London : el Seed – Tabula Rasa

February 18, 2019 butterfly

Tunisian-French contemporary artist, eL Seed has just opened his first UK exhibition entitled Tabula Rasa at Lazinc in London. We documented his previous visit to the UK capital in 2015 ( see here), where he painted a mural with this signature style: an adaptation of traditional Arabic calligraphy.

Within his intricate compositions, el Seed emphasises the curves and loops of the script removing a layer of legilibility and adding mystery to the meaning behind the words he chooses.

eL Seed commented: “I truly believe that art is a way to open dialogue. I like to think that my artwork can cut through the boundaries that we place between ourselves; whether physical, cultural or linguistic. My exhibition at Lazinc represents a new style of painting, where I am attempting to break down my thought process into layers. It also asks the audience to question the way they think and how much they have been affected by assumption or misconception.”

For this exhibition, the artist has developed on his process, stripping down the works, in an effort to access his own ‘tabula rasa’.
The concept of ‘tabula rasa’, pioneered by 17th Century philosopher, John Locke, argues that at birth the human mind is a complete, but receptive blank slate, upon which experience imprints knowledge. In relation to his canvases, eL Seed has taken the idea of the tabula rasa as a starting point, with the aim to alter deep-seated preconceptions that are commonly held about the Arabic script and culture.

In contrast to eL Seed’s usually polished and perfected canvases, the works at Lazinc appear with an unfinished aesthetic. The surface calligraphy is ripped and torn to reveal phrases and imagery below, which materialise slowly and differently with each viewing.
The layering of words and ideas offer an insight into the thought process of the artist.

Guests are invited to reconsider all that they previously thought about Arabic and immerse themselves in the calligraphic experience.

View the full set of pics here

elSeed – Tabula Rasa
Until 9 march 2019
Lazinc Sacksville
29 Sackville Street
London W1S 3DX

London, Paris

Banksy News

February 2, 2019 butterfly

Three major headlines related to Banksy

London: Banksy enters the permanent collection of the British Museum

The British Museum in London has acquired its first work by the anonymous artist, a fake £10 banknote depicting Lady Diana, Princess of Wales, which will join its collection of coins, medals and other currency.
The work, entitled Di-faced Tenner, was one of thousands of copies produced by the artist in 2004 as part of a planned art performance. Unlike ‘Peckham Rock’, a fake cave painting on concrete , which was part of a 2005 stunt and loaned again to the museum for a recent exhibition on dissent and protest in 2018 (see our coverage here), the note has been donated to the museum by the artist’s representative Pest Control.

It is the only official banknote ever released by Banksy. Any other kind of currency note are simply NOT by the artist, so fans and buyers beware. And the Banksy Di-Face Tenner indicates on its back ‘Trust No One’.

Palestine: Banksy creates a new artwork at the Walled Off Hotel

Two years after the official opening his artivist hotel in Bethlehem, Banksy just revealed a new artwork inside the Walled Off Hotel.

Conveying a message of Love and Peace, the artwork depicts a little veiled girl playing with coloured 3d block shapes looking at a giant heart shaped hole in a concrete wall which shows a neon light blue sky. Looking closer the 3D block shapes on the floor are iconographic symbols of all monotheist religions, from the cross to the start and crescent. Messages of peace are graffitied on the wall while Banksy’s signature is engraved in the concrete.

Paris: Banksy’s tribute to Bataclan’s victims is stolen

Sadly less than seven months after Banksy painted his tribute on the fire-exit door of the Bataclan theatre, where Islamist militants killed 90 people three years ago, the artwork has been stolen, the venue has said.
The work, one of a series of murals during Banksy’s invasion of the French capital last June, showed a veiled female figure in a mournful pose. ( Check our initial coverage about the artwork here)
“We are today filled with a deep sense of indignation. The work of Banksy, a symbol of contemplation belonging to all – residents, Parisians and citizens of the world – has been taken from us,” the Bataclan said in a Twitter post. A police investigation continues.

Stay tuned for further updates

Paris

Paris: André x Futura – Chez Nous

January 21, 2019 butterfly

André & Futura have joined forces for a unique collaborative show at Danysz Gallery in Paris with their signature pictorial characters. Aptly entitled André x Futura – Chez Nous, the show presents a series of unseen works where they answer each other and merge their energetic painterly gestures. Futura (whose real name is Lenny McGurr) otherworldly characters, such as the Pointman, echo Saraiva’s Mr A. whimsical dancing figures, as if their pictorial alter ego were enjoying themselves as much as both artists did in this adventure.

View the full set of pics here

André x Futura – Chez Nous
Until 9 February 2019
Magda Danysz Gallery, 78 rue Amelot, Paris

Street, streets

Banksy ‘ Season Greetings ‘

December 20, 2018 butterfly

For the festive season, Banksy just revealed a new artwork in Port Talbot, South Wales. As usual placement is key and the image appears on two sides of a garage depicting a child enjoying snow falling – while the other side reveals it is a fire emitting ash.

Later a video posted on his social media account confirmed the artwork.

View this post on Instagram

Speculation that the piece was a genuine Banksy piece was fuelled when a sketch bearing striking similarities to the latest piece emerged. It appeared in a documentary last year, featuring exchanges between the film director Danny Boyle and Banksy, as they collaborated on an alternative “nativity” play in Bethlehem.

Photos: Banksy, Wales News Service

London, Shows

London: Sweet Toof – Mid Nite Crisis

December 14, 2018 butterfly

Legendary UK street artist Sweet Toof is returning to the London East End (118 Stoke Newington High Street, London N16 7NY) with a solo exhibition entitled Mid Nite Crisis. Opening on the 14th of December, the exhibition features paintings, sculptures, ceramics, miniature portraits, linocut prints and more surprises. With bright colours and his signature gums and teeth, there is a bit of eye candy for everyone during the festive season. Check out some preview images of the not to miss show below…

Screenprint Queen Aida Wilde is celebrating 10 years anniversary of print collaborating with Sweet Toof with a special release : From EAST END SUCKS to GentriFUCK