The late, great Keith Haring's work is enjoying a welcome reappearance. In celebration of his fiftieth birthday on 4th May, The Keith Haring Foundation, together with Deitch Projects and Goldman Properties, has hired a group of artists to recreate his big and bashy untitled mural, which was once situated near Houston Street and the Bowery in New York. The piece that popped up a lone concrete slab in 1982, went though a few repaints in its time, and today, those involved in its reproduction are going for authenticity. The team creating the piece are working from old photos and fairly ancient paint samples from the site, putting together an almost bone fide Haring.
Keith Haring’s Houston Street and Bowery Mural from 05/04/08 - 12/21/08
A couple of years ago, I met Blek Le Rat, AKA Xavier Prou, at a private view in London – his private view. While we had a little language issue – his English is about as good as my French – I couldn’t help but to like the guy. He had this cheeky glint, as if he were permanently amused. And who could blame him? There was some heavy action going on at the view; I have never seen such a serious amount of sales. The gallery could hardly keep up with demand.
That evening was one of those mashed-up graff nights with D*Face showing down the road at Stolen Space. However, the two exhibitions, which essentially came from the same place, were a world apart. D*Face was, and is, something else. His work has come so far; he is now a fully-fledged, frankly outstanding talent. Blek Le Rat, meanwhile, is a seen it all, been it all, who’s fast being overtaken as the international stencil king by the ubiquitous Banksy. How it will turn out who knows, but one thing’s certain, Mr. Le Rat is where it all started. In fact, you could argue, that without the cheeky Frenchman, Banksy would never have travelled the road he's taken. Come on, where do you think all those rats came from?
Now, Blek Le Rat, like Banksy, is debuting at LA's Subliminal Projects Gallery with a show entitled ‘Art is not Peace But War’. The exhibition represents, in title, the difficulties of working as an artist. Difficulties, which undoubtedly bring forth great things, great thoughts, great work, and great art. Blek Le Rat 'Art is Not Peace But War’ @ Subliminal Projects Gallery, 1331 Sunset Boulevard, L.A. Until 2nd May 2008.
POW, AKA Pictures on Walls, is offering folk the opportunity to “drop by the 'factory', buy special one-offs, and watch people in authentic Shoreditch period costume, rolling up prints and putting them in tubes.” I like the way they put it. So much so, I'm temped to drop by myself.
Now, print themed, POW, do much more than just wear funky clothes. They also represent a nice, tight stable of talents, including Jamie Hewitt, the ubiquitous Banksy and Invader, as well as Pete Fowler, of Super Furry Animals fame, Sickboy and Faile. All are available, or rather their work is available, via www.picturesonwalls.com. However, if you’re feeling more online than off, and fancy picking up a print or simply a few fashion tips, contact Dora at dora@pituresonwalls.com and make an appointment to drop by.
The late, great Keith Haring's work is enjoying a welcome reappearance. In celebration of his fiftieth birthday on 4th May, The Keith Haring Foundation, together with Deitch Projects and Goldman Properties, has hired a group of artists to recreate his big and bashy untitled mural, which was once situated near Houston Street and the Bowery in New York. The piece that popped up a lone concrete slab in 1982, went though a few repaints in its time, and today, those involved in its reproduction are going for authenticity. The team creating the piece are working from old photos and fairly ancient paint samples from the site, putting together an almost bone fide Haring.
