All posts tagged: Geisha

Hush “Twin” Opening Tonight at New Image Gallery (Barring Rapture)

“That’s Great, It Starts With An Earthquake”

Well folks it’s the End of the World, as we know it. How’re you feeling? Actually, according to a certain sect of clairvoyant Christians today is Judgement Day, and the end of the world is not until October, so you should still forget about that Christmas Layaway Plan you have at Walmart.

New York subways and buses have been pummeled for weeks with pulp novel style posters impugning the good name of the Devil and overweight puff pastry people from the Midwest have been milling around Times Square in sensible shoes telling us that repenting from our sins is pretty much going to be the only way out of the Late Great Planet Earth. As usual, these wild eyed tourists never make it out to Brooklyn, so our borough is going now to Hell – which will be big news to the Hasidic population.

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HUSH (photo © Todd Mazer)

For those of you unwashed who are still here after the 6 o’clock earthquakes roll through each time zone across God damned America we bring you the gloriously sanctified beauty of “Twin”, the new HUSH show at that den of iniquity called New Image Gallery in God forsaken West Hollywood.

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HUSH (photo © Todd Mazer)

“Tagging, Graf, Street Art and art; each is always a choice, an action,” HUSH told us a couple of years ago when discussing his work, and his open approach to borrowing from comic books, graffiti, and traditional Japanese iconography is what makes his work modern.

Internalizing and interpreting the energy from Krazy LA has been a dream for a free  expressionist like HUSH, who likes to throw everything at the wall – tagging, painting, collage, – deconstructing and reconstructing until it achieves balance.  “I’m big on progression and I’m always looking at how to take my work forward, pushing it while still retaining pointers back to previous works,” says the artist. With a number of shows and countries and street pieces under his belt, the British native is also quietly achieving a mastery of his technique, as urban turns urbane in the finely sprayed misty glow surrounding these peaceful idyllic visages, rising from the blue cacophony.

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HUSH (photo © Todd Mazer)

Marsea Goldberg, a wild and fine former Brooklyn gal, has been looking out for and championing the new talent on the graffiti/Street Art/fine art scene at New Image since the mid nineties, including artists like Bäst, Cleon Peterson, Clare Rojas, Date Farmers, Ed Templeton, Jo Jackson, Neck Face, Os Gemeos, and Retna, so she knows what she is looking for and knows how to create a charged environment for artists to stretch in.

Hush is a fantastic artist and he has a down to earth, hard working vibrant spirit,” Marsea explains, “I’ve liked his work for a long time – The first time I saw his work was at the “Cans Festival” which Banksy put on in London 4 years ago. When I saw his colorful, ornate murals in the long tunnel I was beyond impressed. The interesting thing about Hush’s art is the combination of influences.”

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HUSH (photo © Todd Mazer)

For his part, HUSH is taking the opportunity seriously, “It’s great to be at New Image because of its history… I’ve always admired the rawness and energy of the place and Marsea’s commitment to whatever this art movement is.”

As his work mutates and configures across mediums, one might wonder how much of this has meaning to him and whether it is an involuntary stream of favorite symbols and techniques combined and recombined. “I feel like my works have matured and I’m creating my own visual language, even though it’s probably only me who understands it,” he says smiling.

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HUSH (photo © Todd Mazer)

“It’s funny – I’ve had this work in my head for the last few years but it’s just fitting into the story now. I think I’ve got until the year 2014 in paintings now but I’ll have to take you through it in real time… I’m looking forward to showing how it all pans out in the future though.” We would love to stick around here on Earth to see how his work turns out in ’14, but there is someone knocking on the door…

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HUSH (photo © Todd Mazer)

Photographer Todd Mazer captured the artist working outside this week on the “Barracuda” wall where Saber and Shepard Fairey did their near iconic flag interpretations. And through Todd’s lense we get to see Hush tagging the gallery walls and the installation underway.

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HUSH (photo © Todd Mazer)

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HUSH “Twin” (photo © Todd Mazer)

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HUSH “Twin” (photo © Todd Mazer)

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The plumbs have just blossomed, but not yet the Sakura. Almost Blue Geishas at the height of springtime’s charm. HUSH, “Twin” at New Image Gallery (photo © Todd Mazer)

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HUSH “Twins” (photo © Todd Mazer)

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This is where it all began for HUSH, who is shown tagging the walls of New Image before “Twins” (photo © Todd Mazer)

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HUSH “Twins” (photo © Todd Mazer)

New Image Art Gallery

7908 Santa Monica Blvd.

West Hollywood, CA 90046

323.654.2192


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Images of the Week 01.31.10

Brooklyn-Street-Art-IMAGES-OF-THE-WEEK_1009
Brooklyn Street Art – Our Weekly Interview With the Streets

Street Foot Wear
Street foot wear – is this the work of a street artist, or a sneaker company? (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Jef Aerosol Pet Birds
Jef Aerosol bird talk. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Jef Areosol
Jef Areosol (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Jef Aerosol
Jef Aerosol’s Geisha (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Jef Areosol (detail)
Jef Areosol (detail) (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Jef Aerosol
Jef Aerosol (photo © Jaime Rojo)

The artist at work with his muses
Jef Aerosol at work with his muses (photo © Jaime Rojo)

A peak at the show Jef Aerosol

A wall of icons by Jef Aerosol, and a few hanging on a wire. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

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Vinny Cornelli: Jef Aerosol in Bushwick

Photographer Vincent Cornelli was out on a legal wall tour with international stencil artist Jef Aerosol this Saturday; With a name like Aerosol, you don’t invite photographers to watch you work otherwise. The sunny January afternoon pretty much blew Vinny’s mind, and he writes here about how he got such rockingly cool pictures:

sfaf© Vincent Cornelli

On Saturday, I had the privilege of showing Jef Aerosol around the streets of Bushwick, Brooklyn. I think the day was the perfect example as to why the Street Art Movement is so special…and it is deserving of capital letters.  Encounters such as these are not only incredibly rewarding and inspiring, but they foster an intimate connection between you and a city that is changing right in front of you.  It was one of the greatest of days

Skewville and Aerosol  © Vincent Cornelli

Skewville and Aerosol © Vincent Cornelli

When I met Jef, I was photographing the front door of Eastern District/Ad Hoc Gallery.   It was a warm greeting, with instant recognition of the other before exchanging “hellos.”

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I’m not sure which direction you’re going, but I’m headed up. © Vincent Cornelli

Everything from start to finish breed this notion of connectedness – from Eric of Eastern District giving us a ride to Veng’s wall; to catching up with Ali and Garrison of Ad Hoc, listening to their exploits up and down the eastern side of the US; to Veng offering up a nice piece of real estate on a wall he often works with.

© Vincent Cornelli

© Vincent Cornelli

© Vincent Cornelli
Fast Action: On foot while texting…sort of like walking and chewing gum, but this guy makes it look so cool. © Vincent Cornelli

It was also quite nice to have company from Stephan Missier and Becki Fuller, two great street art photographers who were around for a better part of the day.  It was a day where everyone just seemed to fit so well with one another.

 © Vincent Cornelli
Becki Fuller at work © Vincent Cornelli

© Vincent Cornelli

© Vincent Cornelli

© Vincent Cornelli
Jef taking it all in; the street art textures on this popular Brooklyn shack. © Vincent Cornelli

Jef and I spoke briefly of this sense of community, and family.  He mentioned what a great feeling it is to be able to travel the world, always having another artist, gallery, blog or photographer willing to show you their city.

© Vincent Cornelli

© Vincent Cornelli

© Vincent Cornelli
Something about these blue stockings made everything look even better. © Vincent Cornelli

© Vincent Cornelli
While heading back to Eastern District /Ad Hoc Gallery for a couple other stencils, we had to say hello to these 2 ladies, and the photographer who was shooting them on the streets of Bushwick. Jef received a friendly Brooklyn welcome. © Vincent Cornelli

veng, becki, stephane, and myself looking on at the very personable, warm and talented Jef Aerosol. © Vincent Cornelli
Veng, Becki, Stephane, and me looking on at the very personable, warm and talented Jef Aerosol. © Vincent Cornelli

© Vincent Cornelli
Out of body, out of mind. © Vincent Cornelli

© Vincent Cornelli
© Vincent Cornelli

© Vincent Cornelli
I dunno, it breathes “Rock Star” to me. © Vincent Cornelli

I felt so comfortable with Jef that I even asked him for some thoughts on a couple larger life-changing decisions in my own life.  I thought the perspective he offered was quite spot on.  He is a warm, witty and well-spoken man, confident in his outlook and mindset.  It shows in his detailed and carefully placed stencils, and in his smile.

© Vincent Cornelli
– Yup, i think we’re done here. Super dope, Jef…you the man. © Vincent Cornelli

© Vincent Cornelli
“But Jef, what is the meaning behind all of your red arrows?” © Vincent Cornelli

© Vincent Cornelli

© Vincent Cornelli

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“All Shook Up”, the debut solo New York show by Jef Aerosol will open this Friday at Ad Hoc/Eastern District in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Read more about the show HERE.

See Jef’s BASQUIAT STENCIL from last week HERE.

See how he made his 5-layer JAY-Z STENCIL for the show HERE.

See more of Vincent Cornelli’s photography and artistry HERE.

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