Tag Archives: Martha Cooper

Toulouse: Rose Beton Festival – Part 1

Rose Beton Festival - Toulouse

Curated by Tilt, this year’s Rose Beton Festival in Toulouse  is dedicated to the roots of graffiti and specially New York.

So to kick start the three months festival in the pink city, a photographic exhibition held at the oldest art space for photography, Chateau d’Eau retraces iconic moments from the NY subway trains and graffiti scene with legendary graffiti photographers Martha Cooper  and Henry Chalfant.

Both had a very different approach when documenting the scene. Martha Cooper was interested in the overall scene as well as the context, while Henry Chalfant focussed on the graffiti itself.

Rose Beton Festival - ToulouseRose Beton Festival - Toulouse

On the lower ground floor a 15 meters wide installation showcases for the first time  all the trains photographed by Henry Chalfant.

Rose Beton Festival - Toulouse
Rose Beton Festival - ToulouseRose Beton Festival - Toulouse    Rose Beton Festival - Toulouse
Rose Beton Festival - Toulouse    Rose Beton Festival - Toulouse

In parallel the exhibition also presents works by Sylvain Largot focussing on illegal graffiti.

Rose Beton Festival - Toulouse
Rose Beton Festival - Toulouse    Rose Beton Festival - ToulouseRose Beton Festival - Toulouse    Rose Beton Festival - Toulouse
Rose Beton Festival - Toulouse
Rose Beton Festival - Toulouse

View the full set of pics here

Photographies – Chateau D’Eau
Martha Cooper / Henri Chalfant/ Sylvain Largot
Until 27 June  2016

ROSE BETON FESTIVAL
Until August 2016

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London: Martha Cooper – Life Work @ Stolenspace

Martha Cooper - Life Work

Stolen Space Gallery is currently exhibiting Martha Cooper: Life Work, an extensive collection of photographs from legendary photojournalist Martha Cooper who started documenting the New York graffiti scene in the 70s, when it was still considered an ‘underground phenomenon’.

She was introduced in the late 70s to Dondi, one of the most significant graffiti artists of the movement and the ‘king’ of one of New York’s graffiti gangs, the CIA – in which kids would ‘write’ together, rivalling other gangs for popularity and fame. After this Cooper’s interest in the illegal graffiti scene and ‘trainbombing’ – covering trains with graffiti – was unstoppable. A complete novelty at the time, her photographs travelled the globe in the form of Subway Art, first published in 1984, inspiring many to join the growing culture of plastering buildings, trains and other public places with art.

The exhibition features a selection of her work spanning over 40 years from Basquiat, Keith Haring in NY to her travels in Thailand documenting the tattoo underground scene, and her most recent travels documenting the graffiti and street art scene.

Martha Cooper - Life WorkKeith Haring
Photography courtesy of Martha Cooper
Dondi_500
Photography courtesy of Martha Cooper

Monica Norse, the exhibition’s curator mentions: “There’s so much behind the photos, she’s changed people’s lives, so many people started doing graffiti because they saw Subway Art and it opened up the world of graffiti and self-expression for them.”

A huge crowd came in for the opening to meet and discuss with the legendary photographer, who was happy to sign copies of her infamous Subway Art book.

Martha Cooper - Life WorkMartha Cooper - Life WorkMartha Cooper - Life WorkMartha Cooper - Life WorkMartha Cooper - Life Work Martha Cooper - Life Work    Martha Cooper - Life Work

View the full set of pics here

Stolenspace
Martha Cooper – Life Work
Until 28 February 2016
London

Paris: Live painting session

During the busy art week in Paris, a series of leading international artists have been invited to paint in front of the Drouot building for the Digard Street Art Auction: Nick Walker (UK), Logan Hicks (US), Mear One (US), Miss Tic (FR), Seth (FR), Katre (FR), Cope 2 (US) and Indie 184 (US) . Legendary photographer Martha Cooper was also onsite to document the events.

Paris Live Painting - Nick Walker Paris Live Painting - Nick Walker & Martha Cooper     Paris Live Painting - Nick WalkerParis Live Painting - Katre  Paris Live Painting - Katre & Seth Paris Live Painting - Katre     Paris Live Painting - Seth Paris Live Painting - Logan Hicks Paris Live Painting - Martha Cooper & Logan Hicks Paris Live Painting -  Logan Hicks     Paris Live Painting - Cope2 & Indie184Paris Live Painting - Cope2 Paris Live Painting - Mear One Paris Live Painting -     Paris Live Painting - Mear One

The artworks will be auctioned in May 2014

View the full set here