10/11/2011
Malarky, Billy, Lucas and Mr Penfold
Tony's, London
Neo Cosmo. The exhibition features individual works by each artist as well collaborative works created as a result of the ongoing dialogue between them.
Tony’s is pleased to present “Neo Cosmo” a group exhibition featuring works by Malarky, Billy, Lucas and Mr Penfold.
The four artists united in this exhibition have been collaborating together outside of the gallery walls and onto the streets of London, Barcelona, Berlin and Italy, in recent months. Their love to paint on a large scale and their often impromptu and spontaneous teamwork has enabled them to make their mark on our urban landscape – and bringing together unique styles into a symbiotic street work where the interactions between one another are clear. Their brash colours, bold and clear-cut subjects and expressionistic characters convey an optimism and light-heartedness accessible to all.
The street art movement has evolved into new genres and these artists see their work as revisiting the origins of the art form and aim to brighten up and enhance the environment we live in.
The exhibition will feature individual works by each artist as well collaborative works created as a result of the ongoing dialogue between them. Malarky has been in studio residence at Tony’s over the past few months with the gallery becoming the meeting place for the four artists’ spearheaded actions in the area.
Malarky spends his time between Barcelona and London and paints joyful pieces very much defined by the exuberance and festive fever brought in from the Catalan region. His brightly coloured characters of various patterns and textures brighten up the East End streets where creatures such as foxes, cats, robots and bats, punctuate and morph within the landscape. Malarky’s foxes in particular relate back to the notion of painting on shutters as well as street artists and the way that these animals, similarly to shutters and street artists, hide away during the day to reappear at night time.
Malarky’s most impressive mural round the corner on Redchurch Street entitled “Malarkistani Riots” refers back to the riots of this summer – this fifty foot long frieze portrays a parade of the artist’s most characteristic characters with big carnival heads, and their little stripy legs visible, running along underneath.
Lucas’ work has been influenced by growing up in Belfast, and seeing how graffiti and murals can be used to convey powerful messages. Despite using the same process, Lucas’ message however is more light-hearted and through painting shop shutters and walls, he intends to create a more positive environment. “You can really capture people’s attention when injecting colour into public space”. Lucas’ work is influenced by pop culture with particular references to skateboard graphics, record covers and comics coupled with his interest in fine art which he has developed further with his recent BA (?) in Sculpture from Camberwell University.
Growing up under three elder, creative brothers and artistic parents, Mr Penfold has always had a pen or brush in his hand. After leaving school at 16, he worked in a skate shop where he became obsessed with skate stickers and branding. It was at this time that he was drawn back towards graffiti and street art. At the age of 18 he started working in a pub were he observed the regulars and started to draw them to pass the time. Many of the characters and features present in his work today partly originate from this period. Mr Penfold is currently working as an artist and screen printer living in Cambridge.
Billy is a British artist currently living and working in Berlin. Having spent some years in South Africa as a teenager, Billy’s work is clearly inspired by traditional and contemporary African and tribal culture. The distinctive shapes, colours, characters and symbols in Billy’s work are defined by an illustrative background and an interest in typography. From digital illustrations and animations to large outdoor wall murals, the adaptability of Billy’s work ensures that the distinctive style can be seen across a range of media in all shapes and sizes.
Opening: Thursday 10 November 6-9pm
RSPV for the opening is essential – For RSPV contact info@tonysgallery.com
Tony’s
68 Sclater st London
Hours: wednesday-sunday 11-18 and by appointment
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