Poppy Graffiti City as Canvas
FOREWORD Opera Gallery Seoul proudly presents, <City as Canvas, Poppy Graffiti>, an exhibition visualize a great variation of graffiti art from 1980s to the global movement it has become today, concentrating on how this unique visual language or attitude has evolved. Graffiti gained popularity when large cartoon-like symbols started flooding the streets of Harlem, New York in the late 60s and early 70s. Today, graffiti can be defined as street art which has since settled down to become the essence of underground culture mixed with hip hop. Graffiti is characterized by its use of public walls, buildings and trains as a canvas. Its most popular medium is the industrial spray paint used in painting automobiles. Graffiti Art has since evolved, its style changing and adapting to various regions of the world. It gradually appealed to the younger generation because it rejects art codes and standards and challenges pre-established rules. It now exists in the main stream as a legitimate art form. To respond to the public s growing interest, Opera Gallery Seoul delightfully present <City as Canvas, Poppy Graffiti>, an exhibition devoted to this form of Graffiti. This exhibition feature 3 the most dynamic artists from the graffiti and hip hop community, SEEN, Mr. Brainwash and Patrick Rubinstein. The humorous works of Thierry Guetta, otherwise known as Mr. BRAINWASH who had a legendry exhibition, <Life if Beautiful> which stroke the whole city of LA, and major latest works by SEEN, a leader of the graffiti trend since the 1980s, revered as the godfather of graffiti art, as well as the works of Patrick Rubinstein, so popular with collectors around the world for Opt Art (Kinetic Art) that he has created displaying three views of the same subject taken at different angles. <City as Canvas, Poppy Graffiti> is a unique opportunity for Seoul to discover various works of world-class artists who have raised graffiti to the ranks of high-quality art. 오페라갤러리서울은 1980 년대거리미술로시작된그래피티아트가어떻게현재세계미술의중심으로발전하며변화되었는지, 그래피티의독특한시각언어와그고유한태도의변화양상을조명하는 <City as Canvas, Poppy Graffiti> 전을선보인다. 1960 년대말뉴욕의할렘가에낙서가범람하면서부터본격적으로예술로인정받기시작한그래피티는 1970 년대부터는힙합과더불어언더그라운드문화의대명사로자리잡은거리예술 (street art) 로일컬어진다. 그래피티는건물벽이나지하철역의광고판, 차량, 열차등에자동차공업도색에서사용되는캔스프레이를이용하여그려지는것을특징으로한다. 점차기성문화에반발하는젊은층의공유물에서벗어나색다른영역으로스타일을키우며진화한그래피티는대중문화전반에걸쳐영향을미치기시작하며거대한주류로성장하고있다. 서울오페라갤러리는이러한대중의관심에부합하고자 <City as Canvas, Poppy Graffiti> 를선보인다. <Life is Beautiful> 이란전시로 LA 전도시를휩쓸며꼭보아야할전시로전정되며그래피티의선풍 ( 旋風 ) 을일으킨미스터브레인워시 (Mr. Brain. wash) 의유머스런작품들과, 1980년대부터그래피티의트랜드를이끌어왔으며, 그래피티아트의대부로평가받는씬 (SEEN) 의최근작품들, 그리고혁신적인기술을이용해보는각도에따라 3개의다른이미지를나타내는키네틱아트 (Kin.etic Art) 를선보이며시대의아이콘들의이미지를독특하고특별한착시현상으로재탄생킨루빈스타인의작품이이번전시에서소개된다. <City as Canvas, Poppy Graffiti> 는낙서를넘어그래피티를예술의차원으로끌어올린세계적인작가들의작품을국내에서만나볼수있는귀한전시이다. Gilles Dyan, Founder and Chairman Opera Gallery Group Gee Chan Kwon, Chairman Opera Gallery Seoul Vivian Choi, Director Opera Gallery Seoul 질디앙오페라갤러리그룹창시자및회장 권기찬오페라갤러리서울회장 최소현오페라갤러리서울지점장 2 - Poppy Graffiti - City as Canvas Poppy Graffiti - City as Canvas - 3
SEEN (1961) Born in 1961 in the Bronx in New York, SEEN is 11 when he starts to customize cars with spray paint in his uncle s garage. In the 70s, while painting whole cars in the New York subway, he finds his place in the history of art. At that time, the graffiti movement is booming and SEEN becomes one of its ultimate representatives. He picks the name «SEEN» that perfectly illustrates his desire to «be seen» and get renowned on the art scene. In the 80s, his work took on another dimension and he became in.ternationally famous. In the 1981, he took a seat alongside Andy Warhol and Keith Haring in the exhibition «New York/New Wave» at P.S.1. in New York. Urban art, initially a subversive language in.the public space, was about to become legitimate and regarded as a recognised form of art, sucessfully moving from the street to the walls of art galleries and museums. 1961 년뉴욕의브롱스출생인씬 ( 본명리차드미란도 ) 은 1973 년부터뉴욕지하철에그래피티작업을시작한 그래피티의대부 이다. 앤디워홀처럼유명해지고싶은열망과함께미술계의 눈에띄기 (to seen) 를원했던그는 SEEN 이라는이름으로활동을시작하였고 1980 년대에들어비로소그가원했던국제적인명성을얻게되었다. 특히뉴욕지하철의 whole cars 라는그의 80 년대작품은작가를그래피티예술계의리더로자리매김하게했다. 다른언더그라운드작가들과함께 UA Untied Artists 그룹을형성하여활동하기도했으며 1981 년뉴욕 MoMA, P.S 1 갤러리에서앤디워홀, 키스해링, 바스키아와함께 < 뉴욕 / 새로운물결 New York/ New Wave> 라는제목의전시를가졌는데, 이를통해당시불온한것으로여겨지던그래피티를거리의벽이아닌유명갤러리와미술관의벽으로옮기며하나의정당한예술장르로서자리매김하게되었다. 이러한변화의현장에선두에있었던 SEEN 의작품은뉴욕은물론파리, 독일, 런던, 홍콩등미국과유럽그리고아시아의다양한전시를통해지속적으로소개되어현재전세계적으로많은미술관과컬렉터들이소장하고있다. 4 - Poppy Graffiti - City as Canvas
Thor, 2008 Aerosol on canvas 215 x 90 cm - 84.6 x 35.4 in. 6 - Poppy Graffiti - City as Canvas Batman, 2012 Aerosol on canvas 107 x 107 cm - 42.1 x 42.1 in.
Joker, 2013 Aerosol on canvas 160 x 110 cm - 63 x 43.3 in. Catwoman, 2006 Aerosol on canvas 195 x 130 cm - 76.8 x 51.2 in.
Wolverine, 2007 Aerosol on canvas 215 x 100 cm - 84.6 x 39.4 in. Batman, 2013 Aerosol on canvas 106 x 106 cm - 41.7 x 41.7 in.
Skull (fire) Aerosol on canvas 162 x 130 cm - 63.8 x 51.2 in.
Hey Tweety, 2013 Stencil, spray paint on canvas 115 x 110 cm - 45.3 x 43.3 in. Okey Dokey Felix Aerosol on canvas 220 x 220 cm - 86.6 x 86.6 in.
Pepe Le Pew in love, 2013 Stencil, spray paint on canvas 115 x 110 cm - 45.3 x 43.3 in.
Hey Bugs Bunny, 2013 Stencil, spray paint on canvas 115 x 110 cm - 45.3 x 43.3 in.
What s up Bugs Bunny? 2013 Stencil, spray paint on canvas 115 x 110 cm - 45.3 x 43.3 in. Don t mess with Sam, 2013 Stencil, spray paint on canvas 220 x 110 cm - 86.6 x 43.3 in.
Mr. Brainwash (1966) Thierry Guetta, alias Mr Brainwash, is a filmmaker and a pop artist who was born in 1966 in Sarcelles, France, and based in Los Angeles. He has spent the better part of the last decade attempting to make the ultimate street art documentary. Meanwhile, inspired by his subjects, he started hitting the streets, from Los Angeles, New York, Tokyo to Paris, with spray painted stencils and posters of his pop art inspired images. He rapidly emerged as a renowned figure on the international street art scene. In June 2008, Mr Brainwash debuted one of the most memorable solo exhibitions of Los Angeles entitled Life is Beautiful. By 2009, Brainwash s work has garnered so much recognition that Madonna approached him to design the cover of her greatest hits Celebration. In addition to the CD album, he created 15 different covers for the accompanying vinyls, singles and DVDs. On February 14 th 2010, Mr Brainwash made his New York solo debut as he unveiled Icons, a 15,000 square-foot exhibition in the heart of the Meatpacking District. Major collectors acquired Mr Brainwash s works followed by some of the most prestigious auction houses such as Christie s and Phillips. Considered as one of the most prolific and talked about artists of today, Mr Brainwash is also the subject of Banksy s documentary Exit Through The Gift Shop. Their collaboration resulted in a remarkable documentary that is part personal journey and part exposé of the Art world with its mind-altering mix of hot air and hype. 미스터브레인워시 (Mr.Brain.wash) 는프랑스작가티에리구에타 (Thierry Guetta) 의작가명이다. 뱅크시와직접적인교류를나누고있던미스터브레인워시는거리에유명인의초상화를패러디한작품들을그려넣으며작품활동을계속해나갔고, 2008 년 (6 월 18 일 ) LA CBS 스튜디오에서비로소자신만의첫전시회 삶은아름다워 (Life is beautiful) 를열게되면서, 단번에미술계의이슈를불러일으킨다. 특히, 앤디워홀의캠밸스푸를재해석한 토마토스프레이 작품은 LA Weekly 주간지의표지를장식하기도했다. 전시회의성공에힘입어, 마돈나는 2009 년새앨범 Celebration 의표지디자인을미스터브레인워시에게의뢰하였으며, 동료예술가뱅크시는 2010 년본인이감독한다큐멘터리 Exit Through The Gift Shop ( 선물가게를통한출구 ) 에미스터브레인워시를주연으로캐스팅하였다. 언더그라운드작가로출발했으나, 현대사회의 아이콘 에주목한미스터브레인워시의작품들은작가자신을점차문화예술계의핫아이콘으로만들기에충분했다. 팝음악등대중예술의아이콘을적극받아들이고, 사진, 에어브러쉬등대량생산의기법들을활용하면서도, 그것을적절하게워홀의실크스크린방식이나, 잭슨폴록의드리핑기법과연결시키는작가의예술적혜안은그의작품을문화예술계의맥락속에위치시키는지점이된다. 그에게많은영향을미친쉐퍼드페어리, 뱅크시등의스트릿아티스트들에대한관심과활동이점차커져가면서, 미스터브레인워시는다음세기의기대되는예술가로촉망받고있다. 오늘날그의작품들은크리스티, 소더비등의경매사를비롯, 많은미술시장관계자들의눈길을끌고있으며, 언더그라운드의스트릿아트가많은사람들의공감속에새로운미술사의역사로자리잡는것을보여주고있다. 22 - Poppy Graffiti - City as Canvas Poppy Graffiti - City as Canvas - 23
Max Spray Stencil, acrylic and spray paint on canvas 101.6 x 132.1 cm - 40 x 52 in.
Tomato Spray Stencil, acrylic and spray paint on canvas 71.1 x 127 cm - 28 x 50 in. Charlie Chaplin Stencil and mixed media on canvas 91.5 x 61 cm - 36 x 24 in.
Smile Mixed media on canvas 121.9 x 162.6 cm - 48 x 64 in.
Mickey Mixed media on canvas 91.4 x 91.4 cm - 36 x 36 in. Mickey Stencil and spray paint on canvas 58.4 x 55.9 cm - 22.2 x 22 in.
Kate Moss Silkscreen on canvas 106.7 x 106.7 cm - 42 x 42 in. Mickey and Goofy Stencil and mixed media on canvas 91.4 x 91.4 cm - 36 x 36 in.
The Patriots Silkscreen on paper 72.9 x 55.9 cm - 28.7 x 22 in.
Picsou Mixed media on canvas 91.4 x 91.4 cm - 36 x 36 in. Charlie Chaplin and Kid Stencil and mixed media on canvas 182.9 x 213.4 cm - 72 x 84 in.
Kate Moss Silkscreen on canvas 106.7 x 106.7 cm - 42 x 42 in. P. Diddy Oil on canvas 80 x 89 cm - 31.5 x 35 in.
Patrick RUBINSTEIN (1960) Patrick Rubinstein was born in 1960 in Paris to a mother passionate about cinema and a father avant-gardist and dabller in many trades; his dad initiated him to kinetic art at a very young age, with an emphasis on Op Art. In 1978, his father taught him a specific technique of composing collages by cutting and pasting pictures. This would greatly influence Rubinstein after his father s death in 2006. He first worked in fashion creating his own brands before trying his hand at kinetic art. Thanks to 3D and digital technologies, the artist started producing pieces displaying three views of the same subject taken at different angles. Drawing his inspiration from cinema, music, pop art, cartoons, painting and even science, Rubinstein presents portrays of iconic characters while combining different worlds. A work of art is successful if it triggers emotions. And Emotion is anything that touches our deepest soul, our memory says Rubinstein. Indeed, his huge tree-dimensional pieces magnify emotions as they reflect collective memory of Western civilization. Patrick Rubinstein enjoys international fame. He recently produced monumental motorised columns displaying rotating news bulletins; a new concept that seduced the Alcazar restaurant in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés quarter of Paris, thus making him a true heir of Op Art. 1960 년프랑스에서태어난패트릭루빈스테인은패션분야에서경력을시작한팝아티스트이자옵티컬아티스트이다. 키네틱아트 (Kinetic Art) 라고불리는그의작품은움직임을중시하거나그것을주요소로하는혁신적인기술을이용한작업으로보는각도에따라 3 개의다른이미지를감상할수있다. 루빈스테인은우리가어린시절열광했던마이클잭슨, 슈퍼맨, 마를린먼로, 비틀즈등스타들의이미지를독특하고특별한착시현상으로재탄생시킨다. 작가가 10 대부터시작한작업방식은사진과영화에기초하는데먼저사진을얇게자르고, 또다른사진도잘게잘라첫번째사진안쪽에끼워넣는다. 그다음이두이미지를붙이고아코디언처럼접어입체적인이미지를탄생시킨다. 정면에서바라보면 2 가지이미지가겹쳐보이지만, 각각의측면에서보면또다른새로운이미지가나타난다. 이렇게시작된그의 3D 컨셉은디지털시대를만나며또한번의커다란혁명을이루게되었고그의무한한상상력을더욱잘보여줄수있을뿐만아니라주름잡기 (cut-paste-fold) 와같은테크닉마저잘표현할수있게되었다. 창의적이고유머러스하며역동성마저느껴지는그의작품들은현재팝아트와거리예술의경계를넘나들며미국, 중동, 스칸디나비아, 유럽에서소개되고있다 40 - Poppy Graffiti - City as Canvas Poppy Graffiti - City as Canvas - 41
View 1: left view View 2: center View 3: right view Ava Digital design plated 140 x 100 cm - 55.1 x 39.4 in.
View 1: left view View 2: center View 3: right view View 1: left view View 2: center View 3: right view Art In Your Hands Digital design plated 113 x 113 cm - 44.5 x 44.5 in. Niagara Digital design plated 148 x 148 cm - 55.1 x 55.1 in.
View 1: left view View 2: center View 3: right view Music Drug Digital design plated 153 x 113 cm - 60.2 x 44.5 in.
View 1: left view View 2: center View 3: right view View 1: left view View 2: center View 3: right view Pop BB Digital design plated 113 x 113 cm - 51.2 x 51.2 in. Pop Pidou Digital design plated 113 x 113 cm - 44.5 x 44.5 in.
View 1: left view View 2: center View 3: right view View 1: left view View 2: center View 3: right view Andy Bardot Digital design plated 100 x 100 cm - 39.4 x 39.4 in. Eyes Taylor Digital design plated 113 x 113 cm - 51.2 x 51.2 in.
English Icon Digital design plated 95 x 75 cm -37.4 x 29.5 in. View 1: left view View 2: center View 3: right view
View 1: left view View 2: center View 3: right view View 2: left view View 3: right view Soul of Michael Digital design plated 76 x 200 cm - 29.9 x 78.7 in. My BB Digital design plated 80 x 130 cm - 31.5 x 51.2 in.
Love Colonne Digital design plated, edition of 8 125 x 125 x 40 cm - 49. x 49.2 x 15.7 in.
Left view Love Table Digital design plated, edition of 8 130 x 130 x 40 cm - 51.2 x 51.2 x 15.7 in. Right view
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