Dutch artist Boris Tellegen, better known as Delta (www.deltainc.nl), is a perfect example of a logical evolution from his origins as a pioneer in European Graffiti in the 80s until now. He’s currently a worlwide known visual artist busy in many different fields such as illustraion, graphic design, painting, architecture… He designed a series of 6 toys for Sony Creative Products in Japan a few years ago, consisting of the letters in his name and the word INC (his own brand). And more recently he also did some collaboration for the Be@rbrick series but this new toy, Radar, it’s his first proper toy produced by himself. Only 200 have been produced worldwide in each colourway. The vinyl figure, resembling a robot, is about 22 cm tall and it’s built out of the letters in RADAR. When Delta sent us the first pics a few months ago of the prototype for this figure he mentioned that this would be the first in a series of figures made out of the letters of different words such as “turbo” or “ultra” but so far we’ve only seen images of another similar figure, a beautiful wood prototype for a robotic-like figure with the letters in DELTA.
We have just received these figures and are available as long as stock last in Subaquatica and also online here at our online shop.
January 16th, 2007 08:50pm
Administrador
You have to catch the train at King’s Cross Station and get out in Newcastle Central Station. During the three hours that takes to get there, I reach the conclusion that I only know two things about Newcastle: its football club and the Baltic Mill Museum. What’s there to see? One thing: Spank the Monkey, the biggest urban art exhibition of the year.
There’s no way you can ignore Spank the Monkey (www.spankthemonkey.uk.net)after Beautiful Losers. It’s its natural progression. A mature version of something that is now impossible to turn your back to, something that you can no longer think is an “expression” from a lost youth. Urban art is not about the Graffiti made in the 80’s and it doesn’t have to be related to the Hip Hop movement. It’s a way of thinking, so close to the popular, to the everyday life, that makes it somewhat difficult to call it art.
Two well-known names deal with so many taboos: Peter Doroshenko and Pedro Alonzo, the curators of this show. It’s not the first time that they try to introduce urban art into the institutional art world. During ARCO’s last edition they were well into it. I imagine that they don’t see why museum art has to be complicated or only for VIP people. Maybe that’s why they decided to bring a half pipe inside museum walls, to invite a whole new culture, the street culture, to enter and play the game of the “artistically correct”. If you can’t beat them you might as well join them…
So, I have to go up to the 4th floor. The glass elevator lifts me almost to heaven and presents me with an overall view of Newcastle. Impressive. The doors open and I’m instantly reminded of the purpose of my visit. The first feeling is of pure impact. Behind Groovisions’ half pipe I find the bright red letters that I was longing to see, Barry McGee’s truck was there. This thing looks good. Four artists fill the gigantic 4th floor, there’s no given route, and instead I find myself with total freedom to choose my way. There’s space to breed, there’s time to take the most out of each artist. Four artists to start with are more than enough, and then again maybe not…
Groovisions
Groovisions half pipe is the central piece to make the public feel at ease, and shows that there’s many ways to enjoy an exhibition: you can and should skate on the half pipe, you must look inside Barry McGee’s truck, and you will be circling every column of the room searching for Faile’s well known details. Instantly the space fills itself up, and the public mingles and communicates with the actual oeuvres. There’s a lot of hidden information, there’s so much to be said. Getting back to the elevator I turn my head to once again be stroked by the visual strength of the 4th floor. Only one doubt comes to my mind: “One wall would have been enough for Faile. Why two?” Neasden Control Centre divides itself between the 4th and the 3rd floor and so accompanies me while I change from light to darkness.
Barry McGee
Day becomes night and I enter the second part of the show finding that there’s much more to be seen, and that it’s never to late to be surprised. If this was a contest then Kozyndan, Aya Takano and Takashi Murakami would have won the first prize. And a smile comes to my face while entering inside Os Gemeos giant box installation. One even might say:” Home small home”. Ed Templeton, Ryan McGiness and Shepard Fairey could have been guests of honor, for these beautiful losers are one generation above. The Americans turn classical while Bansky goes one step further.
Os Gemeos
Ayo Takano
Spank the Monkey is everywhere in Newcastle and, between Americans, Europeans and Japanese, insist in making its public run wild. Many interventions were made in the city so one has to search and find the marks made by urban heroes also to be known as contemporary artists. The boundaries are becoming more and more invisible; let’s see who is still resisting. David Shrigley, one more surprise, made a big sign on the outer wall of the Baltic saying: “ You cannot help looking at this”. With that single sentence, Shrigley says it all. It’s impossible to keep ignoring the facts. It’s only natural. Let’s see who comes next.
Newcastle, it was my pleasure!
Text by: Ana Neto
January 16th, 2007 04:01pm
Administrador
