[raiden]

Mona Lisa with a Paint Roller...

Really? This is what Dolk is coming out with? Another take on the Mona Lisa, but just this time she's holding a paint roller? There is no possible way anyone can make the case that this piece constitutes much original thought. Its rehash of the highest order.

I'm so disappointed.

I own "Officer Down." I love it. Good statement print. Anti-authority, witty. Above all original.

But now this?

Face it, this is a poor man's Nick Walker Moona Lisa. And of course Banksy already riffed on the Mona Lisa before that.

I gave Dolk a pass on "I Am Your Father" which I suspiciously found to be more of the same Star Wars riff. I was willing to chalk it up to Dolk being only coincidentally derivative. I mean seriously, RYCA and Eelus have done the Star Wars graff art motif to death... and even Pure Evil got into the act (with a print I must say, was just original enough to still like)

But this!!!

Come on, how many times must Dolk bite off the ideas of other artists before someone (i.e. me) raises the red flag that when it comes to his print work, Dolk is a pandering and (I'm going to go here) selling out.

Clearly he's choosing his print releases based on the popular value of other artists' releases.

Honestly, did he come up with idea falling off his chair after seeing Walker's Moona Lisa get astronomically overpaid for at Bonham's?

The only reason I still respect Dolk is that he knocked it out of the park at the Cans Festival. If he didn't possibly have the best piece outside of Banksy there, then I'd label him devoid of ideas. (though I did notice a bit of a Nick Walker influence with the girl with the multi-colored brushes)

My frustration is that obviously Dolk is exceptionally talented, just when it comes to some of his prints, its seeming likes he's worrying about selling out and getting the buzz, rather than just producing good work. Its like he doesn't trust his artistic instincts and instead has been releasing safe, cutesy schlock.

I can't believe that everyone else's first reaction upon seeing this wasn't "That's just like Walker and/or Banksy"

Maybe I'm totally off based, but I figured in typical crass, shrill American style, I'd put out what is on my mind.

[rurualhick]

AMAZING THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY LIKE THIS JUNK. THE STANDARDS FOR EVALUATING ART IS ABYSMALLY LOW FOR MANY IN THIS SCENE.

[Studiocromie]

it's still better then any walker print with mona lisa.
imo

[Heavyconsumer]

Raiden, I like your style, I agree with the sentiment too. While there is perhaps a different message in this piece to the other takes I've seen of the Mona Lisa, the image is imo very boring to look at, not just because it's a rehash, but there's so little creative input that it's ONLY a rehash and I don't really understand how it seems so popular on the other thread, but that's cool, I wouldn't want us all to be after the same pieces anyway. I'm basically disappointed with this release, although I like Zooicide, Officer Down and BK. I hope his next print will be more to my liking than the last couplle (including this one) as his work's usually pretty affordable too.

[master]

Red flag from me too !!!! Well said raiden.

[slacker]

i have really liked this image since it first appeared on the street. it is not a new image that he has put together for a print.

you're getting caught up on the fact that mona lisa is in the image (presumably because it is probably the best known portrait in the world). how many other artists have done pictures of the subject painting over itself... that concept is original even if the subject is mona lisa.

this way better than the nick walker mona's in my opinion and i'll definitely be picking one up.

[wildbill]

May 9, 2008 7:00:56 GMT 1 raiden said:

Mona Lisa with a Paint Roller...

Really? This is what Dolk is coming out with? Another take on the Mona Lisa, but just this time she's holding a paint roller? There is no possible way anyone can make the case that this piece constitutes much original thought. Its rehash of the highest order.

I'm so disappointed.

I own "Officer Down." I love it. Good statement print. Anti-authority, witty. Above all original.

But now this?

Face it, this is a poor man's Nick Walker Moona Lisa. And of course Banksy already riffed on the Mona Lisa before that.

I gave Dolk a pass on "I Am Your Father" which I suspiciously found to be more of the same Star Wars riff. I was willing to chalk it up to Dolk being only coincidentally derivative. I mean seriously, RYCA and Eelus have done the Star Wars graff art motif to death... and even Pure Evil got into the act (with a print I must say, was just original enough to still like)

But this!!!

Come on, how many times must Dolk bite off the ideas of other artists before someone (i.e. me) raises the red flag that when it comes to his print work, Dolk is a pandering and (I'm going to go here) selling out.

Clearly he's choosing his print releases based on the popular value of other artists' releases.

Honestly, did he come up with idea falling off his chair after seeing Walker's Moona Lisa get astronomically overpaid for at Bonham's?

The only reason I still respect Dolk is that he knocked it out of the park at the Cans Festival. If he didn't possibly have the best piece outside of Banksy there, then I'd label him devoid of ideas. (though I did notice a bit of a Nick Walker influence with the girl with the multi-colored brushes)

My frustration is that obviously Dolk is exceptionally talented, just when it comes to some of his prints, its seeming likes he's worrying about selling out and getting the buzz, rather than just producing good work. Its like he doesn't trust his artistic instincts and instead has been releasing safe, cutesy schlock.

I can't believe that everyone else's first reaction upon seeing this wasn't "That's just like Walker and/or Banksy"

Maybe I'm totally off based, but I figured in typical crass, shrill American style, I'd put out what is on my mind.

Wow!!!

Back up off of Dolk bro!!!!!! I guess because you own officer down, your some expert and automatically know what his motivations are.

IF you don't like the print, thats cool man, its your opinion and you have the right to it, but please think before coming on here and slamming an "exceptionally talented" artist good name with blind accusations and assumptions.

He's a good artist with some funny ass images. You don't have to like them all.


What would say to him if he was sitting in front of you??


This print is based off of an old street piece Dolk did long before any Nick Walkers at Bonham's; so, how do you know what his motivations are for the order he releases his prints.




FYI..There was another artist who did a similar painting 500 years ago......arguably the most famous painting in history and therefore one of the most highly reproduced images.

Theres more to the art world than just Banksy, Nick Walker, and Dolk. Of course they're going to influence each other. Since you're so worried about how street art translates into prints.......Blek influenced Banksy and Banksy released the rat prints. Da vinci influenced Walker and Walker released Moona Lisa, Mona Simpson, Mona Simpson purple, Mona Simpson Black.......

What exactly makes Banksy or Nick Walkers interpretation any more original than Dolk's???

before you try to answer that, you should know that the question is rhetorical.

[mocksy]

I Think that whilst Mona Lisa has been used before, it will continue to be used for many many years, The same as Marilyn Monroe, Royalty and Country Leaders i.e. The Pope, Obama e.t.c. as they are iconic images which everyone recognises.

I also agree with others that this is the best Mona for some time!

The last two Dolk releases have been £90 for an edition of 250 added to the quality from HMP.......this makes them a real bargain in my opinion.

[killerkellah]

personally I think this image works better on the street, maybe its Dolks way of saying enough Mona pictures, time to paint over them?

Maybe he's right.

[Gentle Mental]

All art is borrowed.

he's not the first and will not be the last, what matters is, is this an interesting take on mona?

i think it is. in fact, i think it's a better take than moona (crass) and mona simpson (awkward), not nick's best.

[grantb]

May 9, 2008 8:53:46 GMT 1 killerkellah said:

personally I think this image works better on the street, maybe its Dolks way of saying enough Mona pictures, time to paint over them?

Maybe he's right.

YES THATS EXACTLY WHAT I THOUGHT !!!

[grantb]

well it has to mean that.

[mose]

May 9, 2008 7:00:56 GMT 1 raiden said:

Clearly he's choosing his print releases based on the popular value of other artists' releases.

Honestly, did he come up with idea falling off his chair after seeing Walker's Moona Lisa get astronomically overpaid for at Bonham's?

no and no.

[skitch]

He still has loads of great images to be turned into prints eg marathon runner etc
give him a break dude. this mona print will look fresh in the flesh.

[daz205]

i can remember this piece being on the street long before nick walkers bonhams moona craze and before nicks moona image was even released.

imo it is a stand against the removers of stencil art saying that they might be covering over the next mona lisa or in todays climate it could be against people painting over stencil art to remove it

either way i like it and will try to get one on release, would peoples minds change if it was a print of mona lisa with dolk hand finishing the rollered paint?

[Harveyn]

May 9, 2008 8:32:27 GMT 1 slacker said:

i have really liked this image since it first appeared on the street. it is not a new image that he has put together for a print.

you're getting caught up on the fact that mona lisa is in the image (presumably because it is probably the best known portrait in the world). how many other artists have done pictures of the subject painting over itself... that concept is original even if the subject is mona lisa.

this way better than the nick walker mona's in my opinion and i'll definitely be picking one up.

What Slacker said. Look past the image and into what it is trying to tell you. Simple but clever IMO.

[timba82]

May 9, 2008 7:20:12 GMT 1 Studiocromie said:

it's still better then any walker print with mona lisa.
imo

totally right

[bristolboy]

May 9, 2008 8:53:46 GMT 1 killerkellah said:

maybe its Dolks way of saying enough Mona pictures, time to paint over them?

Maybe he's right.

This is my interpretation too, the same with the 'Banana therapy' at the 'Cans' show. Bananas and monas file them next to bombs in the overused section.

[dog byte]

May 9, 2008 20:27:34 GMT 1 bristolboy said:

May 9, 2008 8:53:46 GMT 1 killerkellah said:

maybe its Dolks way of saying enough Mona pictures, time to paint over them?

Maybe he's right.

This is my interpretation too, the same with the 'Banana therapy' at the 'Cans' show. Bananas and monas file them next to bombs in the overused section.

this is how i took it also... i happen to be a fan of irony

[slowmo]

May 9, 2008 20:38:15 GMT 1 dog byte said:

May 9, 2008 20:27:34 GMT 1 bristolboy said:

This is my interpretation too, the same with the 'Banana therapy' at the 'Cans' show. Bananas and monas file them next to bombs in the overused section.

this is how i took it also... i happen to be a fan of irony

surely not, or it would be a hell of an oxymoron, certainly ironic when on a wall, but selling as a print? 'enough Mona based images.....by the way just buy this one saying enough of them'. Its weak as a print, tired and cliched, irrespective of when he originally done it on the streets, it will be May 2008 when he releases it for purchase and that makes a big difference in my mind. He has so many wicked images he could have released.

[etched]

'A work of art should go on its own power...so never trust reputations built by the engines of publicity'
Allan Stone(d)
(d) for dolk
(d) for d*face
(d) for drama

[robotoil]

Speaking of Monas, how about this latest from Rene Gagnon.
www.renegagnonfineart.com/rg_store_prints.html