where the dripping walls and the rumble of suburban trains certainly add to the experience. Not to mention the burning pile of historical figures next to that nice little old lady HRH Queen Elizabeth unveiling an Anarchy symbol (more pictures on artofthestate.co.uk when the limited film run finishes).

Time Out London's Visual Arts Editor Ossian Ward has conducted an interview with Banksy which is due to be published in the March 2nd issue of the magazine. The cover of the magazine will feature a unique Banksy 'mixture of spray paint and self portraiture' and is going to be available to be purchased as a magazine (with all the usual text cover lines removed) and as an edition of 5000 posters (unsigned and costing 10 UK pounds each). Time Out promise that the proceeds from each sale will go the Haiti Earthquake relief effort. You can buy the poster and / or the special edition magazine directly here. The full image itself won't be released until Tuesday but in the meantime here's a teaser:

The Sunday Times have also been running a campaign to advertise their interview with Banksy using 'reverse stencil graffiti'. Flickr stalwart Annar 50 found one of these stencils in Shoreditch with the wording 'Exclusive Banksy interview and artwork in this weekend's Sunday Times' so get down the newsagents early on Sunday if you want to get a copy.

Art For Haiti / Above in Cuba

Editor — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 10:11:00 +0000

From the agents of change:

An exhibition by some great and kindly artists to raise money for the victims of the Haiti earthquake.
This cause needs all the support it can get so please come down.
There will be amazing artwork from all price ranges!

All money raised goes straight to DEC - http://www.dec.org.uk/
Or alternatively you can donate money here - http://www.justgiving.com/ausecours

SUNDAY 21st Feb. 4 - 8PM
@ Blackall Studios, 73 Leonard Street, London, EC2A 4QS

To request a PDF and price list please email - haiti@agents-of-change.co.uk

http://www.ausecours.org/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ausecours/

On the same subject Above has created a site specific work in Haiti raising awareness of the situation from a Cuban perspective. To be honest you'd have to be living under a rock or reading the Daily Express* in the UK to not know about the plight of Haiti but its good to see street artists moved and concerned regarding the victims of this tradegy. See Above's video here.

* The Daily Express didn't even put Haiti on their front page on the day when it was thought 100,000 people had died - shame on them. They went with yet another exploitative Madeleine McCann story (again).

Banksy - Exit Through The Gift Shop - Out on March 5th - listings below

Editor — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 19:28:00 +0000

Banksy film 'Exit Through the Gift Shop' out in UK cinemas 5th March

LONDON Soho - Curzon, Hampstead - Everyman, Islington - Screen On The Green, Barbican, Dalston - Rio, Notting Hill Gate, Clapham - Picturehouse, Brixton - Ritzy, Greenwich - Picturehouse, Wimbledon - Curzon BRIGHTON - Duke of Yorks, CAMBRIDGE - Picturehouse, OXFORD - Picturehouse, NORWICH - Cinema City, SOUTHAMPTON - Harbour Lights, BRISTOL - Watershed, BATH - Little Theatre, BIRMINGHAM - Electric, MANCHESTER - Cornerhouse, SHEFFIELD - Showroom, NOTTINGHAM - Broadway, LIVERPOOL - Fact, YORK - City Screen, NEWCASTLE - Tyneside, BELFAST - QFT, LEEDS - Hyde Park, EXETER - Picturehouse, ABERDEEN - Belmont, SHEFFIELD - Cineworld, CARDIFF - Cineworld, GLASGOW - Renfrew Street, Cineworld, DUBLIN - Cineworld

Distributed in the UK by Revolver Entertainment.

More details on banksyfilm.com

David Cameron's NHS poster - The Route One Approach

Editor — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:51:00 +0000

David Cameron's "I'll Cut The Deficit, Not The NHS" poster campaign is annoying in the extreme. The adverts just scream 'do something to me'. Even people fully intending to vote conservative often have a problem with Cameron.

Now you could think of something intellectual and modify the wording on the poster. Hell, you could even spend hours cutting an intricate stencil juxtaposing him with a hoodie and a bottle of Bollinger to make a point. Or you could spend 20 seconds writing 'Fuck Off Back To Eton' in red spray paint across the bottom.

Job done I think.

Roll on the Gordon Brown advertising campaign....

East End meet up

Editor — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 13:22:00 +0000

Loving these collabs between Shok1 and Alert in Walthamstow and Shok1, Alert and Skore in Mile End

'We Hate You' (Alert and Shok 1, Walthamstow)

'Cold So Cold' - Skore, Alert and Shok-1, Mile End (below)

Banksy's Film 'Exit Through The Gift Shop' and some perspective on the Robbo incident

Editor — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 10:42:00 +0000

Yesterday Banksy announced via his website that a Banksy Film 'Exit Through The Gift Shop' will be coming soon to cinemas. The brief information on his site reveals the film has a 'mental age' of 13 and runs for 85 minutes. This has confirmed a massive amount of recent internet rumour and the movie is scheduled to be shown at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah in the next week.

According to the response to the Guardian's enquiry Banksy's identity will not be revealed in the movie despite rumours to the contrary. It does, however, promise to be 'the worlds first street art disaster movie' and looking at the trailer it seems to have taken at least some of the footage from the ill fated Life Remote Control project. The BBC report the film will open in UK cinemas on the 5th March.

As part of the build up to the films initial screening Banksy has been busy in Park City with a series of new pieces going up in the area. Here's a taster from Banksy.co.uk where you'll find more work.

Also on the website Banksy has placed an image which provides a little bit more perspective to the recent 'Banksy Versus Robbo' incident. To be honest I've avoided commenting on recent events regarding this because there was a distinct lack of facts available. Now both sides have in their own way made their positions a bit clearer which helps moves things on a bit. The way some sites / newspapers have reported this you'd think it was an all out street art / graffiti war and for some it is but not it seems for the two principle protagonists.

Banksy's website also now contains an image of how Robbo's piece presumably looked before he went to work on the location. Robbo's work is still clearly visible but it's hardly in perfect condition.

When Banksy did his thing over the remains of Robbo's piece the intention looked to me not to obliterate it but to incorporate what was left in a new piece that looks like the worker is pasting up graffiti wallpaper.

Yes, I know - that is still 'going over' and yes that's going to piss a lot of people off because this piece has been there around 25 years (but to be honest I've seen far worse dissing than this). Robbo hit back with great style making Banksy's worker paint his name. He's neatly reclaimed the spot and despite the date written to the right of this latest intervention (see the text '1983 to 2009') I think he's continuing holding the wall down well into 2010 now.

Last week it was reported that this feud was still running when this piece was also modified (see the original here).

I guess it may not be the last time a Banksy gets hit up but its worth reading a very recent interview Robbo did in which he discusses the spat with Banksy. Here's a quote:

Beside of the matter of principle, do you consider your conflict with Banksy as “war” or “fun”?

Robbo: I consider it fun, I’m playing him at his own game and winning. When i was younger i would have looked at the situation differently and i would have been really PISSED and taken out all of bnksys work with no respect.

A nice bit of perspective. You shouldn't, however, take that quote on its own - you can read the whole interview here (Robbo's career is a lot more interesting than just a spat with Banksy) and make up your own mind. I got pissed off with the whole spat thing when I saw a piece by Arofish had been on the receiving end of the anti Banksy campaign. Someone had slapped 'Robbo' over it in a style not good enough to be by Robbo. Arofish didn't deserve this. He never started out on street art as a career move but out of a genuine case of using it to get a message out because he gave a fuck about people.

Crack and Shine - London's first graffiti book and 30 quid well spent

Editor — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:01:00 +0000

Graffiti and street art are often wrapped up in the same category. Certainly in past times the eyes of the law viewed them as exactly the same - straight up criminal damage. But times have changed and street art has become pretty much publicly accepted and law enforcement attitudes have moved around to seemingly turning a blind eye to it while some councils are more likely to apply for a preservation order than press for charges. The same can't be said for graffiti that is born out of a different need. I'm talking about serial tagging, spray paint on the steel sides of trains and tubes and throw ups on the side of walls where the owner certainly never emailed in a request for a "street artist to do their thing". This is where last years 'Crack and Shine' book comes in. Ordered before Christmas it's a book I find myself going back to again and again. There's no stencils, paste ups or 'installations' in here. No, this is a fiercly independent take on the underworld of 'real' London graffiti. And it's by far the best graffiti book I've read all year.

There's a world of difference between sneaking into Shoreditch from the home counties to put up a paste up in Blackall Street and the events detailed in this 212 page full colour book. Trespass is a civil matter in town but when you jump (or boltcutter a fence) to go trackside it instantly becomes a criminal offence. This book talks to writers who have seen the old days when a simple saunter off the end of the platform into the rail system after school could be achieved through to todays 'military grade' security in London Underground's fortified depots. It charts the times when station staff turned a blind eye and trains could run for weeks with graffiti etched into their sides to the crackdowns and the frequent busts of the 90's that nearly killed the scene. It's style and tales are part Cass Pennant, part Brinks Mat but its always full on detailing the best of times and the worst of times. Teach offers up some of his vast photo collection, Elk explains why getting to Brixton's lay up was his 'Everest' and Grand tells of when he hit the yards hard and then stayed around to watch and explore. You also get to see Mr C DDS keeping it real by racking clothes, boltcutters, paint and Champagne (Moet & Chandon, natch) and Bozo DDS's run through of his Farringdon trip turns from a climb, drop, crawl story to a full on burglary.

There's a wealth of photos taken in the yards but some of the best are taken the morning after when the trains are in service. Marking the train on the front writers know when their cars are coming through and catch them in photographs as they arrive to puzzle (and sometimes delight) commuters - check the whole car 'Britney Spears Is The Devil'. Extra special are the portraits of the artists themselves taken by photographer Will Robson-Scott. He captures Mr P up on a roof top in Hackney Wick, Cosa in Whitehall and ATG at home amongst a mass of quality portraiture.

photo: Will Robson Scott

No other book gets inside a graffiti scene like this one. Subway Art documented a time and place that seemed far away at the time. Crack and Shine brings it home and then some.

Crack and Shine, published by FFF London, ISBN-10: 0956242308, ISBN-13: 978-0956242303

Banksy in Watford? Hmm, I don't think so!

Editor — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 21:47:00 +0000

The Watford Observer reported a sighting of a possible new Banksy in the local town centre on Monday. The paper retained a sound stance of sitting on the fence on whether it was a Banksy or not but 47 year old local IT Security engineer Charles London thought it "definitely...genuine". One look at the picture in the article made me certain it wasn't a Banksy but seeing as I was in the town today to see an old friend I tracked it down all the same. In real life it was much larger than expected and seemed to be hand painted rather than stenciled onto the wall. More interestingly I found another similarly styled figure nearby in a more public location which was in my opinion a much more technically accomplished piece. Tagged with the name 'matey' it seemed to have been completed freehand and showed a nice line of shading (especially in the detail of the face). Maybe over time we'll get to hear more about the artist and their reasons....

Matey "It's The Queens Orders"

Detail of 'Matey' piece in Watford

The original artwork reported in the paper

Olympics clean up can't get above eight feet

Editor — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 22:11:00 +0000

This used to be pretty much my favourite wall in London directly opposite the 2012 site.

That was until the graffiti removal team went to work on it recently buffing back to brick everything below an 8 foot line. Anything else probably was beyond the power of the jet wash team. So now we get left with the ridiculous view of just the top bit of the art. Oh, and Tek33 / Burning Candy already reclaiming the space!

Banksy in Camden part 2

Editor — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 22:02:00 +0000

I'm a bit late in putting this unofficial Banksy video on artofthestate. I've not mentioned it yet but hooked blog, arrestedmotion and slamxhype have already posted it so seeing as I made it I guess I'd better post it too! Anyway, it's a 1 min 20 second walk through of the latest Banksy pieces on the Regents Canal in Camden; 'graffiti wallpaper' incorporating a pretty trashed but legendary Robbo piece, 'I don't believe in global warming' on the waterline of a block of flats, 'fishing boy' under Oval Road and 'aristoc-rat' on the canal bank.

Banksy in Camden video

Now the piece in the picture above has stirred up a real hornets nest. For a recap of the whole story revealed so far head on over to graffoto.co.uk for details of how when Banksy incorporated a 25 year old graffiti piece by King Robbo he enraged many already pissed off hardcore London graffiti writers into open hostility. And you'll get to see the classy riposte by King Robbo which has incorporated the Banksy piece into his work. Interesting reading indeed.

Following on from December 19th's post another way to separate the two types of graffiti writers has appeared. "There are two types of writers. Those who paint Christmas Day and those who don't. For one it is a chance to eat mince pies with the family, for the other its a chance to take advantage of a tube network standing still and on skeleton staff".

Merry Christmas!

Editor — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 09:15:00 +0000

Paving slab and bow photographed near St Paul's, London (holly added courtesy of Flickr)

New Banksy work in Camden, London

Editor — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 15:23:00 +0000

Banksy's had the dinghy out for his new work in Camden...more to come later.

Fishing boy by Banksy in Camden

Banksy 'I don't believe in global warming', Camden

We're going on a Roa hunt (part 2)

Editor — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 19:35:00 +0000

Roa's back in town and creating more of his giant creatures. These two are a bit special and have appeared in London in December.

First up is this lenticular effect piece in Curtain Road, Shoreditch where Dr D originally carried off the same trick earlier in the year. Its interesting to watch the reaction of passers by as they slowly twig what is going on as they go past. It puts a smile on peoples faces which isn't a bad thing to do when the temperature is sub zero at the moment.

from the left < > from the right

Roa in Curtain Road from the front

Armed with a location from the all seeing Nolionsinengland I arrived at the second spot (there's a third to be discovered as well) to be confronted by a man marching towards me shouting "Oi, did you do that?". Turns out he likes it and was working on the housing estate site next door. "Much better than your normal "Kev shags Lynda" or "Up the Spurs" innit? I mean its not exactly a pretty wall" he comments. It's a common reaction to Roa's work. People like it and get it. They don't see it as graffiti but in many instances it quite clearly fits the legal description of it. The question 'What Is Graffiti?' has been running round forever but my favourite quote on the subject of graffiti is from the excellent 'Crack and Shine' London graffiti book:

"You see there are two types of writers, those who paint trains and those that don't. For one it is a weekend hobby performed with other Dad's, for the other it is an obsessive way of life that can sometimes feel like being in a bad marriage where all your clothes, property and freedom can be whisked away from you by a knock on your door". TPG

The Fiesta Resistance at Pictures On Walls / Banksy 'No Ball Games' print

Editor — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 23:01:00 +0000

Running every day until the 23rd December the Fiesta Resistance at the Commercial Road premises of Pictures On Walls is a fine chance to see work by Mexico's Saner and Smithe amongst others. The usual rows of hanging prints have been replaced by corrugated iron and wooden structures to recreate an admittedly very clean little bit of Mexican slum life in Aldgate. The in store Banksy 'No Ball Games' prints may have all gone but Pictures On Walls have a whole raft of excellent new prints available online and in store (check out the Dran one!) with more to come before the show finishes. There's also a wealth of original artwork on sale.

Images from the show below.

The Fiesta Resistance at Pictures On Walls. December 4th to December 23rd 2009. 46-48 Commercial Street, London E1, nearest Tube Aldgate East

Sickboy's 'Logopop' show

Editor — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 23:05:00 +0000

Anyone who stooped down to go through a little door and into a grade 2 listed Tramshed last year knows that Sickboy can put on a show. 'Stay Free' was blessed with its own unique style which combined the red and yellow of Sickboy's trademark temple graffiti with some altogether more fine art pieces (not forgetting the sweet factory house)! For those who missed it here's a reminder of what that show looked like:

This December 16, Sickboy is back to present ‘Logopop’, a special one-night-only solo exhibition of new limited edition work and site-specific installations in east London. It only lasts three hours so if you want to see it RSVP (and be quick about it as its less than two days away) to: rsvp@thesickboy.com

(Image by Viktor Vauthier)

‘Logopop’ by Sickboy, December 16, 2009, doors: 18:00-21:00 (invite needed - see above) Location: The Rag Factory, 16-18 Heneage Street, London, E1 5LJ. Nearest Tube: Liverpool Street.

Sickboy 'Logopop' show

Lazarides Grifters show / Art Of the State the no.4 UK arts & culture blog?

Editor — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 15:29:00 +0000

I don't know what it is about my luck and the Lazarides gallery. The last three times I've been the gallery has been 1). closed (website opening times now amended), 2). first floor closed on a two floor exhibition and 3). on this, my most recent visit, the top two floors were closed on a four floor exhibition. Lesson learnt - call before I visit!

So I'd like to show you some photos of the Grifter's exhibition (especially as the street work accompanying the show has been excellent) but pretty much all I took was this one of Invader's excellent neon installation.

Invader at the Lazarides gallery

All is not lost, however, as the ever magnificent Wallkandy has captured all the main action inside and out.

In other news Art Of The State is up from last months number 10 to number 4 in the 'Top 25 UK Arts & Culture Blogs' list compiled by Manchester's Museums consortium's creativetourist.com site. Which is nice. The calculations involved sound very scientific - using Google's InLinks and Postrank amongst other measures. The Guardian's Jonathan Jones now occupies my previous number 10 spot. Eat my dust Mr Jones.

Rest assured when I'm at number 39 next month you won't hear a thing about it! :-)

Stik men

Editor — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 14:34:00 +0000

Following on from his recent curation of the 'Other Side' show at the Mile End Arts Pavilion Stik has a solo show in the same venue. Featuring multiple instances of his trademark Stik figure he takes its very basic form and uses it to create a variety of situations. In fact as the majority of the Stik figures are held along a wire that runs the length of the building the figures can be moved along to create new interractions as the exhibition progresses. Outside look out for a further figure on the top of the hill and another in the middle of the lake.

Solo show by Stik at the Mile End Art Pavilion, Clinton Road (off Grove Road), E35bh (near Mile End tube on the Central line).
Open 12-6pm December 5th to to December 20th (except Mondays) 2009

Mutate Britain - re-opened and better than ever

Editor — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 23:00:00 +0000

In some ways the Mutate Britain show 'One Foot In The Grove' resembles a twisted offspring of the main room of the Imperial War Museum. Recent additions since it re-opened last week include a customised full size plane to sit alongside the already installed helicopter and a mechanised triceratops courtesy of Wreckage. Mutate have added to their extensive rosta of some of the best artists out there, had some of the walls reworked and added masses of new works to create an extensive and thought provoking show. Here's some of the new pieces - just a selection mind - to whet your appetite. It's a great place to visit too if you're looking to buy some original art or a limited edition print in time for Christmas.

Mutate Britain 'One Foot In The Grove'. Open from December 4th every Fri, Sat and Sun until December 20th. Also open every Wednesday in December from 6pm. Check here for the most up to date opening times.

Cot bed by Pete Dunne and Giles Walker

'Boys Stab Vest, Age 14, Walworth Academy'. This chilling piece is by War Boutique

'In Dog We Trust' by Jolly Good (those are real dollar bills)

Tristan Schoonraad '7'

Dotmasters go to town decorating the newly installed 'jaguar' plane by Same Heggerty

Triceratops by Wreckage

Larry by Lyle Doghead makes a reappearance in front of new work by Elate

Chopper paint job by Bleach

Sweaty Paul (Rust Inc)

Shok-1 in South London

Editor — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 16:42:00 +0000

Fresh new work from Shok-1 in Borough, South London (just by the Tube station). Money, Fame and Power looming ominously over the streets.

Shok-1, Borough

Shok-1, Money

Shok-1 Fame

Shok-1 Power

On a nearby wall there's further work from Shok-1 in another twist on his negative / biological style

Grifters - opens at Lazarides this week

Editor — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:32:00 +0000

Just when we thought street art was dead the buildings of the city are once again adorned with work worthy of getting on a tube just to go and have a look at. There's plenty of it too courtesy of artists involved in the Lazarides 'Grifters' exhibition which opens in Rathbone Place later this week. Lazinc.com and Wallkandy's Flickr stream are the places to watch to find out locations and see the best pictures of the artists in action. On Tuesday I took a copy of Laz's published locations and set off around town in the freezing weather to see what I could find. Pictures below:

Paul Insect in Southwick Mews, Paddington

Vhils in Oval Road, Camden

Invader in Charlotte Road, Shoreditch

Mode 2 in Rathbone Place, off Oxford Street

Charlie Isoe, Kean Road, Holborn

Cop caught tagging

Editor — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:45:00 +0000

With thanks to Stik for sending the above picture through. Classic I think you will agree! It was taken at the 'Other Side' show which is on until 29th November in the Arts Pavilion, Mile End Park just a very short walk from Mile End Tube station (Central Line). During the run of the show artists have been coming in and creating works for display with some giving demonstrations of their techniques as they go along. Stik himself is also present - curating, organising and painting all day long and thanks to him the list of artists on show is growing longer by the day. Check out some of the work on display below or go along in person.

The Other Side at the Arts Pavilion, Mile End Park

Elate

Layered cork based graffiti by Scabbage (detail)

Teddy Baden

Zomby

Run

Paranoiak Smile

Stik's work in progress

Stik has his own show in the same location in December

The Lock Up

Editor — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:04:00 +0000

The Lock Up opened last Friday and is rammed full of quality pieces from some the best artists around at the moment. I've got to say that for me Goldie probably stole the show. His Showgirl pieces (pictured below) are absolutely stunning in the flesh. That said the bar has been raised all over the show with many of the artists turning in fine pieces of work for a really well put together collection. The accompanying catalogue is a very neat little addition too, including full colour pictures of the main pieces on display and accompanied by write ups on all the featured artists.

THE LOCK UP - eddielock.co.uk with Nick Walker / Goldie / Jef Aerosol / Eelus / Mau Mau / Inkie / Beejoir / Jamie Reid / K-Guy / David Whittaker / Ben Moore / Pam Glew / RYCA / Stedhead / Prole / Fin Dac / Spanna

Eastcastle House, 27-28 Eastcastle Street, London, W1W 8DH (until Thursday 10th December 2009)

The Lock Up (K-Guy on left). Acrylic, aerosol and screen print on deep edge wooden box

Beejoir 'LV Child'. Solid bronze sculpture with gold leaf applied logos

Goldie 'The Showgirl 2' (left) and 'Dark Diva' right. Spray paint & multi layer stencils, Montana Gold and sericol on canvas

Eelus 'Nesting' - spray paint, acrylic, glow in the dark paint, 24ct gold leaf on wooden frame

Mau Mau - detail from 'Plenty More 'Fish In The Supermarket'. Spray paint and acrylic on canvas.

Nick Walker 'The Empire's State'. Spray paint & stencil on canvas

Jef Aerosol - detail from 'Ian Brown'. Spray paint and stencil on canvas.

K-Guy - detail from Take Me To The Hospital work for The Prodigy

Don 'Prisoner In Your Own Palace'. Spray paint and stencil on wood

The Thousands - on this weekend only!

Editor — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:37:00 +0000

Vandalog's The Thousands (see this earlier blog post) finishes its run on Sunday November 22nd. Here's a few flicks from the show to give you an idea of how it finally shaped up:

The main hall featuring works from Swoon, Faile, Adam Neate and more

Judith Supine and others in a side chamber

Know Hope (bottom right) and Roa (more of which later)

More work in the side chamber including Hera (middle)

Some Cept, Sweet Toof, Dscreet etc.

Photos from Howbaoutno and Nolionsinengland occupy two central stands

Inkfetish piece outside the show

Burning Candy on the building's exterior in Holywell Lane

Roa's blind revealed two images of the same animal (above and below)

Signs of Revolt

Editor — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:30:00 +0000

Taking its cue from Seattle as the start of a truly global protest movement 'Signs of Revolt' gathers together artists contributions which have informed, recorded and rallied demonstrations worldwide. It has to be said that its an exhibition where you probably already know whether you are interested in it or not. For those who have 'been there' in whatever capacity its a mixture of "ah, I remember that" interspersed with new causes, new protests to become familar with. For others its a case of 'oh no, what are they protesting about now"?

The image of Carlo Giuliani's bloodied face surrounded by heavy boots never diminishes in its hurt. There's a fair amount of what is often termed 'police porn' - images of riot cops squaring up to and beating demonstrators. These only serve to outrage the viewer to take action against injustice. If you take the time to look around this exhibition you can appropriate many of the ideas presented and turn them into your own. And that's the point - reinterpret and readjust the images to make them relevant to your concerns, get involved! I'd recommend picking up the free informative booklet 'Signs of Revolt - Creative Resistance & Social Movements Since Seattle'. It's a nicely constructed document which extends the purpose of the exhibition well beyond the walls of the space it is presented in.

In short, don't be a spectator - take part.

Signs of Revolt: 14th to 22nd November 2009, Shop 14 Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane, London, E1 6QL.

Features Reclaim The Streets, Jonathan Barnbrook & Pedro Inhoue, Noel Douglas, Kennardphillips, Indymedia, Space Hijackers, Campf For Climate Action, Laboratory of Insurrectionary Imagination, War Boutique, Reel News, The Billboard Liberation Front and many more.

kennardphillips

Noel Douglas

Pedro Inhoue

Millions marched but they never listened

An old 'un but a still a good 'un

The Thousands show from Vandalog

Editor — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 13:49:00 +0000

As I've mentioned before the daily street art blog of Vandalog has fast become essential reading for anyone who wants to see the best street art work from around the world. Full of infectious enthusiasm it is constantly updated with writer RJ's views on the scene. You'd be forgiven for thinking that this relentless output would be enough to keep any man busy all day but somehow RJ has also had the time to pull together a show 'The Thousands' and a book to accompany it (available from Drago publishing). Opening this week it promises a fresh new wall from the Burning Candy crew along with indoor artworks from private collectors of Banksy, Swoon, Faile, Kaws, Nick Walker and Judith Supine to name but a few. Street art walks around the local area are also being arranged at 1pm each day which should be a great introduction for anyone unfamiliar with Shoreditch. In addition to this top street art Flickr'ites nolionsinengland and howaboutno will be showing around 50 of their photographs of work in situ to accompany the exhibition. It's shaping up to be great show for anyone in London next week.

The Thousands is at Village Underground, 54 Holywell Lane, London, EC2A.

Open: Wednesday November 18th 6-10pm, Thursday 11-9pm, Friday 11-5pm, Saturday and Sunday 11-7pm

View the show flyer here:

Mantis back on the streets of London

Editor — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:37:00 +0000

Several sources have reported this new piece as being by Banksy but a quick check on Mantis's website reveal him to be behind this neat stencil in Homerton. It's one of three new pieces from Mantis - to see more head on over to his website here.

Above's Reverse Psychology

Editor — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 06:29:00 +0000

Above has finished off his European travels with a time lapse piece entitled 'Reverse Psychology' created and filmed in Leipzig, Gemany. It's a shame that he never got to the UK - there's always next year though!

I'll leave Above to explain this piece:

"There are two sides to every coin, and we all know two wrongs don't make a right but somehow when it comes to filming a video in reverse then reversing it, it makes total sense? Confused? Watch the video to get a better idea. If you still don't understand, I can only suggest to try and watch it in reverse?!"

"The reverse side also has a reverse side. -Japanese proverb".
Above.