I’ve just spent the last two weeks in London and it’s been great to catch up on everything that’s been going on here (even if it’s mostly that art is being replaced by billboards). Here’s what I’ve been checking out online this week:
This week I have a piece over at Complex.com where I go over some of my favorite lesser-known facts about the histories of graffiti and street art. It was really fun to write.
Great piece by 1010. Something a bit different and out there with the colors.
It’s a shortish link-o-rama this week, but with some really good stories and great walls…
ICHABOD is one of America’s great freight train writers. He also has Asperger’s Syndrome. This article by Caleb Neelon gives rare insight into the mind of a great graffiti writer and an artist with Asperger’s. It is a must read.
This piece by Waone of Interesni Kazki is called Lost Sheep and it’s in a little backstreet of Kochi, India. I know Interesni Kazki have done some huge murals and people really seem to love those, but I prefer their smaller works like this one. Their smaller pieces become a part of the environment rather than looking like a giant canvas attached to a wall.
Here’s a video to give a sense of the area where the piece was painted:
It’s back to school in a few days for the college-aged Vandalog bloggers. Caroline moving to New York City tomorrow, so say hello if you see her around.
From April 29th to May 6th, Mexico’s capital city was hit with some paint, color and talent. The good news is that Mexico’s All City Canvas had a fantastic line up, who appear to have done fantastic work. Artists participating included Roa, Escif, Herakut, Sego, Interesni Kazki, Vhils, Saner and El Mac. The bad news is that unless you were one of the lucky few who were able to see it in person, the rest of us had to bare with the insta-nostalgia, lo-fi photo processing of Instagram since this was primarily how images of the murals were being released online. Interestingly enough, Gonzalo Alvarez, one of the project’s creators, acknowledged that “many artists in Mexico have no money to travel to other countries, and many of their influences come from the pictures they see on the Internet.” All City Canvas’ PR people could be commended for adhering to Alvarez’s philosophy and releasing the images where the masses seem to be (namely Instagram). But to broadcast art to its global audience through heavy photo filters is kind of like putting ketchup on a steak. Perhaps this argument is irrelevant if the intended audience was the Mexican youth who were able to witness street art in person instead of online. That was the philosophy, right? Quality photos had eventually been released. I suppose I am a bit apprehensive to see Instagram used as a marketing device for art or as my only means of seeing a piece. But that is a total digression from what this post should be focused on.
All City Canvas was awesome. Take a look at these almost completely unedited photos. Or go to Mexico City.
Herakut. Photo courtesy of Brooklyn Street Art.Roa. Photo courtesy of All City Canvas.Vhils. Photo courtesy of All City Canvas.
In conjunction with the festical, gallery Fifty24MX in Mexico City is exhibiting a number of the artists participating in All City Canvas in a show entitled “Piezas“. The show opened on May 10th and will be running until May 27th, featuring work by Aryz, El Mac, Interesni Kazki, Roa, Saner and Sego. Check out photos of the exhibition here.
Interesni Kazki. Photo courtesy of All City Canvas.Interesni Kazki. Photo courtesy of All City Canvas.Saner. Photo courtesy of Brooklyn Street Art.El Mac. Photo courtesy of Brooklyn Street Art.Escif. Photo courtesy of Brooklyn Street Art.Sego. Photo courtesy of Brooklyn Street Art.Sego. Photo courtesy of All City Canvas.
Caroline and I were in Baltimore this week checking out Open Walls Baltimore. If you have the chance, definitely make a trip over there. Full posts about Baltimore coming soon. Point is, between Baltimore and moving this weekend, I’ve been lax this week. Things should return to normal on Wednesday or Thursday, but in the mean time, here’s what I’ve been meaning to post about:
The Ukrainian duo Interesni Kazki are the latest artists to paint a wall in Atlanta with Living Walls for their Living Walls Concepts series. Neuzz is in town painting now, so expect to see something from him soon, but for now here’s what IK got up to…
Photo by Noah OrisichPhoto by Noah OrisichPhoto by Nathan Bolster. Click image to view large
Swoon. Photo courtesy of Open Walls BaltimoreNever2501 and Pixel Pancho. Photo by Martha CooperInteresni Kazki. Photo courtesy of Open Walls BaltimoreNick Mann aka Doodles. Photo by Martha CooperNick Mann aka Doodles. Photo by Martha Cooper
