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Rare and previously unseen contemporary originals and prints by Banksy, arguably the world’s most famous street and stencil artist, will be the highlight of an exhibition entitled LOVE ART which takes place at Hong Kong Arts Centre from 23-28 April. This rare exhibition will then move to Schoeni Art Gallery in Old Bailey St, Central where it can be seen from 29th April til May 13th. In this second showing, Bankys’s eponymous pieces from LOVE ART will be enhanced by additional unique examples of his work. After May 13th, the exhibits will be available for private viewing for a further few weeks. LOVE ART, curated by local contemporary art expert, Fabrik Contemporary Art, is the result of a successful collaboration with Helium Foundation, a unique art buying service that aids clients who are in need of guidance when looking to build a contemporary art collection. Banksy, whose works can be seen globally, from the streets of London to the West Bank, has taken the art world by storm with his guerilla tactics using stenciled spray paint. His critically acclaimed and highly prized art is often compared with the work of Andy Warhol, as both explored topics depicting fame and celebrity. Regarded these days as “the new Damien Hirst”, his works are definitely a reflection of art that is now, real and accessible. The LOVE ART exhibition will include original works and prints by Banksy, such as policemen with smiley faces, rats with drills, monkeys with weapons of mass destruction and little girls cuddling up to missiles. His messages are reminiscent of early Haring and Basquiat in the 80s, signifying the dénouement of “pickled sharks” and sheep in vitrine. This is shown in his screenprint in 2005 entitled Kate¬, an inspiration from Warhol’s 1963 print of Marilyn Monroe. Other works on show at LOVE ART include pieces by Robert Indiana, Damien Hirst, Keith Haring, Romero Britto and Mel Ramos from Fabrik’s private collection. The show is divided into two themes; one based on the influence of modern day pop culture and the second on “street art”. Some of Damien Hirst’s early pieces - for example Untitled Rocks - will be shown alongside The Book of Love by Robert Indiana which is a series of colors and poetry as a nod to pop art’s roots in graphic imagery by ways of deliberate repetition. Mel Ramos, on the other hand, exaggerates this by using women as objects of desire - almost tasteless kitsch, ironic and fun but empowering. Romero Britto Is another example - highly influenced by pop culture, bold in his compositions, with his works depicting his native Brazil. Keith Haring whose Silence = Death is a perfect example of his pictorial metaphors - subjects that deal with power and threat, death and deliverance, religion, sexuality, heaven and hell. His works are seminal to the street art movement. Love Art Exhibtion
23 – 28 April 2008, 10am – 8pm
Hong Kong Arts Centre, Wanchai, Hong Kong Schoeni Art Gallery
Banksy Solo Exhibtion
Vernissage: 6:30pm – 8:30pm, 29TH April 2008
Exhibition: 30 April – 13 May 2008
Venue: Main Gallery 21-31 Old Bailey Street, Central, Hong Kong (information provided by the pr company)
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