'A' exhibition by Remi Rough and Steve More

@ Blackall Studios 1st - 11th Feb 2011

Remi Rough and Steve More started off as graffiti taggers in the 90s and returned to white cube gallery instead with an artwork strongly embedded in graffiti. Current ‘A’ exhibition, draws parallels and looks at how the two graffiti artists (Rough and OneMor) have grown from a stereotypical and regulated graffiti world to an expressive abstract art without taboos.

Art is very much about trends, repetitions and moving in cycles like fashion. Steve More shares how he truly disliked 80s because it seemed so cheesy to him, where now all the kids love it. “As an artist I don’t think you make a choice to follow a trend, but there is an underline current that always drives you.” The title of the exhibition ‘A’ reflects such a diverse list of meanings to both of them. More shares his perspective how the concept ‘A’ symbolises a beginning: “what we do now you can feel it is starting to transform to something else.” Rough‘s excitement is reflected in doing a show with an icon rather than title. The show is also examining “the artistic relationship” between them.

The artists met at about 1992 and over the years they were tagging in Edinburgh and London. Both of the artists share similar points of view on leaving graffiti scene. Rough’s shares: “I think I have done everything I needed to do and you can only write your names so many times in a different type and letters and 3D.” In 2003 more decided to move across the planet and work on his visions in an isolated environment in New Zealand. “I had to pretty much find a new way of communicating to be honest. I kind of changed direction, the materials I was using.” He talks passionately about looking behind the surface, its substance, his fascination with texture of walls on the streets, passage of time and erosion. On contrast, Rough’s work delivers a profound depth in a 2D surface, graphically constructed through use of vivid colours and minimalism in focus, reflecting direct roots in graffiti arts.

In graffiti scene immediacy is an important factor. His fascination with Martial Art, Tai Chi has injected slow pace movement in to his artwork. On contrast, Rough’s work has formed its shapes and context over the time to extreme minimalism. There are aspects to Rough’s work, which he talks about passionately; colour and tension. “Graffiti is an expressive art form that is not going to go. It is not going to disappear, it is just going to re-manifest itself in different ways.”

Talking about IDOL’s More feels connected with works by modern artists like Tapies, Ben Nicholson and Robert Rauschenberg. Rough remarks graffiti artist FUTURA’s ethic. The warmest words from both of the artists are devoted to Jaybo Monk. I am curious if they are making a comeback to streets as both of them are actively engaged in non-commercial projects under Agents of Change. Rough shares the emphasis is on a group of eight creative artists collaborating within spaces.

Pictures courtesy Ameliaphotos

Steve More 'Red Blue and Void'

Remi Rough 'Chrome Blush'

'A' exhibition video:

http://vimeo.com/19661559

Gabriel Orozco @ Tate Modern
19th January - 24th April 2011

Gabriel Orozco is an internationally recognized artist who captures urban momentums. His work reflects stories through objects his has found in urban cityscapes. His artwork, be it a installation, photography or a painting, invites viewers to re-discover the connotation of his found objects only in a different context. After travelling and discovering multicultural cities, the streets especially have inspired him to connect with reality and express it in a spontaneous way.

The primitive and metaphorical approach he possesses transforms his artwork into a notion of a momentum, accomplished with significance. His obsession with circles, geometry and symmetry revolve around human roots and immediacy. Widely known for using different mediums, he is clearly keen on experimenting and evokes an interaction between the viewer and his artwork.

He invests times into objects he finds fascinating and a connection, like the famous skull Black Kites (1997) illustrated with a geometrical pattern. Perhaps he might have been reflecting his own experience with mortality when at the time when one his lung collapsed. Another object he discovered while in Paris was a Citroen DS, which he re-built into a LA DS (1993). The new miniature form of the car represents its effective mobility in modern societies. He also encountered a lift, which he saved in Chicago at 1994, which he fantasized with in relation to Pink Panther before gravity had compressed it. The notion of his subjects embodies a sense that we live in an overcrowded and compact society where commodities have a short life.

The attention he pays to detail is incredible, the unusual features captured through natural light in photography of subjects like mankind, animals and urban spaces. Without a doubt, Orozco is on a mission. While most of the residents of multicultural cities would not stop to explore an abandoned object but pass it, then again Orozco presents it as a remarkable spectacle.

Doug Foster 21st January-19th February 2011 @ the Lazardes Gallery

In the Naughty Chair is Dough's first solo exhibition in the Lazarides Gallery. The atmosphere in Lazarides Rathbone Gallery reminds me of an underground scene, dark and daunting, with attention drawn to human experiment. This exhibition showcases Doug Foster’s renowned video and installation art, part of human psyche, which Foster has been fascinated by for some time now.

In the piece In The Naughty Chair, the emphasis is on the steel chair, which at first might look like an electrical chair. Called Brainwasher, with straps on each side the concept is inspired by its illegal use during the Cold War by the CIA. In the space the Brainwasher is accompanied by a video of symmetrically floating liquid, where the soundtrack enhances the sinister mood.

Forster’s installations are rigid, intense and emotionally immersive. His depiction of The Herectics’ Gate is inspired by Dante’s vision of hell, an entry to Sixth Circle where heretics die. The video painting is attractive and has this magnetic vibe that could possibly hypnotize viewers. The symmetrical flames, with colors varying from caramel beige to soft red, reflect a liquid being poured to the prominent echo.

An earlier work, a massive chamber Breather portrays a video through stereoscopic viewfinder. Inside there is depicted a tank where a female character breathes and then dives. The viewer engages and goes on a journey with her. Slightly lower, underwater, she gives air to a handsome male. The context that they are naked creates a soft erotic mood. While she shoves gracefully up again, the gorgeous male keeps staring at her body.

The most breathtaking construction is Frozen, a video installation depicting a cryonic preservation of seven individuals. It is so real and devastating that the notion of individuals’ presence or future does not cause a concern. Next to it is the actual set of a freezer assembled to the wall with chains on the side, like it should be.

Foster’s work is magnificent. The interactive installations are engaging with viewers’ conscious and perception. Simply encouraging the viewer to plunge in.

All images courtesy of the artist and Lazarides Gallery

Photography by Ian Cox

London Art Fair

18th January-23rd January

This year’s London Art Fair is the biggest yet, bringing together the finest modern and contemporary artworks from 31 US, Europe and Britain. Likewise, Art Project and Photo50 will engage viewers with projects, notable for the current economic state and conceptual art.

It is the 23rd year for the London Art Fair with visual art experts presenting guided tours, talks and discussions about the artworks on show. Look out for the outstanding works by Glaswegian art collective duo littlewhitehead and Lisa Barnard’s documentary photography series ‘Maggie’ - taken from Barnard’s current series 32 Smiths Square are discarded snapshots of Margaret Thatcher after she became Prime Minister.

Each of the galleries’ spaces embodies a vision, where emotions, journeys and stories merge. The sculptures by Rachel Schwalm generate a vibe that haunts every viewer. While very figurative and conceptual artist, Anthony Green, reflects the inspiration he gets from everyday life. Lynn Chadwick’s solid sculptures magnetize with its expressive and refined shapes. Then again Katharine Morling’s miniature collection reflects Alice in Wonderland narrative in a pure and untainted way.

A contemporary photography showcase Photo50 features 50 works, all for sale, by nine established artists. Each artwork is nominated for its unique context, focusing on identity, landscape and popular culture. Besides photography, Art Project’s key characteristics and concepts are remarkable installations, which often vary in the use of mediums.

Go for little wander down yourself, The London Art Fair runs until the 23^rd January at the Business Design Centre in Islington. For more info go to www.londonartfair.co.uk

Photography: Katre Laan

by artist Zak Ove

by artist Katharine Morling

by artist Rachel Schwalm

by artist Lynn Chadwick 'Sitting Figures'

by artist Julio Rondo

by artist Geraldine Gliumbislavich

Annual Members Photography Show

until 28th January 2011 @ Photofusion

Second Thursday night of December at Photofusion gallery was an opening night for annual members photographic show. Editor of a photography magazine HotShoe, Miranda Gavin, selected the winner of the competition. “It was a difficult decision,” she said between Odette England, the winner, Vikram Kushwah and David Gopsil.

One of the runners ups, Vikram Kushaw whom recently graduated from Rochester University presented his latest project Ofelia, with strong emphasis on uncanny feeling. He said, “it is good to see my work exhibited as it gives me faith that people like my work.” The Indian photographer Kushwah was pleased with the results, and is now preparing for an up-coming exhibition in Barcelona in the beginning of next year.

Gavin, editor in chief of HotShoe magazine, was honored when first approached and asked to select the winner. She described that “she was evaluating the process in three stages and it was not easy”. Photographers had traveled for inspiration to exotic locations such as Madagascar and also documented local London scene. The gallery co-coordinator Gavin Evans was saying she “wanted also a representation of different genres”. Adrian Wood, a part of the board of Directors added that to the main body that “the idea also was to showcase the diversity of the membership scheme”, when selecting the 14 photographers from first 100 submissions.

The winner Odette England who was not present but receives the Hotshoe Photofusion Award, an annual subscription to HotShoe magazine, a single-page feature and interview with Gavin in the February issue of the magazine.

The exhibition is showcasing Photofusion members ongoing or recent body of work until 28 January next year. The keynotes judges looked at were simplicity, texture, and concept in the diverse selection of artworks.

It is organized annually second year now within membership scheme, photography practitioners from various backgrounds. Works ranged from vivid urban city collages to snapshot style portraits taken with latest iPhone. Publics vote favorite will be announced in the end of the exhibition.

http://hotshoeblog.wordpress.com/

http://www.photofusion.org/gallery/photography/exhibitions/current/default.htm