Robbo Showing at Pure Evil Gallery

September 30th, 2010 | By Stephanie Keller | 18 Comments »

Usually, I love the shows that Pure Evil hosts. With a keen eye for fellow artistic talent, Pure Evil has put on some amazing solo shows with the likes of ROA, Dran and Specter, just to name a few. This time around though, I am a little disappointed to hear that Robbo is the latest artist to invade the gallery. You can think what you want, but in my blunt opinion, I think this atrocious to back an artist who has remade a name for himself late in his career because of a beef with another artist. I am, however, surprised it has taken this long for him to capitalize on his rejuvenated fame since the “War on Banksy” began. No doubt, there will be some pieces that make fun of the stencil artist, but I think this would be a good time for Robbo to step away from the controversy and show his own talent in a gallery, especially one that is so well respected in the street art community. If he does, I will eat my words. But his current actions in London, hyping the show, beg the differ as he and his cronies continue to bomb over Banksy pieces and make digs at him. For someone who has issues with an artist selling out and getting too big for his britches, I think the pot is calling the kettle black.

The show’s preview will take place tomorrow, September 30, at Pure Evil Gallery on Great Eastern Street. Stop by and let me know how it goes down since I am in Liverpool for the Biennial this week.

Top Cat at the Canal in Camden

More from The Canal

Photos courtesy of Robbo, Nolionsinengland, and Pure Evil

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Category: Gallery/Museum Shows, Photos | Tags: banksy, pure evil gallery, robbo

http://www.gaiastreetart.com/ Gaia

yeah this is pretty insane. literally only relevant in the gallery scene from this one canal incident. Robbo should stop dissing and start thanking him
http://Website Ease – London

I think this is a great poke at the whole street/graffiti scene. I’m sure both Banksy and Robbo have quite big smiles on their faces. Banksy for creating this monster and Robbo for proving that he can do this. That is: using the gimmick technique for the “in-community” and his well earned legend status for a a generation of graffiti artists who are loving this whole episode! It’s an important event for both street and graffiti art! At the expense of Banksy’s art being subjected to the same perils of any mortal, street or graffiti artist and a bit of ridicule. You choose who looks the most ridiculous and what is at stake here!
http://Website HOLIO

But Banksy started it.
No miss Robbo started it he scribbled on me exercise book.
But Miss Banksy flicked ink on me shirt Miss.
Come on boys settle down
http://Website 2222

Robbo doesn’t continue to “bomb over Banksy pieces” you’re poorly informed. He has said that that’s all done with now. These latest pieces were done on already blank walls.
http://blog.vandalog.com RJ

Sorry 2222. Let’s rephrase that then. Robbo continues to diss Banksy and street art at almost every possible opportunity. Also, Team Robbo (even if it wasn’t Robbo himself) did show up at Banksy pieces as recently as August. And those blank walls were blank BECAUSE Robbo had already gone over them.
stephanie

Thank you, RJ. And like RJ said, a lot of pieces ROBBO messes with is done by more than just him or his friends, but he still gets credit for them.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/psychonautes/ psychonautes

Hey,

nothing really street art for Liverpool biennal…but if you want to see some good graffiti be sure to go to Grafton street…
http://Website 2222

Team Robbo isn’t the same as Robbo though is it. Don’t confuse the man with a generic name. Anyone can call themselves Team Robbo, doesn’t mean they’re acting on his orders. He’s not the only person who doesn’t like Banksy.

And no the walls weren’t blank because Robbo went over them. They were whitewashed and left blank…not by Robbo, but probably by Banksy’s crew, because they didn’t like the bad publicity. And even if Banksy’s people didn’t do it…are you saying that Robbo’s painting caused them to get buffed and Banksy’s wouldn’t have? Banksy was the one who used profanity on the wall remember, which Robbo then painted out.

You have repeatedly shown yourself to be totally ignorant about Robbo and the culture that he has come from. By saying how ‘atrocious’ it is that Robbo has been allowed into one of your precious galleries, you sound just like the spoilt gauche preppy rich kid tourists that you are. In future do your research before you write things that you have no clue about.
http://Website 2222+1

Pure Evil is a “spoilt gauche preppy rich kid”…and a Team Robbo print is available – £100. So, “In future do your research before you write things that you have no clue about.”
http://blog.vandalog.com RJ

There’s no winning or even reaching consensus with you 2222, no matter what I say. I’m usually up to having my mind changed about issues, but you and I aren’t going to get anywhere on this because I can tell that you’re not going to budge despite any rational or irrational arguments against the rational and irrational things that you’ve said. So I’m not going to bother trying to convince you.
http://Website NUART

It’s such a small insignificant incident in the grand scheme of things..stop writing about it and it will go away. Writers really don’t give a fuck, no ones gonna change their minds. That’s the point. Them’s the rules. Fanning the flames of the “beef” with the oxygen of publicity is just a waste of time and offers nothing to the scene. Shine your spotlights elsewhere, there’s plenty of far more interesting shows in street art this month that are deserving of the sites support.
stephanie

I totally agree on that aspect, but I think the show merits discussion, not just for the beef, but for the fact that a gallery is now interested in showing ROBBO’s work. Plus, personally, and I am sure Aaron who write the most about graff on this site would agree, any true graff artists that show in a gallery space are worth mentioning since those shows are still pretty rare. Vandalog isn’t run just to talk about shows, but really to be used as a vehicle for discussing street art and its transition into museum spaces and the white walls of galleries.

And just to restate what I said, since some people have trouble reading, “I think this would be a good time for Robbo to step away from the controversy and show his own talent in a gallery, especially one that is so well respected in the street art community. If he does, I will eat my words.”

So if someone wants to tell me about the show, before I stop by this week to see it myself, I would love to hear about what the pieces were like.
http://Website STEPHANIE MAYA

Pico, what if Robbo IS Banksy? Then Banksy is kind of genius, no?
http://Website 2222

Spare us the condescension, and don’t even bother trying to twist a selective quote out of context in a desperate attempt to retrospectively justify your lazy prejudiced writing.

I seriously suggest that in future you stick to writing about things you have at least some basic knowledge of. Because you’re so far out of your depth on this subject that it’s painful to watch.

By the way, check out @buckyturco on twitter if you haven’t already. He has a few interesting things to say about this. I even thought RJ was going to invite him for sushi at one point in a classic Marc Schiller-esqe ploy to divert any criticism from the public arena.

This blog has lost all credibility.
http://blog.vandalog.com RJ

Twitter’s not a great forum for detailed debate. Blogs and forums are slightly better. In person conversations are best. What I’d love to do is have Bucky chat with me over Skype or over coffee and record that conversation for a post here or on Animal. So yeah, I did invite him to grab drinks next time I’m in NY but I don’t think he is interested.

People should check out what @buckyturco said to me over Twitter. He made some good points in his last tweets even if I disagree with most of what he said and I think some of his comments cross a line.

Don’t compare me to Marc. Marc manipulated his audience (and this blog’s audience as well when he commented on Vandalog as Wooster in defense of Banksy’s flyposted advertising campaign). Steph and I just disagree with you.
http://www.VNA.com George VNA

As in most cases, you really have to just wait and see what the work is actually like before judging the artist. In this case its plain to see that Robbo is taking the piss a bit with this. Stencils? Flowers? Paint splats and drips? Come on… He is trying to prove a point about how easy it is to sell “artfag” artwork in a gallery. I just hope nobody bought anything last night.

Plus… A channel 4 documentary team following him too? It really does scream “Look at me, look at me!”
http://Website chimp

play the game kids! that’s what Robbo and Banksy are both doing! playing the game. grabbing the cash while people are interested enough to pass it out. good on ‘em. society teaches us to be greedy cunts, stab people in the back, remove the possessions of the dead, etc etc. these are the rules. Robbo and Banksy are just playing the game by the rules.

my Mum always used to tell me that if I ignored the cruel comments of the bullies at school they would go away. they didn’t, but at least by ignoring them I didn’t waste any of my time thinking about them!

note to self: ignore Banksy, Robbo, etc

and blogs. must remember – ignore blogs!
Guest

I know this is a tad late but just as an update watch the show on Channel 4 called Graffiti Wars. In the show Robbo actually thanks Banksy for starting the war between them and is thankful for being able to finally show his work.

I think both guys are great artists but people need to stop criticising Robbo and give him a chance as a respectable artist