Stik solo show at Graffik
October
6th-20th 2011
As one of London’s most established and celebrated street
artists, Stik continues to bless our streets with his unique, hyper-minimalist
stick characters. Deceptively simple in form these striking images hold a
hidden depth of subtlety which reveals itself long after the initial impact. Using
only six lines and dots for eyes Stik gracefully evokes a frailty which
transcends the stark form of his iconic work. He draws from the tradition of
the logo but imbues it with something imperceptible, striking straight to the
centre of the brain with a hidden message that will keep you guessing. Untrained,
he draws purely from life experience exploring gender, sexuality, social status
and the darker side of city life but manages to elevate these themes through
the elegance of their execution.
Stik is invited to paint across Europe and lectures about
the importance of street art in social change. In a notorious move, he recently made sketches on the front
line of the U.K. riots provoking mixed reactions from both press, rioters and
the police when he reproduced the image as a mural in the aftermath. As
unofficial social commentator Stik maintains he is not breaking the law but
changing it.
Graffik Gallery curate Stik’s fourth and final solo show of
2011, a vibrant culmination of his creative processes. Unusually for Stik who
is usually a solo artist, the elements that dominate the gallery are the result
of muti-media collaborations in
industrial neon, traditional stained glass and machined timber. These are
counteracted by Stik’s own epic “Crowd” and “Family” canvases reflecting on
recent unrest within the context of tribal unity.
Graffik are proud to launch his long awaited, limited edition
print; “Lovers” produced by Squarity.
Stik will be painting live at the opening.
The show runs from 6th-20th October at
Graffik Gallery, 284 Portobello Road, W10 5TE.
Nearest tube
Ladbroke Grove. (6th Oct private view)
