Mr. & Pharrell Williams ‘Call to Action’ (Paris)

July 21, 2019 butterfly

The Guimet National Museum of Asian Arts (MNAAG) in Paris, home to the largest collection of Asian arts in Europe, gave ‘Carte Blanche’ to a site-specific installation created by Japanese contemporary artist Mr. and curated by Pharrell Williams : it’s a ‘Call to Action’.

Located on the fourth-floor rotunda beneath the dome of the main Guimet building, the exhibition runs until September 23, 2019. The project started five years ago based on an idea by Pharrell Williams–who is a self-proclaimed fan of Mr.’s work. The result of this long standing collaboration is an installation of bright, child-like figures sporting a military aesthetic while some carry firearms: the duo emphasizes the importance of younger generations in a world tormented by adult choices.

Pharrell Williams commented: “Kids run the world and this work is a challenge to leaders to do something immediately – for a better, bright future.”

Featuring painting, sculptures and neon signs, Mr. invites the viewer into an immersive pastel coloured world, which aims to represent a positive and peaceful momentum in finding solutions for today’s problems. “Amid the tension and crisis of uncertainty that we live in today, we need to believe in the hope that can be found in children, and take inspiration on the promise of their optimistic outlook and spirit. Kids have the power. With art, we start this dialogue in this way” says Mr.

The toy-looking rifles do not symbolise violence literally, but militance. Children’s best weapon, to be protected at all costs, is their creativity and imagination.

View the full set of pics here

Carte Blanche to Mr. & Pharell Williams
A Call to Action
Musee National des Arts Asiatiques – Guimet
6 Place Iena, Paris
Until 25 September 2019

Festival, Grenoble

Grenoble: Rose Girl Mural by Shepard Fairey

July 9, 2019 butterfly 1 Comment

Shepard Fairey and the Obey Giant team kicked off the start of the Obey 30th world tour in Grenoble, France with a new mural titled ‘Rose Girl’ for the Street Art Fest curated by Jerome Catz.

The mural features a female figure adorned with three roses on her head, symbol of Grenoble. Located between the Alps, Grenoble is a city ecologically responsible and continues to improve upon it. The ‘Rose Girl’ mural is a reminder to preserve the environment and to be at peace between human beings and the planet.

Painted with the Obey Giant team, it can be seen on the wall of the CROUS, in the heart of the students area.

Location is key as it represents hope with the future generations, but it also can be visible from the mountains and gondola lifts.

The Mayor of Grenoble, the Crous director, the Students Union and Jerome Catz, curator of the Grenoble Street Art Fest joined Shepard Fairey to inaugurate the Rose Girl monumental artwork.

In parallel to the mural, l’Ancien Musee de la Peinture de Grenoble is dedicating a comprehensive print survey of Shepard Fairey / Obey Giant spanning over 30 years of resistance with 600 artworks.

Stay tuned as we will come back with further coverage…

Grenoble Street Art Fest
Shepard Fairey – 30 Years of resistance
Ancien Musee de la Peinture
Until 27 October 2019

London, Shows

London: Banksy back to the Royal Academy

June 1, 2019 butterfly

Banksy created a new artwork for upcoming The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition that will open to the public on 10 June in London.

Following last year’s participation with ‘Vote to Love’ (covered here) , Banksy created another politically charged artwork about Europe and Brexit.

The artwork features a closed shutter with a ‘Customs’ sign for arrival from the EU.

Looking at the bottom of the shutter, a cheeky stencilled rat stole the T of the ‘KEEP OUT’ sign to use it as a hammer over the padlock that keeps the borders closed.

Above Pics by Tagfinearts & Peter Jones

Vote Love – Banksy’s artwork for the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2018

streets, Venice

Banksy stunt during the Venice Biennale 2019

May 22, 2019 butterfly

During the opening of the Venice Biennale a few stencils appeared across the city which gave indication of the presence of the elusive British artist.
While still unconfirmed yet, a politically charged piece shows a young child wearing a life jacket and holding a pink flare up in the air, a migrant calling for rescuers. It was spotted on the island of Dorsoduro.

On Banksy’s website and his social media the artist posted a video in Venice with following comment
‘ Setting out my stall at the Venice Biennale.
Despite being the largest and most prestigious art event in the world, for some reason I’ve never been invited.’

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Banksy (@banksy)

The stall presents a series of small oil paintings featuring a large cruise boat over the Venice canals

The popped up stall is reminiscent of his New York stunt in 2013 where he sold his canvasses for $60 to passers by.

Stay tuned for further update.

Los Angeles, Shows

Los Angeles: Josie Morway – Remediators

May 5, 2019 butterfly

In parallel to the Lucky 13 Group show (covered), Corey Helford Gallery is also hosting a solo exhibit ‘The Remediators’ by Boston-based painter and designer Josie Morway. Combining technical influences of oil paintings from Dutch Masters and religious icon paintings with hyper-modern color and design elements, Josie Morway portrays surrealist paintings of wildlife and flora that are both politically charged and ethereally poetic.
Inspired by research into processes of bioremediation – by which plants, animals or microorganisms break down contamination in soil or water, the artworks present a new system by which nature might respond to crisis.