Invader, Artist :: 120 Seconds
The ingenious French artist Invader, describes the reasons behind the "Top 10" albums, whose covers he recreates with Rubik's Cubes and also inspired his latest exhibit by the same name.
The ingenious French artist Invader, describes the reasons behind the "Top 10" albums, whose covers he recreates with Rubik's Cubes and also inspired his latest exhibit by the same name.
Invader, Artist :: 120 Seconds from friendswelove.com on Vimeo.
About Invader: Invader’s work illustrates the overwhelming effect technology has had on contemporary culture while also critiquing it, using the ancient and traditional technique of mosaics to simulate digital pixels. Referencing the 1978 Atari video game, the artist began placing mosaics featuring Space Invaders on the streets of Paris in the late 1990s. Joined by Pac Man ghosts and other popular 8-bit characters, the works soon became a familiar sight to encounter in any urban environment. Invader’s usage of tile to create street art, rather than paint or stencil, is not only a unique choice of medium—it also emphasizes his commentary of how digital information networks have affected and transformed our society. Sightings of the work have spread over the last ten years on a global scale as the artist continues invading public spaces across five continents. Currently, Invader’s work can be found on the streets of over forty cities, worldwide. - Via Jonathan LeVine Gallery
About Top 10 Exhibit at Jonathan LeVine Gallery:
Jonathan LeVine Gallery is pleased to present Top 10, a solo exhibition of new works by the Parisian street artist known as Invader. Returning to the gallery for his first solo show in New York, Top 10 marks a highly anticipated event for this internationally celebrated artist. Known for using mosaic tiles to re-create popular characters from vintage 8-bit video games (such as Space Invaders and Pac-Man) on the streets of cities around the world, the artist’s individual mosaics are carefully cataloged after placement in context to their surrounding environment. Yet, since the project has grown on a global-scale, each piece also carries considerable significance from a larger perspective—populating what is now a worldwide installation that stretches across the planet. Invader’s mosaics can be found on the streets of over 40 cities, on all five (inhabitable) continents. Like the game, his mission is literally an invasion of (public) space.
Top 10 introduces a new series of original two and three-dimensional works featuring the artist’s signature pixel-based aesthetic, created in mediums such as mosaic tile and rubik’s cubes, which clearly translate the concept of pixilation (the division of visual information in digital format). Invader is the first artist to bring pixels to life, both in the physical world and in the art world. Echoing the neo-Impressionist painting technique of pointillism, with a contemporary voice, his evolved methods bring the composite image concept into the digital age. The show title Top 10 references popular music, as the artist has selected what he believes are the top ten album covers of his generation as subjects for re-interpretation using his own innovative technique of Rubikcubism. The term Rubikcubism is used to describe an art movement of which Invader is believed to be the originator, using Rubik’s Cubes (a 3-D mechanical puzzle game popular in the 1980’s). This exhibition also includes large-scale mixed-media sculptures in bright primary colors and a video installation of projected time-lapse footage, which reveals the geometric complexity of the artist’s incredible process in creating pieces in this show. - Via Jonathan LeVine Gallery
Jonathan LeVine, Gallerist :: 120 Seconds
Chelsea gallerist, Jonathan LeVine recounts a funny story of going to a rock show of comeback bands, being backstage and the hierarchies of tour buses.
Chelsea gallerist, Jonathan LeVine recounts a funny story of going to a rock show of comeback bands, being backstage and the hierarchies of tour buses.
Jonathan LeVine, Gallerist :: 120 Seconds from friendswelove.com on Vimeo.
About Jonathan:
As a youth in the 1980s, LeVine recognized the appeal of countercultural aesthetics including punk flyers, comics, graffiti and tattoos. Beginning in 1994, LeVine became an independent curator, organizing exhibitions at punk and alternative rock venues in the NY/NJ area such as: CBGB, Webster Hall, Max Fish, and Maxwell's. By promoting these visual art forms through group shows in venues that were home to their musical counterparts, LeVine gave a home to this nascent art movement, early on.
In February 2001, LeVine opened his own gallery Tin Man Alley in New Hope, Pennsylvania. The gallery relocated to Philadelphia in late 2002. In January 2005, LeVine renamed and moved his gallery to the epicenter of the contemporary art world, Manhattan's Chelsea district.
Jonathan LeVine is pleased to continue cultivating new and long-standing relationships with featured artists and active collectors through his program at the gallery, participating in art fairs, and presenting special exhibitions in International locations.
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Gary Taxali, Artist :: 120 Seconds
Toronto-based artist, Gary Taxali talks about Bollywood films, the reoccurring "hero" role and their influence on his life and work.
Toronto-based artist, Gary Taxali talks about Bollywood films, the reoccurring "hero" role and their influence on his life and work.
Gary Taxali, Artist :: 120 Seconds from friendswelove.com on Vimeo.
About Gary:
Gary Taxali was born in Chandigarh, India in 1968. A year later, he and his family emigrated to Toronto, Canada. In 1991, Gary graduated from The Ontario College of Art and immediately began working as a professional illustrator. His illustrations have appeared in many national magazines, public transit ads, greeting cards, TV commercials, wine labels, CD covers, etc., in addition to numerous other projects for design firms, advertising agencies and web sites. Gary shows his work extensively in various exhibitions and galleries throughout North America including The La Luz de Jesus Gallery in Los Angeles. In addition to this, a portion of his time is devoted to lecturing and teaching illustration at various art schools such as Sheridan College and The Ontario College of Art and Design. Gary is a Founding Member of IPA (Illustrators' Partnership of America). He is also the co-founder of the creative consortium Picture Mechanics that is comprised of 40 of the top illustrators in the industry.
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