Something you should see… Go Hard or Go Home at the Rag Factory

The Cultural Exposé — Thu, 24 Oct 2013 10:05:32 +0000

For the past few weeks, Banksy has attempted to woo the good people of New York by unveiling exclusive works around the city. Tourists and fans have been loving the residency (dubbed Better Out than In) – but the NYPD and Major Michael Bloomberg? Not so much. They shut him down on Wednesday, reminding us that for all his fame and fortune, Banksy – along with his many successors – could easily be arrested for continuing to take the law into their own hands. But that’s precisely why we have such an affection for these rebels with a cause: by choosing the streets as their gallery, those unsanctioned works (as divisive as they might be) have made a significant contribution to the cultural conversation over the last 50s years, redefining the concept of fine art and the audiences who now pursue it. But what’s even more impressive is that they’ve gone beyond their own borders to make a statement on an international scale, and it’s this fact that’s celebrated in the forthcoming Go Hard or Go Home exhibition at the Rag Factory.

Pure Evil

Featuring a mix of established and new players, this show pays homage to this genre of contemporary art as well as the people who’ve proudly eschewed traditional art routes, coming from backgrounds such as rave, film, design, fashion and of course, graffiti. The 11 artists involved were picked by J Patrick Boyle, a Bristolian artist and curator – and he’s included infamous names such as Pure Evil, Sick Boy and Sweet Toof while you’ll get to see some of the exciting work from our favourite picks Coby Walsh, an illustrator from London and South Africa’s Nicci van P. There’s no question that these new works will be bold, innovative and further evidence of the appeal of urban art – so like a good Banksy, catch them if you can.

Go Hard or Go Home runs from October 31st to November 4th. For more info, visit: www.gohardorgohome.info

Cept

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Somewhere you should go… Moniker Art Fair

Laura Thornley — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 10:00:18 +0000

You may have noticed the wealth of art events currently on offer this autumn. Internationally relevant events are popping up everywhere, creating an artistic pile up somewhere around Warren Street. While the rest of the madding crowd are taking in the mainstream fodder, hows about checking out a contemporary alternative that places itself in direct opposition to it all? Running over October 11-14 (Frieze art fair weekend!) the Moniker Art Fair represents the urban art that the contemporary scene often forgets.

Housed in the Village Underground, (the art space off Great Eastern Street, crowned by a tube carriage) the fair is in its third year and is gaining even more momentum. It is an installation-only event this time and gives contributors the opportunity to create work that goes beyond their usual practice. Artists include Ludo, the French collage artist concerned with nature and violence, American artist Casey who works in acrylic spray paint; and London artist Greg Gossel who composes text and pop imagery to create new meanings. Street art galleries from around the world are attending also, including White Walls of San Francisco and Rook and Raven from London. Banksy may have caught the art world’s attention with his highly politicized, urban art a few years back but he isn’t the only that deserves attention by the looks of this fair. (Words: Laura Thornley)

For more info, visit www.monikerprojects.com/about

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urban art – The Cultural Exposé

Something you should see… Go Hard or Go Home at the Rag Factory

Somewhere you should go… Moniker Art Fair