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Post by NoLionsInEngland on Feb 9, 2008 18:44:10 GMT 1
Jef Aerosol Spray It Loud [/color][/size] Islington Art Centre 8 Feb 2008 [/color][/size] There are many reasons why people move out of central London…less stress, better schools, nature, the environment and definitely more space! Jef Aerosol’s new Show at the Islington Art Centre, not too far from Newcastle and roughly level with Stavangar, certainly has more space, more space for hanging, more quirky corners for hiding smaller canvasses and more space where crowds should be. Compared to a dense central London opening, this felt quite lightly populated though how many people were hidden away in the nooks crannies and side rooms at this converted church can’t be told. Aerosol paints icons. Ghandi said an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind. Blind Angle present substantial collection of portraiture on canvas, silkscreen prints and installation, all with the stencil as the chosen tool.  Colours are predominantly red and black so no break with Aerosol convention there, though the Blurting The Truth canvasses with red arrows spurting out through the artist’s fingers come in green, red, orange and purple with coloured rain splashing from on high.  Many images are familiar from the streets of London and France, but there are some new images. The 9 canvas colourway repetition of the Eros (Piccadily Circus) statue places the Christian Angel well over to the left to fire a cheeky trademark Aerosol arrow across the canvas.  Running through Aerosol’s work is a series of contrasts. The main wall installation highlights the gulf between the haves and the have-nots, the wealthy fame sluts and the invisible underdog. Deified personalities lord it over the downtrodden; Johnny Rotten, Nureyev, Sid Vicious and Twiggy sit aloof over an old beggar woman and her offspring, a farmer and his cow, and a dispassionate negro boy. The icons take centre stage, whilst the hungry, the aged and the dis-enfranchised lurk behind pillars and on walls down the sides of stairs and in corridors.  Rock and pop gods are here in abundance with representatives of the lifetime fully realised genius of say Neil Young juxtaposed with images of talent briefly flowered but taken early such as Jim Morrison, Sid Barrett and Ian Curtis. The rock portraits suffer simultaneously from familiarity through permeation into our conciousness through constant exposure and familiarity as Aerosol subjects. Knowing the subjects too well exposes the limitations of applying stencilism to portraiture, as the faces appear crudely contoured and curiously shaded. Is that a shadow above Iggy Pop’s lip or a hole where a nose should be? It is also hard to ignore that the rock star as canvas subject matter is the province of sweat shop artistry churned out ultra cheap for the student bedsit market, the parallel creating a gross under-estimation of Aerosol’s talent. Aerosol’s captures a dynamic motion more successfully than any other practising stencilist. His flautist leaps with unrestrained exuberance and compare the original with the quality of Aerosol’s stencil as Nureyev throws himself into his ballet routine.  insert photo: Richard Avedon [/color] Twiggy brings a breath of Carnaby street glamour though she looks more like a destitute orphan with an strangely oversize right arm than a symbolic waif-beauty. Two prints were available, the intense richly red black and white self portrait with Mickey Mouse ears titled “Wake Up”, this manic staring Aerosol must have been woken with a cattle probe. The second print is the 100 x 100 sitting kid, an stencil of immense detail and pathos. This is a charming show, the space to circulate is welcome, the irregular shape makes a pleasant change to the routine box cube gallery. Congratulations to Blind Angle for a very well handle print sale, with owners identities collated against the print number and a typed CoA handed over with the print, wish all galleries were so fastidious.
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Post by Guest on Feb 9, 2008 18:52:27 GMT 1
Thanks for this
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Post by pezlow on Feb 9, 2008 19:24:15 GMT 1
Love your reviews ratt. I think I am going to try and get over to see this show next week.
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Post by Grafter on Feb 9, 2008 20:03:00 GMT 1
Nice review...
I made it along there this afternoon and was pleasantly surprised at how nice some of the canvases were. Jeff was there busily adding some of his trademark pigeons on the back of the big cow on the main wall. So got to see the man in action as well. A good couple of hours out and recommended.
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Post by NoLionsInEngland on Feb 9, 2008 20:21:15 GMT 1
Thanks all. Blind Angle said Jef Aerosolwould be there today (Sat and Tomorrow) adding further touches. Will have to check for opening times and cycle up there later next week.
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Blind Angle
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Post by Blind Angle on Feb 9, 2008 20:53:09 GMT 1
Hi There
Jef will be at the Arts Factory from 11AM to 5.30PM tomorrow. The opening times of the Arts Factory have changed recently and are now:
Monday - Thursday 10.00am - 10pm
Friday 10.00am - 6.45pm
Saturday 10.00am - 5.30pm
Sunday 11.00am - 5.30pm
cheers
Ragnar
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jose
1 Star Member
Posts: 109
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Post by jose on Feb 9, 2008 22:03:21 GMT 1
Thanks Rattusamorus I always enjoy your reviews!!!
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pip
1 Star Member
Posts: 33
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Post by pip on Feb 9, 2008 22:51:06 GMT 1
Well worth a visit...
Those textures are amazing. Lucky enough to have a chat with Jef this afternoon. FAB stuff...
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JonW
1 Star Member
Oh yeah!
Posts: 133
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Post by JonW on Feb 10, 2008 0:02:00 GMT 1
Always makes me think its such a shame I moved out of the UK when I read these... great review and nice pics. Wish I could be there...
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Post by jed100375 on Feb 10, 2008 3:45:59 GMT 1
Thanks for the pics matey......
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mred
3 Star Member
Posts: 723
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Post by mred on Feb 10, 2008 8:34:30 GMT 1
Ian Curtis piece awesome
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Post by Jef Aerosol on Feb 11, 2008 0:01:34 GMT 1
sunday night : I'm back home now after a really cool week-end in Islington... a million thanks to all those who came top the show and those I chatted with... All the people I met there are really nice and friendly ones... It was a real pleasure meeting you all... Thank you so much, Rattus for such a nice review and for all the pictures here and on the flickr group. Just a reply to your words about Iggy and Twiggy : The dark spot is Iggy's nose/shadow, not a hole ! As for Twiggy, both her arms are behind her back, what you probably saw as an oversized arm is a fold of her dress... lol !  I'll be back in London for the end of the show (feb 21st, 22nd and 23rd) and will try to hit a few walls in town ! cheers and thanks again, mates ! |
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Post by Jef Aerosol on Feb 12, 2008 0:22:20 GMT 1
have just posted pics on the other threads ("Spray it Loud pics" and "Islington wall") ... Silky : can the two threads be merged in one ? ?
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Post by francis on Feb 12, 2008 18:46:55 GMT 1
Rob Jones has one out now |
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Post by Jef Aerosol on Feb 13, 2008 12:20:38 GMT 1
thanks for the info, Francis : I've just checked it out and it's a nice print indeed... I love the "cloud" effect.
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Post by Guest on Feb 13, 2008 14:53:37 GMT 1
Loads of pics on here already so don't want to repeat everything but no one has shown this, it was piece of the show IMO, sprayed on hanging cloth/canvas and looks like a piece of wall peeled straight from the street! Stunning!! (I was talking to Jef and my mate bought this up the moment the doors opened! Git!!)  Me talking to Jef while my mate grabbed it! ;D  |
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Post by Guest on Feb 13, 2008 14:56:07 GMT 1
Loving the Willy Wonka outfit Jef ;D
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Daniel Silk
Founder 
URBAN ART ASSOCIATION
Posts: 21,606
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Post by Daniel Silk on Feb 13, 2008 15:02:34 GMT 1
He was tryin for a Rabbit, but he pulled PUD from his hat ;D |
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Post by Guest on Feb 13, 2008 15:12:30 GMT 1
Loving the Willy Wonka outfit Jef ;D The only dissappointing thing about the show! No Oompa Loompa's!! ;D |
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Post by Guest on Feb 13, 2008 15:41:15 GMT 1
Pud did you get anything from the show. didnt make it down on the opening night, had to work.
is Jef doing an impression of a teapot?
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Post by Guest on Feb 13, 2008 15:53:17 GMT 1
Pud did you get anything from the show. didnt make it down on the opening night, had to work. is Jef doing an impression of a teapot? Only bought a copy of each print, not that numbers matter but managed to get #1 from both the 'Wake Up# and 'Sitting Boy' editions. The 'Sitting Boy' is brilliant! Got the feel of Banksy's 'Girl With Balloon' Simple but emotional if you know what I mean. Didn't buy anything else as I did my nuts on art in January, including a couple of commissions from Jef!! Worth a visit if you get time though mate, pics don't do the quality of the work justice! There might also be a few sitting boy prints left as Jef hadn't finished hand stenciling the arrowa on all of them, and at £80 a go, well worth the money! |
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Post by Guest on Feb 13, 2008 16:07:13 GMT 1
nice one mate, will try and get to the show and purchase a couple of prints if they are still available. you going to the BRP show on saturday?
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Post by Guest on Feb 13, 2008 16:14:04 GMT 1
nice one mate, will try and get to the show and purchase a couple of prints if they are still available. you going to the BRP show on saturday? No mate, got my kids this weekend! Will more than likely be going to Souled Out at Leonard St though! |
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Post by Guest on Feb 13, 2008 16:17:09 GMT 1
nice one mate, will try and get to the show and purchase a couple of prints if they are still available. you going to the BRP show on saturday? No mate, got my kids this weekend! Will more than likely be going to Souled Out at Leonard St though! Have a good weekend with your kids, will catch up with you at TLSG. |
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Blind Angle
Gallery
NOW also on Facebook as Blind Angle
Posts: 399
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Post by Blind Angle on Feb 13, 2008 16:33:44 GMT 1
Hi ronhill
we do still have a few "Sitting Kid" and "Wake Up" available, just drop us an email if you are interested.
cheers
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Post by Jef Aerosol on Feb 13, 2008 21:56:05 GMT 1
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Gurn
2 Star Member
Posts: 353
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Post by Gurn on Feb 13, 2008 22:50:53 GMT 1
I'm going down to the show at the weekend and thought it might make the post-view pub crawl a bit more interesting if I tracked down some of Jefs street work.Can anyone give me any tips on locations?I know the obvious thing would be to ask Jef but he may not know if pieces still exist.Also,does anyone know the name of the Camden/Chalk Farm coffe bar with the door piece on its wall...Managed to bag a Sitting Boy print..Lovin the Sex Pistols Stylee PUD,they rocked at Brixton.
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vince
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Post by vince on Feb 14, 2008 12:11:35 GMT 1
I really encourage everybody to go and enjoy that nice exhibition. congratulation Jef.
really nice atmosphere in the little bar surrounded by your Art.
As says PUD above, a genuine particular emotional feelling gets out the sitting boy, asphalt jungle or don't follow leaders. for me for instance. not so common to feel that, so i think I'll pop in again this weekend.
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Gurn
2 Star Member
Posts: 353
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Post by Gurn on Feb 16, 2008 0:21:03 GMT 1
I'm going down to the show at the weekend and thought it might make the post-view pub crawl a bit more interesting if I tracked down some of Jefs street work.Can anyone give me any tips on locations?I know the obvious thing would be to ask Jef but he may not know if pieces still exist.Also,does anyone know the name of the Camden/Chalk Farm coffe bar with the door piece on its wall...Managed to bag a Sitting Boy print..Lovin the Sex Pistols Stylee PUD,they rocked at Brixton. I'm reluctant to start another Jef thread so bumping this to see if anyone can give me some last minute info...cheers  |
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Blind Angle
Gallery
NOW also on Facebook as Blind Angle
Posts: 399
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Post by Blind Angle on Feb 16, 2008 8:41:42 GMT 1
Hi Gurn
I cannot remember the name, but it is on 37 Chalk Farm Road......
cheers
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