Whitewashed

by Barbara Hodgson, The Journal

A look at ground-breaking work of urban artists

EVER since Banksy’s in-your-face talent catapulted graffiti into the arena of art, an aerosol can has been as creatively acceptable as a paint brush.

Now a Newcastle gallery is doing its bit for the urban artist with a new exhibition broadcasting some of the biggest names in the world of spray cans and stencils.

Whitewashed will run at Opus gallery in Gosforth until September 8. And among those showing their work is North East talent Hush.

The up and coming artist will be exhibiting alongside well-known figures such as stencil artist Jef Aerosol and cult urban collective The London Police.

Gallery manager Anna Borlinghaus said: “It’s a great coup for us to have so many leading urban artists showing at the gallery.

“Urban art has come such a long way in recent years. Not so long ago, street art was associated with vandalism. But, thanks to the talents of artists like these, it’s finally starting to cross over into the mainstream. ”

Newcastle-born Hush gave up work in Hong Kong and the US as a designer for toy companies to turn to painting.

Over the past year he’s become hugely popular, with his prints and originals selling faster than he can produce them.

Joining him on his home turf is Jef Aerosol, who displayed work at the Cans Festival in a disused road tunnel in London – turned into a giant exhibition space by Banksy.

Jef Aerosol has been described as one of the godfathers of modern graffiti.

His first UK solo show was in London last year and this is the first time he has exhibited in Newcastle.

The London Police are also big names, having notched up 10 years of urban art, during which they have sprayed their simple but eye-catching characters on walls from New York to Tokyo. The three Londoners, who began in Amsterdam, say they are keen to use the world as an art gallery, and their ‘canvasses’ have ranged from electricity boxes to basketball courts.

Other exhibitors at Opus are C215, a French stencil artist; London-born Pure Evil; Oliver Winconek; and Korean-born David Choong Lee who moved to the US to become a traditional fine artist before discovering urban art and hip-hop culture and exploring mixed media, sculpture and graphic design.

With his influences including Van Gogh and Rembrandt, his diverse style encompasses graffiti, collage, portrait, graphics and life painting.

To mark the opening of the exhibition, the roof terrace of Secco restaurant in Newcastle was painted with graffiti art.

:: Whitewashed at Opus gallery in West Avenue, Gosforth, until September 8.