toothfairy
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October 2008
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Sweet Toof Solo Show, by toothfairy on Jan 14, 2009 1:38:13 GMT 1, Almost missed out on this, but thanks to Sacked I manage to get my copy on the way back from the London Art Fair.
www.thelondonpaper.com/cs/Satellite/london/culture/article/1157159009727?packedargs=suffix%3DSubSectionArticle
London arts Interview: 'Sweet Toof' by Jess Holland. Tuesday, 13 January 2009
AS soon as you notice one, theyโre everywhere: bulging salmon-pink gums with white teeth like pegs graffitied on Brick Lane walls, beside Hackney canals, and in other nooks across south and east London.
Sometimes theyโre part of a bigger piece several metres long โ a ยญcollaboration with other ยญartists โ sometimes theyโre just a few centimetres wide in a ยญtiny corner. Theyโre the work of a Royal Academy alumnus who is known only as โSweet Toofโ, and the first London exhibition devoted to his art opens today.
When we meet at the Sartorial Contemporary Art gallery for a cup of tea and a look at his โfine artโ, he turns out to be a stocky, friendly bloke in his mid-thirties with tufty hair and glasses, wearing an art student-ish uniform of jeans, trainers and a woolly cardigan.
But the personal details are shady: heโs already been locked up once (overnight) for being linked to illegal graffiti and he doesnโt want to ยญrepeat the experience. It means that, like Banksy, he has to remain anonymous.
He says heโs from the โnorthโ, although his West Country-like twang suggests otherwise. Google โSweet Toofโ and youโll see graffiti blogs claiming heโs an alias of Martin Lea Brown, the oil painter running a concurrent exhibition at Sartorial this month. But he refuses to be drawn. โMy nameโs Sweet Toof,โ he insists. ยญโMartin Lea Brownโs a very close friend.โ
Whoever he is, heโs been known on the graffiti scene as โSweet Toofโ for a couple of years. Since giving up the simple tagging that heโd been doing from the age of 13, he has been bombarding Londonโs streets with his instantly recognisable gums-and-teeth logo. How did he come up with that one? โTeeth can be really sexy, or aggressive,โ he says, โbut theyโre also constant reminders of death. Theyโre how we get identified by ยญpolice when thereโs nothing else left. It sounds morbid but itโs what we all come down to.โ
He likes to plaster them on walls beside canals, because heโs got โa bit of a thingโ for reflections. He started out as a young teen: โIโd save my 50p lunch money and buy cheap spray cans and go out at night. It was so dark you couldnโt make out what colours you were using, so youโd only see it the next day. I love how spontaneous the thing is.โ
The eerie grinning gums are all over Toofโs oil paintings, embedded in the jaws of skeletons wearing Elizabethan ruffs and prison jumpsuits. Itโs a macabre show, but sure to be a lucrative one โ he admits he can charge five figures for his work, with collectors eager to find the next big thing.
But that doesnโt mean heโs turning his back on his roots. Itโs true heโs got an art degree, and an MA from the Royal Academy (enough to upset some fierce anti-establishment graffiti writers), but his heart belongs to night-time adventures with his graffiti crew, Burning Candy.
โIโve done stuff where I think the next day, โThat couldโve ended badlyโ. But itโs like a drug,โ he grins. โI always thought I was going to give up before I hit 20, but Iโm still at it. I probably need help.โ
Sartorial Contemporary Art, to 4 Feb, 26 Argyle Sq, WC1, sartorialart.com
Almost missed out on this, but thanks to Sacked I manage to get my copy on the way back from the London Art Fair. www.thelondonpaper.com/cs/Satellite/london/culture/article/1157159009727?packedargs=suffix%3DSubSectionArticleLondon arts Interview: 'Sweet Toof' by Jess Holland. Tuesday, 13 January 2009 AS soon as you notice one, theyโre everywhere: bulging salmon-pink gums with white teeth like pegs graffitied on Brick Lane walls, beside Hackney canals, and in other nooks across south and east London. Sometimes theyโre part of a bigger piece several metres long โ a ยญcollaboration with other ยญartists โ sometimes theyโre just a few centimetres wide in a ยญtiny corner. Theyโre the work of a Royal Academy alumnus who is known only as โSweet Toofโ, and the first London exhibition devoted to his art opens today. When we meet at the Sartorial Contemporary Art gallery for a cup of tea and a look at his โfine artโ, he turns out to be a stocky, friendly bloke in his mid-thirties with tufty hair and glasses, wearing an art student-ish uniform of jeans, trainers and a woolly cardigan. But the personal details are shady: heโs already been locked up once (overnight) for being linked to illegal graffiti and he doesnโt want to ยญrepeat the experience. It means that, like Banksy, he has to remain anonymous. He says heโs from the โnorthโ, although his West Country-like twang suggests otherwise. Google โSweet Toofโ and youโll see graffiti blogs claiming heโs an alias of Martin Lea Brown, the oil painter running a concurrent exhibition at Sartorial this month. But he refuses to be drawn. โMy nameโs Sweet Toof,โ he insists. ยญโMartin Lea Brownโs a very close friend.โ Whoever he is, heโs been known on the graffiti scene as โSweet Toofโ for a couple of years. Since giving up the simple tagging that heโd been doing from the age of 13, he has been bombarding Londonโs streets with his instantly recognisable gums-and-teeth logo. How did he come up with that one? โTeeth can be really sexy, or aggressive,โ he says, โbut theyโre also constant reminders of death. Theyโre how we get identified by ยญpolice when thereโs nothing else left. It sounds morbid but itโs what we all come down to.โ He likes to plaster them on walls beside canals, because heโs got โa bit of a thingโ for reflections. He started out as a young teen: โIโd save my 50p lunch money and buy cheap spray cans and go out at night. It was so dark you couldnโt make out what colours you were using, so youโd only see it the next day. I love how spontaneous the thing is.โ The eerie grinning gums are all over Toofโs oil paintings, embedded in the jaws of skeletons wearing Elizabethan ruffs and prison jumpsuits. Itโs a macabre show, but sure to be a lucrative one โ he admits he can charge five figures for his work, with collectors eager to find the next big thing. But that doesnโt mean heโs turning his back on his roots. Itโs true heโs got an art degree, and an MA from the Royal Academy (enough to upset some fierce anti-establishment graffiti writers), but his heart belongs to night-time adventures with his graffiti crew, Burning Candy. โIโve done stuff where I think the next day, โThat couldโve ended badlyโ. But itโs like a drug,โ he grins. โI always thought I was going to give up before I hit 20, but Iโm still at it. I probably need help.โ Sartorial Contemporary Art, to 4 Feb, 26 Argyle Sq, WC1, sartorialart.com
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Deleted
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January 1970
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Sweet Toof Solo Show, by Deleted on Jan 14, 2009 1:57:47 GMT 1, i read it and cut it out to put in my scrap book
i read it and cut it out to put in my scrap book
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Sacked...
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October 2007
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Sweet Toof Solo Show, by Sacked... on Jan 14, 2009 2:18:30 GMT 1, If anybody's going to the above show, would they please get a book signed for me... i'll try and compensate for the effort!
Do you still want one ? No details on cost yet though.They still have the Burning Candy book in softback as well,but only signed by Tek33.
If anybody's going to the above show, would they please get a book signed for me... i'll try and compensate for the effort! Do you still want one ? No details on cost yet though.They still have the Burning Candy book in softback as well,but only signed by Tek33.
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toothfairy
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October 2008
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Sweet Toof Solo Show, by toothfairy on Jan 14, 2009 22:06:55 GMT 1, i read it and cut it out to put in my scrap book
Your sad! ;D I would probably do the same if I had the time and was more organised.
i read it and cut it out to put in my scrap book Your sad! ;D I would probably do the same if I had the time and was more organised.
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toothfairy
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October 2008
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Sweet Toof Solo Show, by toothfairy on Jan 20, 2009 14:53:43 GMT 1, So, who's going Thursday? Anyone seen the prints???
So, who's going Thursday? Anyone seen the prints???
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Prescription Art
Art Gallery
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November 2007
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Sweet Toof Solo Show, by Prescription Art on Jan 20, 2009 15:26:15 GMT 1, see you there toothfairy!
see you there toothfairy!
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Sacked...
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October 2007
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Sweet Toof Solo Show, by Sacked... on Jan 20, 2009 15:36:27 GMT 1, See you both there ! !
See you both there ! !
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Sacked...
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October 2007
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Sweet Toof Solo Show, by Sacked... on Jan 21, 2009 21:41:45 GMT 1, BUMP for tomorrow night !
BUMP for tomorrow night !
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romanywg
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October 2006
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Sweet Toof Solo Show, by romanywg on Jan 21, 2009 23:21:31 GMT 1, Hopefully be there.
Hopefully be there.
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Sacked...
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October 2007
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Prescription Art
Art Gallery
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November 2007
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Sweet Toof Solo Show, by Prescription Art on Jan 22, 2009 13:01:32 GMT 1, I'm looking forward to taking another look tonight... there's also the new book & 14 new prints..!
I'm looking forward to taking another look tonight... there's also the new book & 14 new prints..!
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hlarmy
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November 2007
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Sweet Toof Solo Show, by hlarmy on Jan 22, 2009 13:03:31 GMT 1, Is the show invite only ce soir?
Is the show invite only ce soir?
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Sacked...
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October 2007
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Sweet Toof Solo Show, by Sacked... on Jan 22, 2009 13:06:23 GMT 1, He's collabing with Cyclops Rowdy and maybe Sickboy amongst others !
He's collabing with Cyclops Rowdy and maybe Sickboy amongst others !
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Sacked...
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October 2007
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Sweet Toof Solo Show, by Sacked... on Jan 22, 2009 13:12:36 GMT 1, You should be ok to just turn up.You can contact Greta on :
art@sartorialart.com
You should be ok to just turn up.You can contact Greta on :
art@sartorialart.com
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romanywg
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October 2006
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Sweet Toof Solo Show, by romanywg on Jan 22, 2009 15:49:32 GMT 1, Sorry, where exactly is this tonight and at what time does it open?
Sorry, where exactly is this tonight and at what time does it open?
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Macdeee
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July 2006
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Sweet Toof Solo Show, by Macdeee on Jan 22, 2009 21:36:38 GMT 1, So what did we think of the prints?
I missed out on the show before christmas so it was great to see all the canvases... Some BIG canvases too.
The prints all looked good, but all out of my price range Shame cause I would have loved one of the small ones (A6?) Mighty Mo, Snoe etc
Sickboy one was nice and the motorboy ones were good too.
So what did we think of the prints? I missed out on the show before christmas so it was great to see all the canvases... Some BIG canvases too. The prints all looked good, but all out of my price range Shame cause I would have loved one of the small ones (A6?) Mighty Mo, Snoe etc Sickboy one was nice and the motorboy ones were good too.
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G-Man
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November 2007
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Sweet Toof Solo Show, by G-Man on Jan 22, 2009 22:01:07 GMT 1, Any pics anyone?
Any pics anyone?
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gwenie
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December 2008
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Sweet Toof Solo Show, by gwenie on Jan 22, 2009 23:13:08 GMT 1, Photie one
Photie one
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gwenie
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December 2008
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Sweet Toof Solo Show, by gwenie on Jan 22, 2009 23:14:53 GMT 1, Photie two
Photie two
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gwenie
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December 2008
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Sweet Toof Solo Show, by gwenie on Jan 22, 2009 23:16:01 GMT 1, Three
Three
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gwenie
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December 2008
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Sweet Toof Solo Show, by gwenie on Jan 22, 2009 23:18:47 GMT 1, Four
Sorry if they are a bit "soft". I did not want to take any with a flash..........
Four Sorry if they are a bit "soft". I did not want to take any with a flash..........
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gwenie
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December 2008
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Sweet Toof Solo Show, by gwenie on Jan 22, 2009 23:32:56 GMT 1, Another photie
Another photie
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Deleted
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January 1970
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Sweet Toof Solo Show, by Deleted on Jan 22, 2009 23:45:17 GMT 1, I'm not feeling his work,but good luck with your show sweettooth
I'm not feeling his work,but good luck with your show sweettooth
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Deleted
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January 1970
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Sweet Toof Solo Show, by Deleted on Jan 22, 2009 23:51:09 GMT 1, i read it and cut it out to put in my scrap book Your sad! ;D I would probably do the same if I had the time and was more organised.
just read your reply to my post, you cheeky cow toothfairy It was a joke ;D well the scrap book bit was
i read it and cut it out to put in my scrap book Your sad! ;D I would probably do the same if I had the time and was more organised. just read your reply to my post, you cheeky cow toothfairy It was a joke ;D well the scrap book bit was
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gwenie
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December 2008
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Sweet Toof Solo Show, by gwenie on Jan 23, 2009 0:17:29 GMT 1, I thought the drawings were good...
There were quite a few.......
I thought the drawings were good... There were quite a few.......
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goaty
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November 2006
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Sweet Toof Solo Show, by goaty on Jan 23, 2009 0:41:16 GMT 1, I think this is a perfect example where an artist should just stick to their street work.
I think this is a perfect example where an artist should just stick to their street work.
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gwenie
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December 2008
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Sweet Toof Solo Show, by gwenie on Jan 23, 2009 0:44:58 GMT 1,
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hlarmy
Junior Member
Posts โข 3,199
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November 2007
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Sweet Toof Solo Show, by hlarmy on Jan 23, 2009 1:16:54 GMT 1, It's a bizarre style, but one that is growing on me! What kind of prices are you looking at for one of the larger works?
It's a bizarre style, but one that is growing on me! What kind of prices are you looking at for one of the larger works?
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