The mysterious, trouble-making, wise-cracking, sporty, surfing graffiti-street-art-fine-art duo Yok & Sheryo haven’t graced our pages since pre-pandemic days, which may as well be the Paleolithic Period. With some relief, we report that they are alive and making temples thank god, and now showing one of their most grand upon a sea of red shag carpeting in Perth.
“We escaped to a world of our own,” they tell us, “a mysterious sweltering tropical island with everything we’d ever wanted; killer surf, cold beers, lush, unique flora and fauna with quirky customs, culture, folklore and mythology stories”
Indeed the sun-bleached white and burning blood red-themed installation with The Art Gallery of Western Australiais replete with the eclectic ideas and items that have thrilled Y&S fans for well over a decade.
“There is so much to tell you, where do we even start?,” they exclaim. Begin at the beginning darling, that always seems like a good strategy. “We named it “Yeahnahnesia”, says Sheryo. “It’s our biggest installation to date,” says Yok.
It all makes sense as you wend your way (without shoes, please) around this “Temple of Frivolous Wishes” high on hallucinogenics. There’s the Banana Boner Incense Burner. Hanging up above is The Cool “S. Nearly hidden over here is the Pig-Nose Dragon Cup Thing. Should you get the munchies, you can order snacks from a price menu listing delicacies such as Dragons Claw and Vegemite Toast.
A suave music impresario/high school science teacher will lead you through the offerings in the video below. Maybe later, he’ll invite you to stop by his place for a Pina Colada and to check out his new 2-person Pong video game on the TV – or perhaps take a ride on his velour-covered waterbed.
Still have questions about what Yeahnahnesia is? All the mysteries, culture, and symbology are documented in this exquisitely designed 108-page, full-color, hard-cover scientific journal. Island of Yeahnahnesia, Vol 1. A welcome addition to any lord of the leisures lounge room.
New Images from Brazil, The Gambia, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Rome
We check in today with the ever evolving itinerary of the singularly nomadic Street Art urban naturalist named ROA. The well known and respected aerosol painter hails from Ghent in Belgium but he is rarely there these days, so busy is he introducing his monochromatic pictorials of the marginalized animal world. Despite the immense variety of his subjects that are reflective of the local population, ROA’s style is unmistakeable, as is his choice of difficult and imperfect surfaces on which to paint. Some times his subject is playful or alert, other times they are in a struggle, still others are dead or dessicated; paying full respect to the cycle of life and death.
As if to remind us of our own sorry impact, once in a while they are ensnared and suffering in our unthinking detritus. Not surprisingly, a number of the animals are endangered and his painting can often take on an environmental advocacy as a result.
Here we travel with ROA through six countries to see where he has been painting and to learn a little about the environment that these new stars of the street have debuted upon.
On his third visit to The Gambia for the WOW festival, ROA had the opportunity to paint a yellow caterpillar, a flying serpent, the Pinned Scarabée and some pangolins in the villages of Kembujeh and Galloya. He says, “I will be back, it’s amazing” and would like to thank all the folks who live in those villages as well as the organizer of WOW, Lawrence.
“I’ve painted a pangolin before in The Gambia but being back there and having read so much during the past year about the illegal trafficking of pangolins – to be served as exotic food or mostly as a ‘medicine’, I needed to paint them again. Firstly, the so-called medical qualities of the ground-up scales are disputed and “the animals are currently on the list of endangered species because of the trafficking and the loss of habitat by deforestation in Africa,” explains ROA. He notes that one of their attempts to protect themselves is to reconfigure their appearance. “They can roll up into a ball to defend themselves,” he says.
In the past few months ROA has been to Brazil twice, and neither time to see the World Cup. Instead he has been backpacking around and doing “many small interventions in between beautiful beaches.” While the insects in some of these paintings are originally small, their final scale on the walls are definitely not.
While participating in Form’s PUBLIC festival, ROA painted a serpent eating his own tail; a design that refers to ouroboros, an ancient mythological symbol. He says that Australian aboriginal people believe “the serpent has a great symbolic value as ‘The Rainbow Serpent.’ “.
While painting the facade of the Canterbury Museum in Christchurch for the RISE festival, ROA decided to mix the dead with the living – “It’s a MOA skeleton with a kiwi!” he says. He explains that the moa was native to New Zealand, and flightless (like the kiwi), but the moa died out after humans settled the region.
In fact the Canterbury museum has a large collection of moa bones and skeletons and ROA understands that the museum is said to swap bones with other natural history museums to enlarge their own varied and large collection. One legend, according to the artist, “goes that they swapped some moa bones for the mummy they exhibit.
The site of the painting here has particular significance to the people of Christchurch as only a few years ago in 2010 and 2011 the city suffered serious and damaging earthquakes and almost 200 people died near here. The actual museum was well protected, but many buildings were heavily damaged and survivors still speak “about post-eartquake times, characterized by change and more social awareness,” he says, making this museum, “a very special place to be.”
“At the invitation of the MUECA festival in Puerto de La Cruz, I painted my first large scale insect wall!” exclaims ROA, who looks for ways to keep challenging himself. He says that this was a composition that included, “Lots of different little creatures to paint,” which was rather demanding, but he didn’t mind too much because, “it was a beautiful environment and atmosphere.”
There was a lot of bad weather in Riga during the Blank Canvas festival that ROA participated in, but “I got to paint the hedgehog and hopefully I will be back there soon to paint more,” he remarks.
Finally, we end our tour with ROA in the famous city of Rome, where he visited for the very first time. He says that it is a “wonderful city” and he painted this wolf “referencing the legend of the founding of the city.”
Roa extends his thanks to Stefano and Francesca of 999 in Rome.
“The LP 550-2 was transformed into a massive, moving piece of Lister artwork to raise funds for ToyBox International, a charity dedicated to raising funds to benefit sick and disadvantaged children.
The work was unveiled at the Barbagallo showroom in Perth today, with Lister saying he wanted to make an impression both on the car, and the charity.”
Fitting within Fountain’s penchant for all things street and guerrilla, we are thrilled to partner with Kingbrown to launch their 8th issue, co-curated and designed by Morning Breath, at New York’s Klughaus gallery. Opening to the public July 26th, 2012 from 7-10pm, Klughaus Gallery: 47 Monroe Street NYC, NY. Featuring live painting, Skateboard demos and more.
Australia’s “Kingbrown Magazine has collaborated with curators, John Leo (Fountain Co-Founder) and Melissa McCaig-Welles (McCaig-Welles Gallery) to bring you a dynamic collection of skateboard inspired artwork. The exhibition will showcase some of the world’s most influential artists from members of the infamous Girl/Chocolate Art Dump, pioneers in NYC graffiti, talented illustrators, animators, art stars from Australia, sculptors, and that guy living in the NY green diamond.
Kingbrown is a distinctively designed magazine, sitting somewhere between a book, a magazine and an art zine. As a super limited edition periodical, delivered inside a hand silkscreened brown bag, sewn closed with artist stickers and posters included, Kingbrown remains different from any other publication.
Conceived in 2006 by co-creators Yok and Ian Mutch in Perth, Australia, Kingbrown’s mission was to produce a limited edition work of art, which would reach a wider audience, allowing accessibility to the public and its entirety. Each “magazine” is handcrafted and designed by some of the world’s leading innovators of photography, illustration and urban and skateboard art and design. Produced on museum quality paper, each page is a collectible item, individually sealed and packaged. Now in its 8th edition, Kingbrown has achieved worldwide success and is now launching for the first time in the US.
The term “Kingbrown” is Australian slang for a 40oz, and the magazine’s slogan “wrapped in a brown bag, just like a good 40 should”, is just as original as the artists it represents. This latest 8th edition, co-curated by the renowned collaborative, “Morning Breath”, focuses it’s topic on the visually rich artists who have influenced the world of skateboarding.
The impressive line-up includes Morning Breath, Andy Jenkins, Chris Cycle, Dave Kinsey, “Grotesk” aka Kimou Meyer, Stefan Marx, Kevin Lyons, Mike Giant, Raza Uno aka MAx Vogel, Greg Lamarche, Zach Malfa-Kowalski, Steve Gourlay, Jay Howell, and Ben Horton, all of whom have contributed to this limited 8th edition of Kingbrown Magazine.
Additional works to be included in the exhibition by Australian artists: Beastman, Phibs, Hiro, Reka, Kyle “Creepy” Hughes-Odgers, Meggs, Sean Morris, Yok, Sheryo, Ross Clugston, Daek, Lister, Numskull, Ian Mutch, Rone/ aka Tyrone Wright.
Klughaus Gallery
47 Monroe St.
New York, NY 10002
F to East Broadway / M15 Bus to Catherine St. x Madison St.
1. Dscreet is on “The Other Side Show” (London)
2. Neck Face is “Simply The Worst” Tonight in LA
3. Stormie Mills “Dark Lights” Friday (Perth, AU)
4. “Welcome to the Neighborhood” Low Brow Artique Grand Opening Saturday (Bushwick, BK)
5. MEGGS at White Walls (San Francisco)
6. VINZ Solo in 3 Places Saturday (Netherlands)
7. Cassius Fouler Now Open in Brooklyn
8. “Summer Selections” Group Show at Woodward (LES)
9. Morley “I Don’t Make Sense Without You”at Outsiders Gallery in Newcastle, UK
10. David Ellis and Kris Kuksi “Go West” to LA
11. Jeremy Fish at Fifty24SF Gallery in San Francisco
12. BASK One Stand in Detroit (VIDEO)
13. Snyder in Los Angeles (VIDEO)
Dscreet is on “The Other Side Show” (London)
“It will be my first solo show in four years and centers around the theme of duality – light and dark and black and white,” says Dscreet, the London based Street Artist of Burning Candy fame and infamy as he returns to the gallery with a solo show titled “The Other Side Show” at the Roktic Gallery in London. This show is now open.
For further information regarding this show click here.
Neck Face is “Simply The Worst” Tonight in LA
Neck Face returns to New Image Art Gallery in West Hollywood, CA to state why he is “Simply The Worst”. This show opens today and you are encouraged to wear something that it is not you.
For further information regarding this show click here.
“Welcome to the Neighborhood” Low Brow Artique Grand Opening Saturday (Bushwick, BK)
Uh-Oh, there goes the neighborhood. Tomorrow Street Artist Bishop 203 invites you to the grand opening of his gallery and art shop Low Brow Artique in Bushwick.
The opening will be celebrated with a group exhibition of Brooklyn based Street Artists including Cern, Clown Soldier, Elle, ENX, See One, Sheryo, Willow and Yok. Come wish this impresario good luck. An art supply spot in the front and a gallery in the back, “Low Brow” hopes to raise some eyebrows tomorrow night.
For further information regarding this show click here.
MEGGS at White Walls (San Francisco)
“Mythology tells the stories of gods, heroes, humans and supernatural beings as the personification of natural phenomena and more importantly the human condition… ” Saturday Meggs delves deeper into the subject of fantasy in San Francisco for his new solo show “Truth in Myth” opening tomorrow at the White Walls Gallery.
Meggs Red Skull. Detail. (image courtesy of the gallery)
For further information regarding this show click here.
VINZ Solo in 3 Places Saturday (Netherlands)
Spanish Street Artist VINZ has invaded Amsterdam with “Rules of Etiquette” his first solo show in The Netherlands opening tomorrow on three different locations: The Garage, Andenken Gallery and Battalion.
For further information regarding this show click here.
Cassius Fouler Now Open in Brooklyn
Opened last night at Weldon Arts Gallery, “Four Borough” is a cool collection from Cassius as he continues to merge symbols and irony and inside jokes with a deceptively simple and friendly hand delivery.
Woodward Gallery has put together “Summer Selections” an eclectic show of dead and alive artists, with some modern and contemporary masters mixed in with a select group of Street Artists that might or might not be the masters of tomorrow. Come in, cool off and judge for yourself.
Artists included are : Jean Michel Basquiat • Rick Begneaud • Susan Breen • Thomas Buildmore • Alexander Calder • Celso • Deborah Claxton • Darkcloud • Paul Gauguin • Sybil Gibson • Richard Hambleton • Curt Hoppe • Infinity • Jasper Johns • Russell King • Kosbe • LAII • Moody • Margaret Morrison • Mel Ramos • Robert Rauschenberg • Matt Siren • stikman • Jeremy Szopinski • Francesco Tumbiolo • Jo Ellen Van Ouwerkerk • Andy Warhol.
This show is now open to the general public. Click here for more details on this show.
Also happening this weekend:
The Outsiders Gallery in Newcastle, UK new show featuring Morley and entitled “I Don’t Make Sense Without You” is now open to the general public. Click here for more details on this show.
The Joshua Liner Gallery new show in Los Angeles at the Mark Moore Gallery pairs David Ellis and Kris Kuksi for “Go West”. This show is opens tomorrow in Culver City, CA. Click here for more details on this show.
Jeremy Fish is at the Fifty24SF Gallery in San Francisco with the opening tomorrow of his new show “Where Hearts Get Left”. Click here for more details about this show.
BASK One Stand in Detroit (VIDEO)
A quick look at how BASK did his recent piece in Detroit.
Snyder in Los Angeles (VIDEO)
For Street Art that verges on handmade crafting and display work, here’s a homey installation from Snyder.
Greenhill galleries is proud to present dark lights, their first solo exhibition of new works by australian contemporary artist, stormie mills.
Dark Lights continues Stormie’s exploration into the characteristics that define humanity.
By shining a light into the darkness his work seeks to uncover what lies beneath in each of us.
Dark Lights explores the idea that a “villain” in society can still possess a captivating human quality when the light is shined within them.
By contrast a pillar of society exposes their “dark side” as they stand still under the light.
About the Artist
Stormie mills began painting in 1984. the first mark on the world began on a dark wet night that fuelled the relentless all consuming passion to create an image.
More than 25 years later stormie has more than made a mark in the global context as a highly collectable artist that has seen him travel around the world producing large scale commissions and transforming the concrete landscape in barcelona, greece, london, los angeles, miami, melbourne, new york, perth, sydney and tokyo.
Using a combination of acrylic, dirt, spray paint and graffiti remover and working predominately in a palate of black, grey, silver and white. stormie has crossed many boundaries of painting from, 40 metre scaffold facades on buildings, to inside discarded draws, to the tiniest detail on a fallen leaf and to the finest of belgium linen.
In between painting stormie dedicates time to giving back to the community often speaking to students in schools as well as presenting to formal forums. in may, stormie was invited to present at the agideas international design week, one of the largest and most prestigious design festivals in the world.
Stormie’s work reflects a deeply personal expression of emotion motivated by the notion of isolation. each work is a communication of the human condition engaging the viewer to explore beyond the image on the surface. each work stormie creates is compelling and continues to attract collectors for his unique statements on life.
Dark Lights is on display at greenhill galleries from 13th- 26th july 2012.
Greenhill Galleries
6 gugeri street, claremont wa 6010 www.greenhillgalleries.com.au
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