brainstorming magazine Salke Lagumdžije 3 71000 Sarajevo Bosna i Hercegovina p: +387 33 956 517 p: +387 61 107 832 w: www.brainstorming.ba e: info@brainstorming.ba
Publisher DDS Idea is all Salke Lagumdžije 3 Hadžisulejmanova 10 71000 Sarajevo Bosna i Hercegovina p: +387 33 956 517 p: +387 61 107 832 w: www.ideaisall.com e: info@ideaisall.com Editor: Rusmir Arnautović | rusmir.arnautovic@brainstorming.ba Review editor: Ena Matković-Arnautović | ena.matkovic@brainstorming.ba Cover illustrator: DDS Idea is all “idea is all” is an digital design studio located in the Sarajevo area and serving clients worldwide. We have experience in Branding, Identity Design, Web Site Design, Graphic Design, Multimedia and Print Production. Our work has been recognized by a number of clients in various industries for exceptional performance, expert advice and quality services in the fields of design, information architecture, branding and development. INFO: http://www.ideaisall.com
We`re always on the lookout for new artist as well as established creatives - so if you`re interested in contributing to the magazine, please send some examples of your work to (e.) samples@brainstorming.ba
2 | ISSUE 03 | THE PAINT CLUB B&H
Welcome Paint Club, global interactive platform for urban art based in Germany, and its official representative in B&H, Brainstorming magazine from Sarajevo, are organizing for the first time in B&H the national drawing competition which will be held on September, as part of the of the Brainstorming special event. The organizers have released an invitation to all Bosnian and Herzegovina`s illustrators, drawers, graphic designers and anyone involved in street art to apply for participation in the competition which will be held on 10th September at the Meeting Point in Sarajevo. Creative illustrators, graphic designers and anyone else who likes to draw are invited to join into teams of two and send their selected works and basic personal and contact information to the email address thepaintclubba@gmail.com no later than August 31th.
Meet the artists Ujean & Glazyrin
Mathieu Young
Specialisation: illustration, matte-painting, creative retouching
I was born and raised in Northern California and graduated from UCLA in 2003. I spent 4 years assisting top commercial photographers ...
Markie Darkie
David FrĂŠchou
Photography Visual Arts Graphic Design
His back and forth between the mainland and the Caribbean enrich its visual and technical graphics are pure to the world ...
Hypics
Yury Ustsinau
We are always waiting for the next challenge, whether it be Hyper-real photo manipulation or just the clever use of an idea.
Graphic Design Digital Art Illustration
THE PAINT CLUB B&H | ISSUE 03 | 3
Contents SEPTEMBER
What is Street Art? Vandalism, graffiti or public art
THE PAINT CLUB B&H BRAINSTORMING After the great success of the PAINT CLUB competition season with a tour through 13 european cities and an international final last year, it’s time to call for the next round. This year creative illustrators, graphic and comic designers and street artists from 16 european countries can qualify themselves for the international final in Berlin. In the meantime PAINT CLUB grew to THAT institution for Urban Art. Far beyond the borders of Germany Europe‘s artistical hotspots with focus on Eastern European countries will become stages of a new and unique competition. At the same time it’s an interactive platform for a high amount of creative heads. Therefor the best artists of their scene as well as local luminaries in the matter of Urban Art will compete to match with each other in all their creativity. Solely armed with MOLOTOW ‚One4All‘ markers, the aim is to trump the rivals with motif power, fun or irony within a timelimit and given topic.
URBAN ART DEFINITIONS In recent years there has been an increasing interest in an ephemeral and viral form of art that is marking urban settings around the world, and has developed a flourishing sub-culture all its own. Now though, street art is going mainstream. Auctioneers, collectors and museum directors are scrabbling to learn urban art vocabulary and develop positions on the big street art issues. In this primer post Art Radar gives you a heads up on what you need to know.
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A Compilation of Creative Street Art Stickers Every street is filled with its own story or people who make the place more lively and memorable. Even when you are just a passerby, you can already tell what happened in that area by just looking around. You may also notice how art can be found on its walls through what they call as street art stickers. Most of the time, people who create these personalized stickers would just want to express themselves in a creative way. You can usually find them stuck on walls or public properties such as posts and benches.
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Street Art Street art is any art developed in public spaces — that is, “in the streets” — though the term usually refers to unsanctioned art, as opposed to government sponsored initiatives. The term can include traditional graffiti artwork, stencil graffiti, sticker art, wheatpasting and street poster art, video projection, art intervention, guerrilla art, flash mobbing and street installations. Typically, the term street art or the more specific post-graffiti is used to distinguish contemporary public-space artwork from territorial graffiti, vandalism, and corporate art. Artists have challenged art by situating it in non-art contexts. ‘Street’ artists do not aspire to change the definition of an artwork, but rather to question the existing environment with its own language.
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Artist, Illustrators, Photographers, News Tendril Design
Luis Toledo
Tendril is a director-driven design studio based in Toronto, Canada. It is a lab and workshop where directors, designers ...
Life, identity, reality, status quo, intention and purpose. From very young, the look of Luis Toledo explored the inquisitive reality ...
Cristiano Siqueira
Miran Lazic
I’m Cristiano Siqueira, an Illustrator from Sao Paulo / Brazil, also known by the artistic identity of CRISVECTOR.
With a background in graphic design, “Revolt Clothing” is not just a brand, but the idea and a project which is constantly evolving, updating ...
Rubens Cantuni
Kilian Eng
Rubens Cantuni. Born in 1982 in Genoa – Italy. I have Pantone 4485 C eyes and Pantone Process Black C hair. I draw. Watch movies.
Illustration, Graphic Design, Cover art, Posters, Futuristic illustration, Surreal, Drawing, Storytelling, Animation
Meet the Artist: INFO: http://ujean-glazyrin.com/
Ujean & Glazyrin
Specialisation: illustration, matte-painting, creative retouching
Meet the Artist: INFO: http://www.behance.net/markiedarkie/
Markie Darkie Photography Visual Arts Graphic Design
e v i t a e r C s k r wo
THE PAINT CLUB B&H | ISSUE 03 | 11
the paint BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA by BRAINSTORMING MAGAZINE
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The first national Paint Club drawing competition in Bosnia and Herzegovina will be held on 10th September as part of the Brainstorming special event!
t club
Paint Club, global interactive platform for urban art based in Germany, and its official representative in B&H, Brainstorming magazine from Sarajevo, are organizing for the first time in B&H the national drawing competition which will be held on September, as part of the of the Brainstorming special event. The organizers have released an invitation to all Bosnian and Herzegovina`s illustrators, drawers, graphic designers and anyone involved in street art to apply for participation in the competition which will be held on 10th September at the Meeting Point in Sarajevo. Teams of two artists can apply, and they will be drawing with markers on a given format, and based on theme which will be told to them on the spot. Competing of 7 temas will be followed by the event. All interested participants are invited to bring friends and supporters with them, as the winner will be decided by both the jury and the audience – there is also the “audience prize”, which combined with jury’s opinion can take you to the final victory.
Creative illustrators, graphic designers and anyone else who likes to draw are invited to join into teams of two and send their selected works and basic personal and contact information to the email address thepaintclubba@gmail. com no later than August 31th.
PAINT CLUB, the interactive platform for the global Urban Art movement, goes for a second round! After the great success of the PAINT CLUB competition season with a tour through 13 european cities and an international final last year, it’s time to call for the next round. This year creative illustrators, graphic and comic designers and street artists from 16 european countries can qualify themselves for the international final in Berlin. In the meantime PAINT CLUB grew to THAT institution for Urban Art. Far beyond the borders of Germany Europe‘s artistical hotspots with focus on Eastern European countries will become stages of a new and unique competition. At the same time it’s an interactive platform for a high amount of creative heads. Therefor the best artists of their scene as well as local luminaries in the matter of Urban Art will compete to match with each other in all their creativity. Solely armed with MOLOTOW ‚One4All‘ markers, the aim is to trump the rivals with motif power, fun or irony within a timelimit and given topic. Not only the artists are fascinated and infected by the creative virus but also the open-minded and interested audience, which decides together with judges about 14 | ISSUE 03 | THE PAINT CLUB B&H
victory or defeat of the teams. The winner team qualifies for the international final at the Stroke.Artfair in Berlin (www.strokeartfair.com) from 29.09.–02.10.2011 and has the chance to get the title „International PAINT CLUB Champion 2011“.
Interactive platform for global movement The conscious and determined competition with an opponent has urged people for ages. Who ever has fought or acquired a victory turns into hero, idol, audience favourite, pioneer or captain. This urge to win and to go down in history as a glorious victor has always spawned creative and surprising peak-performances. So many times the winners of tomorrow are the most auspicious talents of today. Exactly this is the stuff dreams are made of. Even amongst illustrators, designers, comic artists and street artists, there are a plethora of undiscovered or even discovered talents, only waiting to prove and to compete their skills, their creativity and their virtuosity. Unfortunately there is no appropriate platform for the creative contest of the global urban art movement. The time has come for the PAINT CLUB. 128 artists forming 64 teams are going to join this year in eight European countries the creative, interactive competition having the aim to win the national champion title. The winner teams from each country compete then against each other in order to define the international champion. The national contest and the international final consists of two preliminary rounds of 60 minutes followed by one final of 90 minutes in which the teams are running for the title. Coloured paint markers and white canvases are the general basics of every tournament. The decision over victory or defeat will be made by the audience together with the judges. The fascination of the PAINT CLUB arises through the interaction with the audience, the battle between the different teams and through the cooperation and the strategy within the singular teams. Summary: The PAINT CLUB is offering the interactive platform for all artists of the urban art movement. Talented illustrators, designers, comic and street artists get a chance to compete against each other in a international tournament to show their virtuosity.
Story The conscious and determined competition with an opponent has urged people for ages. Who ever has fought or acquired a victory turns into hero, idol, audience favourite, pioneer or captain. This urge to win and to go down in history as a glorious victor has always spawned
creative and surprising peak-performances. So many times the winners of tomorrow are the most auspicious talents of today. Exactly this is the stuff dreams are made of – the stuff for the next big thing. Even amongst illustrators, designers, comic artists and street artists, there are a plethora of undiscovered or even discovered talents, only waiting to prove and to compete their skills, their creativity and their virtuosity. Unfortunately there is no appropriate platform for them. The time has come for the PAINT CLUB. The PAINT CLUB will offer artists and creative talents a platform and a space to interact in, just like the Battle of the Year already does for breakdancers or the DMC DJ Championship for DJs. In the next few years the PAINT CLUB as a creative competition will develop into a comparable institution for artists.
Concept The PAINT CLUB is a unique and international tournament of talented illustrators, designers, comic artists and street artists, in which creative peak-performances, competition and an open-minded audience are melting together. Within a creative and interactive tournament, artists in teams of two are going to compete against each other in different countries, gaining for the national title. Finally the winning teams of the respective countries will run against each other to ascertain the international champion. The national contest and the international final consists of preliminary round(s) of 60 minutes followed by a final of 90 minutes in which the teams are running for the title. Coloured paint markers and white canvases are the general basics of every tournament. The decision over victory or defeat will be made by the audience together with the judges. The fascination of the PAINT CLUB arises through the interaction with the audience, the battle between the different teams and through the cooperation and the strategy within the singular teams. The PAINT CLUB will take place in context of significant events of
major public interest and offers therefore a first-class forum for the artist and all involved partners.
Community Guests of PAINT CLUB are creative, open-minded, curious, interested in music and they are belonging to the opinionmakers of their scene and their social environment. With honest interest and passion they not only observe creative developments, but also integrate such kind of experiences into their own lifestyle. Enormous potentials will arise for any project as a partner of the PAINT CLUB. Through a multitude of interactive elements like the choice of the motive or the voting, the audience gets integrated directly into the process of creativity itself. The outcome is a emotional solidarity with the event, the ideal basis for a positive perception of all partners involved. We reach our community through the global website, local blogs written in the native language, local partners in every country, the common social media platforms and through the various communication channels of international partners.i
National PAINT CLUB Competitions 2011 - 16 countries in Europe - 128 artists in 64 teams - International final in Germany - national pre-selections possible - Europe-wide coverage THE PAINT CLUB B&H | ISSUE 03 | 15
Battle pr
In each country 4 artist teams will compete agains nal. Meanwhile, each team can build it’s own strate
The national champion teams will compete against each other in a big international final Of course there can be more than one pre-rounds, with 8 up to 16 teams. Two random te team comes in the next round.
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rinciple
st each other and fight in a K.O. system up to the fiegy and prepare itself ...
l in October in Germany, at the STROKE.05 artfair in Berlin. eams paint against each other and the audience together with the judges decides which
FINAL // 90 MINUTES
PRE-ROUND 2 // 60 MINUTES
PRE-ROUND 1 // 60 MINUTES
16 ARTISTS IN 8 TEAMS THE PAINT CLUB B&H | ISSUE 03 | 17
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team guidelines
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Goran Markovic
Amila Hrustic
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team BAM
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Filip andronik
Ervina Muftic
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team Idiots
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Stefan Milovic
amir ganovic
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team Afekt
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namir vatres
alem bajrovic
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team Specialists of Zen Mastery
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edvin granulo
kemal mehmedovic
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team architex 2000
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Mensur demir
adi taslidzic
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team obralicevi zmajevi
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himzo sinanagic
amir catic
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team mirza
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mirza mameledzija mirza smajlovic
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Meet the Artist: INFO: http://mathieuyoung.com
Mathieu Young
I was born and raised in Northern California and graduated from UCLA in 2003. I spent 4 years assisting top commercial photographers before setting out on my own to pursue an intersection between photojournalism and commercial photography.
Meet the Artist: INFO: http://avid971.free.fr
David Frechou As a teenager David FrĂŠchou aka Avid discovered a passion for drawing. His back and forth between the mainland and the Caribbean enrich its visual and technical graphics are pure to the world via web tools print and illustration. David has held since 2007 the position of graphic artist at Yavanna; agency global communications consultancy located in southern Paris.
Get your projects out of paper. Advertising Agency: M&C Saatchi F&Q, Sao Paulo, Brazil Art Director: Daniella De Carlo Copywriter: Ovidio Ferreira Creative Director: Alexandre Manisck Assoc Creative Director: Paschoal Fabra Neto Account Executives: Vanessa Tordino, Caroline Amoroso, Mayara Bernardo Illustrator: Estudio Fliperama Photographer: Daniel Klajmic Retouching: Fernando Vido
LG: Chicken & LG: Fish
Advertising Agency: Y&R, São Paulo, Brazil Executive Creative Director: Rui Branquinho Creative Directors: Flávio Casarotti, Sérgio Fonseca Art Director: Kleyton Mourão Copywriter: Roberto Kilciauskas Agency Producer: Monica Beretta Illustrator: Open The Door
What is Street Art? Vandalism, graffiti or public art Itspeech ’s a great form of sel f expressi o n, i t ’ s free i n one way, u ncensored, r aw, i t ’ s of t h e tcelime,ebratit’se imthmediat! ate, it’s now and we’ve got to
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URBAN ART DEFINITIONS In recent years there has been an increasing interest in an ephemeral and viral form of art that is marking urban settings around the world, and has developed a flourishing sub-culture all its own. Now though, street art is going mainstream.
46 | ISSUE 03 | THE PAINT CLUB B&H
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Auctioneers, collectors and museum directors are scrabbling to learn urban art vocabulary and develop positions on the big street art issues. In this primer post Art Radar gives you a heads up on what you need to know.
What is Street Art? There is as yet no simple definition of street art. It is an amorphous beast encompassing art which is found in or inspired by the urban environment. With anti-capitalist and rebellious undertones, it is a democratic form of popular public art probably best understood by seeing it in situ. It is not limited to the gallery nor easily collected or possessed by those who may turn art into a trophy. Considered by some a nuisance, for others street art is a tool for communicating views of dissent, asking difficult questions and expressing political concerns. Its definition and uses are changing: originally a tool to mark territorial boundaries of urban youth today it is even seen in some cases as a means of urban beautification and regeneration. Whether it is regarded as vandalism or public art, street art has caught the interest of the art world and its lovers of beauty.
Is street art vandalism? In an interview with the Queens Tribune, New York City’s Queens Museum of Art Executive Director Tom Finkelpearl said public art “is the best way for people to express themselves in this city.” Finkelpearl, who helps organize socially conscious art exhibitions, added, “Art gets dialogue going. That’s very good.” However, he doesn’t find graffiti to be art, and says, “I can’t condone vandalism… It’s really upsetting to me that people would need to write their name over and over again in public space. It’s this culture of fame. I really think it’s regrettable that they think that’s the only way to become famous.”
Is street art illegal? The legal distinction between permanent graffiti and art is permission, but the topic becomes even more complex regarding impermanent, nondestructive forms of graffiti (yarn bombing, video projection, and street installation.) With permission, traditional painted graffiti is technically considered public art. Without permission, painters of public and private property are committing vandalism and are, by definition, criminals. However, it still stands that most street art is unsanctioned, and many artists who have painted without permission, (Banksy, Shepard Fairey) have been glorified as legitimate and socially conscious artists. Although it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to clearly define what unsanctioned imagery is art and what is not, the effects of such images can be observed and conclusions can be reached regarding images’ function within a public environment.
Broken Window Theory: Vandalism vs. Street Art
ting. It has also been observed by criminologists to have a ‘snowball effect’ of generating more negativity within its vicinity. Dr. James Q. Wilson and Dr. George Kelling studied the effects of disorder (in this case, a broken window) in an urban setting, and found that one instance of neglect increases the likelihood of more broken windows and graffiti will appear. Then, there is an observable increase in actual violent crime. The researchers concluded there is a direct link between vandalism, street violence, and the general decline of a society. Their theory, named the Broken Window Theory and first published in 1982, argues that crime is the inevitable result of disorder, and that if neglect is present in a place, whether it is disrepair or thoughtless graffiti, people walking by will think no one cares about that place, and the unfavorable damage is therefore acceptable.
Street Art and Gentrification Thoughtful and attractive street art, however, has been suggested to have regenerative effects on a neighborhood. In fact, the popular street artist Banksy, who has catapulted his guerilla street art pastime into a profitable career as an auctionable contemporary artist, has come under criticism for his art contributing to the gentrification of neighborhoods. Appropriate Media claims that:
“Banksy… sells his lazy polemics to Hollywood movie stars for big bucks… Graffiti artists are the performing spray-can monkeys for gentrification. In collusion with property developers, they paint deprived areas bright colours to indicate the latest funky inner city area ripe for regeneration. Pushing out low income families in their wake, to be replaced by middle class metrosexuals with their urban art collections.” [Times Online] Banksy himself has received requests from residents in the neighborhoods he paints, which ask that he stop painting so they can continue to afford homes in the neighborhoods where they grew up. A letter received by Banksy reads:
“My brother and me were born here and have lived here all our lives, but these days so many yuppies and students are moving here that neither of us can afford to buy a house where we grew up anymore. Your graffities are undoubtably part of what makes these [people] think our area is cool. You’re obviously not from around here, and after you’ve driven up the house prices you’ll just move on. Do us a favor and go do your stuff somewhere else like Brixton.”
Vandalism is inexcusable destruction of property, and has been shown to have negative repercussions on its setTHE PAINT CLUB B&H | ISSUE 03 | 47
Forms of Street Art
Top 5 street artists in the art world
Traditional- Painting on the surfaces of public or private property that is visible to the public, commonly with a can of spray paint or roll-on paint. It may be comprised of just simple words (commonly the writer’s name) or be more artful and elaborate, covering a surface with a mural image.
Modern graffiti art originated as an underworld activity and coincided with the hip hop movement in the late 1960′s and early 70′s in New York City [Associated Content], but many artists who started as ‘taggers’ have been recognized by the art world and achieved commercial success. This post will provide an outline of the humble beginnings of street art culture and the artists who have emerged from this culture and into the international art scene.
Stencil- Painting with the use of a homemade stencil, usually a paper or cardboard cutout, to create an image that can be easily reproduced. The desired design is cut out of a selected medium, and the image is transferred to a surface through the use of spray paint or roll-on paint. Sticker- (aka sticker bombing, slap tagging, and sticker tagging) Propagates an image or message in public spaces using homemade stickers. These stickers commonly promote a political agenda, comment on a policy or issue, or comprise an avantgarde art campaign. Sticker art is considered a subcategory of postmodern art. Mosaic- Mosaic is the art of creating images with an assemblage of smaller parts or pieces, to resemble a single giant piece of art. Video Projection- Digitally projecting a computer-manipulated image onto a surface via a light and projection system. Street installation- Street installations are a growing trend within the ‘street art’ movement. Whereas conventional street art and graffiti is done on surfaces or walls, ‘street installations’ use 3-D objects and space to interfere with the urban environment. Like graffiti, it is non-permission based and once the object or sculpture is installed it is left there by the artist. Wood blocking- Artwork painted on a small portion of plywood or similar inexpensive material and attached to street signs with bolts. Often the bolts are bent at the back to prevent removal. It has become a form of graffiti used to cover a sign, poster, or any piece of advertisement that stands or hangs. Flash mobbing- A large group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place, perform an unusual action for a brief time, then quickly disperse. The term flash mob is generally applied only to gatherings organized via telecommunications, social networking, and viral emails. The term is generally not applied to events organized by public relations firms or as publicity stunts. This can also be considered mass public performance art. Yarn bombing- Yarn Bombing is a type of street art that employs colorful displays of knitted or crocheted cloth rather than paint or chalk. The practice is believed to have originated in the U.S. with Texas knitters trying to find a creative way to use their leftover and unfinished knitting projects, but has since spread worldwide. While other forms of graffiti may be expressive, decorative, territorial, socio-political commentary, advertising or vandalism, yarn bombing is almost exclusively about beautification and creativity. 48 | ISSUE 03 | THE PAINT CLUB B&H
The common unsanctioned art visible in urban areas is the work of graffiti ‘writers’, who compete for recognition and respect (‘fame’) by having the most pervasive street art in a community. Each artist has his or her own graffiti name (‘tag’), which is creatively written as a signature or autograph and repeated throughout an area. Walls within an area that are sites for expressions of an artist’s or group’s dominance are known as ‘Walls of Fame.’ A strict hierarchy, visible through imagery Although the graffiti art community may seem unstructured, it adheres to a strict hierarchy among its writers. The most visible or skilled artists are known as ‘kings’, and iconography of crowns within their work is a reference to the writer’s status. Lesser artists can only gain status by impressing a ‘king’. Unfortunately, part of the reason these writers create graffiti is because it is illicit, and it helps the artist gain notoriety. Lady Pink, a socially conscious veteran street artist whose work is on display at The Whitney Museum of American Art, the Queens Museum of Art, P.S. 1 Contemporary Art Center, the Museum of the City of New York, says:
“You can’t give them a legal wall. They’re not interested. They’re more interested in the aspect of breaking the law, being vandals and being rebellious. They don’t have the skills for it or the desire to paint something in the daytime.” [Queens Tribune] From street to chic In past years street art has progressed beyond its gang related origins and is now appreciated among the highest contemporary art, with a matching price tag. Ralph Taylor of Sotheby’s, who has organized contemporary street art sales for auction in London, says:
“There is a natural progression from the young artists collected by Charles Saatchi in the 1990s to the street artists of today. People used to be looking for the next Damien Hirst; now they are after the next Banksy.” [Telegraph]
The artist Banksy, whose identity is kept secret for fear of the legal consequences for his art, is perhaps the best known street artist today. Banksy’s You Told That Joke Twice surpassed price estimates to sell for $266,000 at Christie’s on February 11, 2010, in a sale among pieces by Andy Warhol and Anish Kapoor. Another piece by Banksy, titled I Fought the Law is scheduled for auction at Christie’s on March 23, 2010, with an estimated price of $15,020$22,530. Another two works by Banksy, titled Bomb Hugger and Armoured Car, sold at Sotheby’s Contemporary Art Day Sale on February 11, 2010, selling for $88,396 and $73,976, respectively. Works by the American graffiti artist Barry Mcgee, also known as ‘Ray Fong’ and ‘Twist’ (and variations of the word twist, including Twister and Twisty) have also frequented the Christie’s auction, commanding prices up to $113,525.
See Shepard Fairey explain why he created the Obama Hope poster and his OBEY campaign here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_ EOzZ9iaJQ&feature=fvsr
Adam Neate- This UK graffiti artist has been recognized by the London National Gallery, the Tate, and the London National Portrait Gallery. He has been shown by the Elms Lesters Gallery in London, and in 2007 his painting Suicide Bomber sold for £78,500 at Sotheby’s. On November 14, 2008, in an event The London Show, he and helpers left 1,000 prints, worth a total of £1 million, around London streets for anyone to pick up and keep. He says: “The whole concept of the free art thing was challenging the notion of art as a commodity and its worth in society. Now I’m taking that to another level, testing the viability of separating art from commerce.” [Skyarts]
Top 5 Street Artists who have achieved success in the art world
Adam’s Neate’s Asian debut was at the Schoeni Gallery in Hong Kong on June 19-July 18, 2009.
Banksy – Possibly the best known street artist and an icon of the street art movement. He began his career creating street artworks in and around London, but has been legitimately accepted into the higher realms of the art world. He has been a regular at art auctions fetching high prices, and is pres ented with the most exclusive contemporary artists at gallery shows. Banksy will be on display in Hong Kong at Fabrick Contemporary Art in the company of artists Damien Hirst, Francis Bacon, and Gilbert and George, in The Great British Show, running Feb 25- March 25, 2010.
Swoon, whose real name is Caledonia ‘Callie’ Currry, is a New York City street artist, and has been recognized by the P.S. 1 Contemporary Art Center, Art Basel Miami, MoMA, and the Brooklyn Museum. She crashed the 2009 Venice Biennale with a 30-person ‘Swimming Cities’ performance project, titled The Clutches of Cuckoo. She and her ‘pirate’ crew sailed from Slovenia to dock off the Grand Canal of Certosa Island in a ship made of New York City garbage, to make an extraordinary entrance.
Banksy’s Asian museum exhibition debut was the show ‘Love Art 08‘, which ran April 30-May 13, 2008 at the Hong Kong Art Center, and featured other contemporary and pop art heavy weights like Damien Hirst and Robert Indiana. He has also recently completed a film titled Exit Through the Gift Shop, which is touted to be a ‘street art disaster movie’, which debuted at the Sundance Film Festival on Jan 24, 2010. Here you can view some works on display at the Bristol Museum’s Banksy Exhibition 2009. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyc30PNkOY4
Shepard Fairey- Educated over 20 years ago at the Rhode Island School of Design, he began his career making guerilla street art in Los Angeles, but has since expanded his concept, which revolves around the image of Andre the Giant, into an entire product line branded ‘OBEY’. Canvas artworks have also been developed from this iconography, including his Peace Goddess, which sold at Sotheby’s for $80,500 in the company of works by Banksy and Andy Warhol. His first museum exhibition, titled Supply and Demand, was at the Boston Institute of Contemporary Art, from Febuary 16-August 16, 2009, and included his iconic Obama Poster, which now hangs in the United State’s National Portrait Gallery.
See Adam Neate speak on his London Show: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqNjgZqVHfE&feature =fvsr
See Swoon speak on her works at the MoMA in a two part interview series: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4B8xzTd5t8
Barry McGee, also known as Ray Fong, Twist, or Twisty, is a San Francisco, California based street artist and cult figure whose work was included in the Venice Biennale in 2001, and the 2009-2010 Biennale de Lyon, France. He has been exhibited at the Watari-um Museum in Tokyo, the 2008 Carnegie International, the Rose Art Museum in Waltham, Maryland, and the BALTIC Centre in UK. His work has also sold at Christie’s, commanding high prices. See some of his work in this interview video with Art 21 for PBS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UN3z0hvuOT4
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Meet the Artist: INFO: http://ustsinau.com/
Yury Ustsinau
Graphic Design Digital Art Illustration
Meet the Artist: INFO: http://flickr.com/photos/zsabreuser/
Aluisio Cervelle Santos Has contributed to several comic anthologies across the globe, such as Pulpo Press’s Pulpo Anthology 4, Dapshow Press’s Gothology 1 and 2, and also Pirat, a polish comic anthology. He also loves creating characters on the go, and has had several micro game ideas.
Meet the Artist: INFO: http://www. www.tendril.ca
Tendril Design
Tendril is a director-driven design studio based in Toronto, Canada. It is a lab and workshop where directors, designers, and artists from diverse backgrounds create powerful visual storytelling experiences, employing a wide range of styles and techniques.
Meet the Artist: INFO: http://admedia.nau.coop/
adNAU
adNAU is the Los Angeles & New York based affiliate of design collective NAU (nau.coop), focused on design & direction for advertising, events and entertainment. From stylish events to the dream worlds that film and visual effects can readily supply, they blur the boundaries between the physical and virtual. Fluidly combining elements of filmic and virtual architecture with narratives to help produce powerful, distinctive branding and experiences.
Meet the Artist: INFO: http://www.rafahu.com/
Rafahu
I am Animator, illustrator and designer in MĂŠxico City. I live drawing and painting everything in my mind.
Meet the Artist: INFO: http://www.crisvector.com
Cristiano Siqueira
I’m Cristiano Siqueira, an Illustrator from São Paulo / Brazil, also known by the artistic identity of CRISVECTOR. This website brings to you some selected works that I’ve been producing since I started officially as a professional Illustrator, in 2005. Here you can see works done for magazines, advertising, fashion editorials and some comics too. Digital art and vector illustration are my passion and all my work is created in these formats.
Meet the Artist: INFO: http://www.richardsolomon.com/artists/dongyun-lee.htm
Dongyun Lee
Dongyun Lee was born and raised in Seoul, Korea. After Dongyun Lee has received his BFA in Visual Communication Design, he has worked as a graphic designer for a while in Korea. Then he moved to United States and received his MFA degree in Illustration as Visual Essay at School of Visual Arts.
STREET ART
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Street art is any art developed in public spaces — that is, “in the streets” — though the term usually refers to unsanctioned art, as opposed to government sponsored initiatives. The term can include traditional graffiti artwork, stencil graffiti, sticker art, wheatpasting and street poster art, video projection, art intervention, guerrilla art, flash mobbing and street installations. Typically, the term street art or the more specific post-graffiti is used to distinguish contemporary public-space artwork from territorial graffiti, vandalism, and corporate art.
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Artists have challenged art by situating it in non-art contexts. ‘Street’ artists do not aspire to change the definition of an artwork, but rather to question the existing environment with its own language. They attempt to have their work communicate with everyday people about socially relevant themes in ways that are informed by esthetic values without being imprisoned by them. John Fekner defines street art as “all art on the street that’s not graffiti.”
Techniques Whereas traditional graffiti artists have primarily used freehand aerosol paints to produce their works, “street art” encompasses many other media and techniques, including: LED art, mosaic tiling, murals, stencil art, sticker art, street installations, wheatpasting, woodblocking, video projection, and yarn bombing. Traditional graffiti also has increasingly been adopted as a method for advertising; its trajectory has even in some cases led its artists to work on contract as graphic artists for corporations. Nevertheless, street art is a label often adopted by artists who wish to keep their work unaffiliated and strongly political. Street artists are those whose work is still largely done without official approval in public areas. For these reasons street art is sometimes considered “postgraffiti” and sometimes even “neo-graffiti.” Street art can be found around the world and street artists often travel to other countries foreign to them so they can spread their designs.
Motivation The motivations and objectives that drive street artists are as varied as the artists themselves. There is a strong current of activism and subversion in urban art. Street art can be a powerful platform for reaching the public, and frequent themes include adbusting, subvertising and other culture jamming, the abolishment of private property and reclaiming the streets. Some street artists use “smart vandalism” as a way to raise awareness of social and political issues. Other street artists simply see urban space as an untapped format for personal artwork, while others may appreciate the challenges and risks that are associated with installing illicit artwork in public places. However the universal theme in most, if not all street art, is that adapting visual artwork into a format which utilizes public space, allows artists who may otherwise feel disenfranchised, to reach a much broader audience than traditional artwork and galleries normally allow.
Street artists Street artists such as Above, Jef Aérosol, Banksy, Ivana von Zwettler, Mat Benote, BLU, Cartrain, Ces53, Dan Witz, D*Face, Tod Hanson, Invader, Michael Kirby, Neck Face, Vhils, Os Gemeos, Swoon, Twist, and 108, have earned international attention for their work and have shown their works in museums or galleries as well as on the street. It is also not uncommon for street artists to achieve commercial success (e.g., Ash, Shepard Fairey, Ron English, Faile, Mr. Brainwash and WK Interact), doing graphics for other companies or starting their own merchandising lines. THE PAINT CLUB B&H | ISSUE 03 | 67
Other pioneers of street art who have completely discontinued street art (e.g., Richard Hambleton and members of AVANT) have also successfully pursued their contemporary art careers in galleries and museums.
tal difference with the scene in Buenos Aires is the implicit co-operation of the police, who rarely hassle artists. Some companies offer tours to explore the different street art in the city and learn more about the artists and their work.
In 1981, Washington Project for the Arts held an exhibition entitled Street Works, which included John Fekner, Fab Five Freddy and Lee Quinones working directly on the streets. Fekner, a pioneer in urban art, is included in Cedar Lewisohn’s book Street Art: The Graffiti Revolution, which accompanied the 2008 Street Art exhibition at the Tate Modern in England, of which Lewisohn was the curator.
- London, England has become one of the most pro-graffiti cities in the world. Although officially condemned and heavily enforced, street art has a huge following and in many ways is embraced by the public.
The 1990 book Soho Walls – Beyond Graffiti by David Robinson documents the paradigm shift in New York from the text-based precedents established by graffiti artists toward art in the streets such as the shadow figures by Richard Hambleton and the group of five young New York artists working collectively under the moniker AVANT.
- Melbourne, Australia (see Street art in Melbourne) is home to one of the world’s most active and diverse street art cultures and is home to pioneers in the stencil medium. Street artists such as Blek le Rat and Banksy often exhibited works on Melbourne’s streets in the 2000s. Works are supported and preserved by local councils. Key locations within the city include Brunswick, Carlton, Fitzroy, Northcote, and the city centre including the famous Hosier Lane.
Key locations While practically all large cities in the world, and some of the larger regional towns, host some form of urban art or graffiti, there are a few locations that are considered to harbour forerunners of particular mediums or foster a pioneering street art culture in general. Such locations often attract internationally known artists who travel to these locations to exhibit their works. The following is a partial list of the most notable locations. - Berlin, Germany has attracted attention to international urban artists since the reunification of the city, making it one of Europe’s street art strongholds. Bizarre postcommunist locations, cheap rents and ramshackle buildings gave rise to a vibrant street art scene. Hotspots include Mitte, Prenzlauer Berg, Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain. - Bristol, England is part of a vibrant street art scene, due in part to the success of Banksy. - Buenos Aires, Argentina is very active in street art, presenting major murals everywhere in the city. A fundamen-
- Italy is very active in street art since the end of the 90’s, the artists involved are many and some one worked in several countries in the world like BLU, others are better known in Italy. Any list would be incomplete but some of them are: ( RUN, DEM, Ericailcane, OZMO, 108, Stan & Lex, Lucamaleonte, Andreco, Moneyless, 2501, BR1, Mp5, Hitnes, orticanoodles, James Kalinda, Centina, Cyop e Kaf, diegomiedo ) Some of the most important italian street art festival are “POPUP!” in Ancona and “FAME festival” in Grottaglie, Puglia. - Paris, France is also a very active street art scene with artists such as Space Invader, Zevs, Mosko et Associés, Mesnager, Zoo Project. It started with the Letterism and then with a situationnist slogan painted on a wall in Paris. The nouveau realist, including Jacques Villeglé, Yves Klein and Arman interact with public space but stay, like Pop Art in a classic studio/ gallery relation. On 1962, The Rideau de Fer (Iron Curtain) By Christo and Jeanne-Claude is an example of early uncommissioned art. The Same year sees the first can spray work by pioneer Gérard Zlotykamien. After the “chienlit”
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- São Paulo, Brazil present major murals. No more billboard advertising since 200? The lively and colourful atmosphere of the city is reflected in the street art scene, quickly evolving into one of the biggest and best in the world, drawing in many artists from around the world to collaborate. - New York City, USA is considered the home of modern graffiti. In the early 1980s, the first art galleries that started to show street artists to the public were Fashion Moda in Bronx and Now Gallery in East Village, Manhattan. [citation needed] The city has a thriving street art scene. - Stavanger, Norway is host to the annual Nuart Festival, one of Europe’s leading events dedicated to promoting street art. - Los Angeles, California another famous city in the United States which features influential art and intriguing graffiti pieces throughout the city. Key locations include Sunset Boulevard, La Brea, Beverly, La Cienega, Melrose Avenue, and Hollywood to name a few (expression coined by General De Gaulle to qualify the may 1968 mini-revolution, Paris, like New-York has major city works but no Factory as important as Warhol’s. In the 1970s, the work of Daniel Buren is seen in Paris subway. With the election of François Mitterrand in may 1981, a “new deal” of public space raise in Paris. So artist like Miss.Tic , Blek le rat, Jérome Mesnager make their first intervention in the street. Blek le rat is one major known influence of Banksy. The late 80s sees writers like Joneone from New York settling in Paris. A long movement of translation that can be observed until the 00s for Seen arrives in Paris after the 9/11. Another urban art movement spottable in the 80s in Paris is the Figuration Libre (a term coined by Ben) galaxy within gravitates a urban painter collectives (gluing their paintings on paper on publicity billboards) like Les Frères Ripoulin ( Including OX, Claude Closky, Pierre Huyghe, Nina Childress and Jean Faucheur) or Les Musulmans fumants (including Vincent Cassel in its fanbase). Tony Shafrazi makes the connection between Paris in New York. In the mid 90s, Paris was the “Second city of Hip Hop”. Notable figures : André and l’Atlas . In 1998, Space Invader and Zevs start their invasion in Paris.
- On May 13, 2011, LAB ART Los Angeles opened the world’s largest art gallery dedicated to street art on La Brea. Spanning 6,500 square feet (600 m2) of space, LAB ART Los Angeles features over 300 works of art and installation from over 30 street artists including Alec Monopoly, Thank You X and Smear. - Sofia, Bulgaria. In the night between the 17th and the 18th of June 2011 the monument of the Soviet Army in Sofia was painted by anonymous street artists. The Soviet soldiers depicted in the monument for a few days turned into Superman, Ronald McDonald, Santa Claus and others. It was a controversial subject and there were many supporters of the monument staying painted and many against it. In the early morning of the 21st of June 2011 the monument was cleaned. THE PAINT CLUB B&H | ISSUE 03 | 69
Meet the Artist: INFO: http://www.tokyocandies.com/
Rubens Cantuni Rubens Cantuni. Born in 1982 in Genoa – Italy. I have Pantone 4485 C eyes and Pantone Process Black C hair. I draw. Watch movies. Play videogames. Have a degree in design. Became an art director. Read books. Read comics. Have been in Japan. Eat pizza. Buy technology. Listen to music. Have tattoos. Use Adobe Illustrator. Use Adobe Photoshop. Surf on the internet. Take photos. Collect strange watches. Interested in science. Watch American TV series. Buy t-shirts. Watch stupid videos on-line. Go to the cinema. Slept in a buddhist monastery.
Meet the Artist: INFO: http://laprisamata.es/
Luis Toledo
Life, identity, reality, status quo, intention and purpose. From very young, the look of Luis Toledo explored the inquisitive reality, analyzing the hidden meaning of every image, dissecting the mystery of beauty. That´s how, as a meticulous collector, he would gather grain by grain, illustrations, textures, and fragments from where he created and built his images. Tangled, powerful and ethereal, each work gathers deep meanings. His dedication naturally walked towards visual communication, developing into his actual work as a graphic designer in a first place, for the music industry (even though this is an environment in which his talent resist to limit itself ).
Meet the Artist: INFO: http://www.macdowellstudio.com/
David MacDowell
David MacDowell is an artist in the Lowbrow/Pop-surrealism movement. His work can be seen hanging in Galleries in the US and UK, and on CD and book covers. Clients include Waner Bros. and Random House.
Interview with: INFO: http://mwmgraphics.com/
Matt W. Moore RESOURCE: http://abduzeedo.com/
1) Before we start, I’d like to thank you for the opportunity to interview you. It’s a great pleasure! First I’d like to ask...when did you become interested in graphic design, brand design, illustration and street art? Thanks for the opportunity man. I am a big fan of Abduzeedo! I have always been enthusiastic about Art, Design, Illustration, and Graffiti. I am a very visual person. Even as a little kid I remember feeling the strong gravity of graphic arts, symbols, color, and abstraction. I have known this was my path for as long as I can remember. 2) What are your influences? Which artists and illustrators inspire you? Everything is inspirational when considered from the right angle. I am very interested in how things work. Nature, Geometry, Music, and Travel are a constant source of inspiration. I’m also really interested in the past and how the movements of yesteryear evolved and took shape. I am a huge fan of many artists and designers. A few that come to mind right now: Picasso, MC Escher, Dondi White, Doze 80 | ISSUE 03 | THE PAINT CLUB B&H
Green, Jurne, Rime, Alex Trochut, Si Scott, Mario Hugo, Maya Hayuk, Sagmeister, and the list goes on and on. We are living in exciting times. 3) I’m huge fan of your style, you’re probably one of my main influences. It seems like you’re hugely influenced by street art, but at the same time drawing a lot of inspiration from abstract art. When and how did you develop this style? How would you describe it? My early years of graffiti and mural painting translated naturally into my efforts in graphic design and illustration. Painting murals helped me become comfortable with working large and using vibrant color. Oftentimes my goal is to create work that celebrates unexpected and unique abstractions of an idea or composition. I feel my work now is the result of the combined explorations in the various disciplines. One project informs another. A discovery made in a mural also works well in a logo, and vice-versa. 4) Nowadays you work at your studio as your own
boss. You’re well known in the design community as one of the best visual artists ranging from graphic design and brand design, to illustration and fine arts. I know you have a good background as a graffiti artist, so how did you get in to those other creative areas as well? It has all been a natural evolution. I’ve worked really hard to refine my approach and signature style of work. I am truly grateful that I am now able to do the work I love to do and make a living through it. It doesn’t feel like a job. This is exactly what I’d be doing if I were retired. 5) How would you describe your daily workflow? Everyday is different. And I love this about my studio and workflow. Some days I am working long hours on client projects, other days I am in my painting studio working on canvases, other days I am painting a mural. And as often
as possible I am on the mountain snowboarding, or at the beach, or riding my bike enjoying the sunshine. A typical day has me working on design jobs in the daytime, hanging out with my girl in the evening, and then doing some late night painting in the lab. A nice balance. 6) What do you consider to be the best moment of your career up until now? What about the worst? I’ve had some great times, and I look forward to many more. One of the best moments of my career was the day I left my salary job in 2008 to devote all of my energy to running my own studio. Fall 2009 was a tough draught to make it through as a small independent studio. But the hard times of my career have been my greatest lessons, so I respect these times for what they are and try my best to learn as much as I can from them. 7) What is your favorite artwork and why? My favorite work is the stuff that looks the way music sounds. The art and design that is hard to deconstruct and figure out how it was made. The secret recipe styles of the
originators and innovators. 8) You work with many different media, do you have a favorite one? I love the balance and range of working in different styles with different tools and techniques. That said I do have a deeper respect for work that is handmade compared to digitally rendered. And lately I’ve been getting really excited about functional 3D design and sculpture. 9) Tell us five necessary attributes that you think every illustrator/artist should have. Having a unique and memorable signature style is crucial. Being good at computer programs is always a good thing for a modern artist or designer. Being a fun person to work with is key. Dedication, follow through, honesty, and efficiency are traits of any successful professional. Versatil-
ity is very important as well, but not so much that there is no common thread through all the work. I am a strong supporter of having a diverse range of work, but each style needs to be fully explored, not just copying the good stuff out there. The goal is to make work that doesn’t need a signature to be recognized as your own. 10) Five sites that you’d recommend? ROJO-Magazine.com Boston.com/BigPicture Graffuturism ButDoesItFloat.com FormatMag.com 11) Thanks again for the opportunity to interview you Matt, please leave a last word of advice for students and beginners. Believe in yourself. Work hard. Play nice. Stay curious. Set goals. Create original work. Have fun!
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Meet the Artist: INFO: http://jonathanmayphotography.com/
Jonathan May
Jonathan imbues his subjects with humour and poignancy. His instinctual ability to take a concept and tell a fascinating visual story is both innovative and compelling. Jonathan’s great love is the quirky, creative, concept-driven advertising that comes out of true collaboration with art directors. Jonathan loves to find interesting characters and unconventional locations, using colour and treatments to heighten the visual experience. Always looking for subtle humour, his work visually engages us by drawing us in to share the experience of the subject.
Meet the Artist: INFO: http://www.revolt.ba
Miran Lazic
With a background in graphic design, “Revolt Clothing” is not just a brand, but the idea and a project which is constantly evolving, updating and growing. Together with distinctive design, quality and creativity of young people, “Revolt Clothing” steps out to secure its positions in creative life of Bosnia and Herzegovina. All productions are limited and everything is made by hand in small garage in Sarajevo. What is most important, and what makes this young brand different from others and what guarantees its success in the future, are friends and all others who in a short period of time embraced and supported this project, a sincere THANKS to all of them.
Meet the Artist: INFO: http://www.martin-grohs.com
Martin Grohs Martin Grohs is a 24-year-old ditigtal artist and designer based in Leipzig, Germany. His work is really inspiring, bringing a mix of 3d and photo manipulations that really stand out. Martin has been creating digital art for the past 4 years, he’s been featured many times in photoshop magazines and is part of the Intrinsic Nature art group.
Meet the Artist: INFO: http://p-r-o.deviantart.com/
Hussien AHM3D Hussien AHM3D is a digital artist from Saudi Arabia. He used a variety of illustrationtechniques to make the art superb and to inspire its viewers. The Arabic script also form an important part of his works, giving it a more exotic. All these images are linked back to their source, you can also find an enlarged image over there. Enjoy!
Meet the Artist: INFO: http://www.behance.net/kilianeng
Kilian Eng
Illustration, Graphic Design, Cover art, Posters, Futuristic illustration, Surreal, Drawing, Storytelling, Animation
Meet the Artist: INFO: http://www.grapheart.com/
Grapheart
GRAPHEART速 is a little freelance studio located in Paris, France. We make Illustrations, logos, advertising, apparel, toys, plush, CD Covers, paints & more.
Interview with: INFO: http://www.nopattern.com/
Chuck Anderson RESOURCE: http://abduzeedo.com/
1. First of all, we would like to thank you for taking your time for this interview with Abduzeedo. For those that aren’t familiar with you, tell us a little bit of yourself? Thank you for interviewing me and for all the continued support Abduzeedo has given my work and the design community. As for me, I’m an artist & designer and have been running my studio NoPattern for nearly 8 years now. I do a lot of work with clients like Microsoft, Reebok, Nike, Vans, and UltimateEars, among others, and do a lot of my own personal work, much of which is available at my online store NPandco.com . The best way to learn about me and my work is to just look through my site NoPattern.com and get a feel for the work and collaborations I’ve done over the years. 2. Congratulations for your new website, tell us about the new things on your site? I’m super excited about the new site - it’s been a very long time coming. I’d had the same NoPattern site for about 4 94 | ISSUE 03 | THE PAINT CLUB B&H
years and finally decided it was time for a serious overhaul. I needed a more efficient CMS first off. A backend that would be more effective for the sheer quantity of work I’ve accumulated over so many years. That was the first hurdle. The second thing was simply wanting a new visual & organizational way to show my work. The new site allows you to organize by client, type, and year - which makes a lot of sense when you’re trying to show close to 100 individual client projects. And check out what happens when you resize my site - keep an eye on all the project images. Fun little easter egg...As for the actual new content on the site, there are a few new projects including collaborations with UnderArmour, Target, FootJoy, and Gizmodo with more projects coming soon with new clients like UltimateEars, Mead, and CAT Footwear. I also took the (very long) time to rephotograph all my work for the site, for example http://www.nopattern.com/work/ detail/burton-light-camo-collection which was a great thing to have done but took a ton of time and a lot of hard work.
Totally worth doing though. 3. How important it is for you the balance between commercial and personal work for you? It’s important but the reality is I spend 90% of my creating time on commercial work now, which is actually quite fine with me since my clients almost always ask me to experiment and be as creative as I’d be with a personal project, so I’m not complaining at all. On the flipside, my new site is of course considered personal work, my new online store and all the prints available are personal work, all the promoting I do of my brand and work on Twitter, Facebook, etc. is personal work, so while most of the ‘creating’ time is spent on client work, a large portion of my overall time is spent on all that stuff. Man, I don’t know, as long as I’m having fun and making a living from what I love to do I’m happy. 4. You have the design nickname of being the “Master of Lights Effects”, how do you feel about that? I’m not sure how I feel about that. I don’t really know where that comes from or anything but I guess if anyone thinks of me and my work in that way it’s flattering. Not sure what else to say on that one...I don’t consider myself to be a master of anything, except maybe my 2 cats. Ha. 5. On last June, you went to Ethiopia for the Charity: Water.org, tell us a little bit of story and how was your experience? It was a great experience. It came about while I was in Washington DC at a Summit Series event while speaking with my friend Scott Harrison, the founder of Charity Water. He simply asked me if I’d like to join him and a group of others on a trip to Ethiopia to see what it is they’re doing over there and ultimately to help raise money for their cause, which I was thrilled to do. It was a great trip, I saw a lot, met some great people, and have just been floored by the continued success Charity Water has continued to have. 6. What do you feel is the most common mistake that you see other designers do? Relying too heavily on stock imagery and the internet for resources; not stepping outside what you know and doing new things for yourself. It’s not that that’s a mistake necessarily, but I just hate to see entire portfolios of things that are half created by the designer and half created by someone they’ve never even met. I’m just a big believer in a deliberate collaboration or doing everything in your work yourself, 100%, unless you’re working for a client and need images that are impossible to get otherwise. Stock has its place, I just hate to see people using it as a crutch and never stretching themselves enough to learn to do new things themselves.
seeing what they hired James Jean to do ( James Jean Prada III), Bell & Ross watches. 8. And plans for the future, any new projects? I have several plans for personal projects I’ll be launching this year. One of my big next steps is to begin curating and/or publishing - basically I’m working on a few ways that will serve as outlets for me to give a platform to other creative people I admire whether that’s through a book, a design ‘news’ type site, interviews, or whatever, I really want to start using my platform as a way to give people I admire and up-and-comers some new exposure. 9. Once again, thank you very much for the interview. As a final word, inspired by John C. Jay (http://bit.ly/h8S2PK). What are your 10 lessons for young designers? 1. Be open minded to different styles & aesthetics when you’re just getting started. It’s great to be really good at one thing, but it’s even better to be great at that one thing and also pretty good and a few others too. Your talents and portfolio should have a well-rounded depth, ideally. 2. Non-profit/working for free can be a great way to get started and get a portfolio some depth but just be aware of the difference between contributing a sensible about of work & time versus letting yourself be exploited and taken advantage of. 3. Learn more than just Photoshop. Life drawing, photography, painting, anything by hand. Do it if you aren’t already. It will help you in the long run in all you do. 4. Find inspiration outside the internet - start by spending a few hours in a bookstore. 5. Don’t be shy about what you do. If you’re ready to put it out there for the world to see, be ready to come off confident and determined. 6. Writeoffs/taxes. Save all your receipts!!! 7. Invest in quality technology/equipment. If you need a better/faster computer, figure out what you need to do to make that happen and do it. You can write it off and it’s the primary thing you’re using to make your work. 8. Just ask. People on design sites, Twitter, Facebook, etc., are willing to help, you just need to humble yourself when it’s time to ask for advice. Everyone had to do it at some point with someone. 9. Don’t be annoying. Writing an email to someone you look up to is fine, but remember people are busy. Give it a few days before you follow up or, if its a potential new client, before you call to ask if they got it. They probably did. Patience is key. 10. Make sure you’re having fun.
7. What is the one thing in the world that you wish to design or had designed? That’s a great but very difficult question. I’m so grateful for all the amazing opportunities I’ve already had to be honest, I don’t think a lot about “what I’d REALLY like to do” because I’m already doing it. I’m very content when it comes to the projects I’ve worked on and am working on now. I guess I’d really love to collaborate with a few brands I haven’t worked with yet like Apple (although my Windows 7 work may haunt me there), Prada (mainly from THE PAINT CLUB B&H | ISSUE 03 | 95
Meet the Artist: INFO: http://be.net/mnk
Mnk Crew
Illustration Graphic Design Digital Art
All you need to know. Nothing you don’t. Advertising School: Miami Ad School, Madrid, Spain Instructor: Pablo González de la Peña Art Director: Christian El Asmar Copywriter: Manu Manceda Illustrator: Christian El Asmar
Corporate headquarters. We build custom guitars. Advertising Agency: Brand content, Boston, USA Creative Director: Tom Kelly Art Director: Austin Bousley Copywriter: Tom Kelly Photographer: Bailey Ratta
A Compilation of Creative Street Art Stickers Every street is filled with its own story or people who make the place more lively and memorable. Even when you are just a passerby, you can already tell what happened in that area by just looking around. You may also notice how art can be found on its walls through what they call as street art stickers. Most of the time, people who create these personalized stickers would just want to express themselves in a creative way. You can usually find them stuck on walls or public properties such as posts and benches.
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106& YORK
URBAN ARTS FESTIVAL This year’s 106 & York: Urban Arts Festival will be taking place on Saturday, September 17th, 2011. Manifesto, Highclass Community and Network Integrated By Street Entertainment (N.I.S.E.) are uniting this year to organize the Fourth Annual 106 & York: Urban Arts Festival. 106 & York is one of the largest and highly regarded youth arts festivals in Toronto. The festival provides a platform for established and up-and-coming talent to display their art to a broader audience and to exemplify the true culture of Toronto’s urban entertainment sector. Past shows have generated crowds of 1000+ and have had an unmatched media presence within Toronto’s urban entertainment sector. The multi-disciplinary festival will showcase some of Toronto’s finest young talent in music, film, fashion, dance, drama, visual arts and spoken word (poetry). Headliners for past shows have included some of Toronto’s most successful urban music artists and dance crews, including Rich Kidd, Famous, Kim Davis, A-Game and Rated X. The festival will provide a positive outlet for members of the Jane/Finch, Rexdale and Weston Mount-Dennis communities to come together and celebrate the artistic talents of local youth artists involved in music, dance, visual arts, film, photography and fashion. This multi-disciplinary youth arts festival will promote and develop the presentation skills of local youth artists, and be a positive experience for audience members to celebrate their local communities. This is of primary importance for the neighbourhoods of Jane/Finch, Rexdale and Weston Mount-Dennis, as many of the youth from these communities rarely travel downtown, where so many of Toronto’s major arts events take place. The festival will contribute to building a positive image for three of Toronto’s northwest neighbourhoods and more that have been negatively stigmatized.
http:// www.106andyork. com/
Meet the Artist: INFO: http://elenakalisphoto.com/#home
Elena Kalis
Elena Kalis has produced the most magical collection of underwater photographs based around the children’s novel Alice in Wonderland. She began her career by doing underwater projects with her children and their friends. Her photography has a dreamlike feel to it, with imaginative props, bright colours and lighting to convey a graceful appearance. This series has been cleverly renamed ‘Alice in Waterland’ and captures the essence and characteristics of the story beautifully