INVURT

There is a huge swath of talent amongst Melbournes independent comic book artists, and you can always be sure that the works that they produce are cutting edge litanies. From the daily to the macabre, the fantastical to the conspiratorial, these artists take on all the challenges of communicating the foibles and fallacies of  our times.

Fleshtonez, the next upcoming group show at Paradise Hills, follows in this vein perfectly – though, not exactly in the way expected. Erotica is a definitive genre in our modern day, a ubiquitous element amongst the creative realm – and though not all artists focus on the genre solely, they will, surely, touch upon it at some stage in their creative journeys.

"FLESHTONEZ is an opportunity for eleven cutting-edge, Melbourne-based comic book artists to explore the erotic side of their practice. Free from the presumption that strong sexual content can demean the work, each artist can create their own unique take on erotica in contemporary graphic art.

Whether the result be playful, profound or disturbing, by doing so the artist has at once tapped into a rich vein of personal material and contributed to a broader discussion on sexuality, a more crucial facet than ever of the current zeitgeist."

By taking such artists as M P Fikaris, Katie Parrish, Michael Hawkins and the rest of the comic luminaries in Fleshtonez, and letting them run unfettered though their erotically charged imaginations curator Michael Hawkins may have just created a … okay, okay, I’ll avoid the bad puns, really grand show show – we’re really looking forward to seeing what work is up on the walls on the night!

I really made an effort to not mention my hopes for at least some suggestion of tentacle pr0n in this writeup. Ah. Shit.

Too late.

Who: Michael P Fikaris, Simon Hanselmann, Emily Hasselhoof, Michael Hawkins, HTML Flowers, Jnr Blue, Katie Parrish, Lee Lai, Elliot Lamb, David Mahler, Marc Pearson, Josephine Waite
What: Fleshtonez group show
Where: Paradise Hills, 8 Doonside St, Richmond, Melbourne VIC
When: Show opens Friday 31st May from pm til 10pm and runs for two weeks.

Check out the facebook event page as well as the Paradise Hills website for more info!

It’s no secret that we are some of aMBUSH Gallerys biggest fans – the amount of grand shit that they have done for artists over the years is priceless in its worthiness. One thing that we have always loved about aMBUSH is the fact that they play no favourites, and promote art and artists from the sheer love of it – there is no commercial gain behind it all, they’re a truly altruistic bunch of people.

In line with that, aMBUSH also grant exposure and the use of their space to both established artists, and the up and comers amongst the fold  – and their next group show, Visions From The Aether, promises a great glimpse of fresh faces and new directions.

"In Greek mythology, the god Aether represented the highest plane of heaven and the purest, lightest form of air that only Zeus could breathe. Throughout the development of early philosophical and scientific discourse, the concept of Aether was used metaphorically as an alternative and preferable explanation for the apparent ‘nothingness’ that filled vacant spaces. Aether represented a fifth element alongside those four that were tangible – Fire, Water, Earth and Air – and served as the foundation for scientific exploration of the propagation of electromagnetic radiation through space.

Today, as well as its use in scientists’ vernacular, the word ether refers to an imagined place beyond the earth’s atmosphere; elastic, intangible and comprising infinite potential for other-worldly manifestations. It is this – the allure of possibility in a realm unbound by the laws of physics – that the artists of Visions from the Ether explore in the multidisciplinary exhibition.

Comprising the work of Aaron Noakes, Dakota Gordon, David Crystalface, Jack Hammond, Mez, Nick Matthews, Oliver, Ox, Sebastian Grant, Slug and Tom Groves, Visions from the Ether is a collection of photographs, street art, digital works and pieces from other fine art media. The exhibition, which opens on Friday 17 May from 6 – 9pm, is spread across the two expansive spaces of aMBUSH Gallery and will launch with Oliver’s live jazz/hip hop production.  Complimentary ice cold Little Creatures Pale Ale beer will be served on the night.

Visions from the Ether is proudly presented by aMBUSH Gallery and launches on Friday 17 May 6 – 9pm and continues Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 May 12 – 4pm."

Head down to aMBUSH Gallery and check it all out for yourself this Friday night!

Who: Aaron Noakes, Dakota Gordon, David Crystalface, Jack Hammond, Mez, Nick Matthews, Oliver, Ox, Sebastian Grant, Slug and Tom Groves
What: Visions From The Ether solo show
Where: aMBUSH Gallery, 4a James Street, Waterloo (Sydney)
When: Friday 17 May, 6pm-9pm

Check out aMBUSH Gallery for more details on the show, as well as the facebook event page!

Something special for you today that I really wanted to share! After two and a half months travel in Central America (expect a whole bundle of Sojourn articles coming up from all across Mexico and Guatemala!) I arrived this week in NYC. As luck would have it, dynamos José Parlá and JR were having an opening tonight at Bryce Wolkowitz Gallery in Chelsea! Read on for the media release, to give you an idea of what it was all about …

"The Wrinkles of the City was started by JR in Cartagena, Spain and has been reprised in Shanghai, Los Angeles, and most recently, Havana. In 2012, JR and Parlá photographed and interviewed dozens of senior citizens who lived through the Cuban revolution, flyposting colossal black-and-white portraits of their subjects on the walls of city buildings. Parlá, who is of Cuban descent, interlaces the images with palimpsestic, calligraphic writings and color. In a city devoid of commercial imagery, JR and Parlá’s enormous yet intimate portraits offer a stunningly humane contrast to the endless repetition of political icons.

This exhibition will consist of twelve large portraits from the Havana iteration of The Wrinkles of the City project along with a site-specific installation."

Although it was mighty packed inside, there was some really great work on display – most of it imagery from the many walls they’d worked on – but there was one piece, was that "site specific installation", that I fucking loved …

Check out the pics from the opening below (excuse the not so grand shots, I’m not the worlds greatest photographer!) to give you an idea of how it all was – and check out all the pics of the work in the show here.

Way back in October, we brought you news of a new project that I’ve been working on with Jo Jette, a brand spanking new print magazine by the name of Damn It! Well, it’s done, printed and all ready to go – and we’re having a party to celebrate!!

Designer and Publisher Jo Jette has been working on the amazing Nothing To Nobody for a few years now, which, sadly, has just released its awesome final issue (Jo will be working on Damn It! from here on out!) This dynamo of a lady has crafted what I think is a stunning, collectable piece of visual beauty, and written a slew of grand articles. For myself, well, I’ve edited my ass off on this one, and if you’ve been reading Invurt for a while then you can expect a whole bunch of full feature articles from yours truly on artists from across the globe!

We’ve already released the magazine for purchase over the internet (go grab yourself a copy!), so now its time to invite you all to the launch!!

"Tired of the same old same old? Want to feel like you’re doing something positive when you shell out your hard earned cold cash for a magazine? Want value for money in a convenient bag size read? Then say hello to our little friend – DAMN IT!

DAMN IT! is a brand spankin’ new, biannual, 96 page, limited edition magazine run by Publisher & Designer Jo Jette (of Nothing to Nobody magazine), and Editor in Chief Fletcher Andersen (aka Facter, of online art webzine, Invurt). We put every cent we have into the publication, so that each issue will kick the can of the previous one.

Each issue we feature juicy articles on super talented peeps – illustrators, photographers, typographers, painters, writers, and other creative types as well as reporting on the more serious side of things from around the world.

We also shine a Bat-signal on some of the amazingly selfless work done by caring peeps setting up and running not-for-profits all round the world. We’re not afraid to put our money where our damn big mouths are, and we pledge to donate $0.50 from each copy of DAMN IT! sold to the not-for-profit we feature in that issue, which in our first ever issue is Skateistan, a not-for-profit set up to teach kids to skate in Afghanistan, Cambodia and Pakistan. Skatistan also teach journalism and art to their students, 40% of whom are girls.
Plus we’ve adopted a Polar Bear for our first issue to accompany our article on Polar Bears and Arctic conservation, but just wait ‘til you see what we are sponsoring for issue 2!!

Launching officially on 2 May at the Just Another Project Space in 153 Greville St, Prahran (Melbourne) from 6-9pm, and we’ll be giving away a Hamburger YoYo to everyone who attends. Yes, you heard us right – so join us for a drink!"

It’s a bittersweet feeling, knowing that the mag is being launched, and my not being able to actually attend the launch party! Lamentations aside, both Jo and I are stoked at how the mag has turned out, and we’re sure that you’ll all love this first issue (we hope!) – its been a long process and a lot of hard work, trial and trepidation, but its something we’re pretty proud of.

So, we’d love for you to al head on down to the launch party next Thursday – grab a mag, enjoy a read and let us know what you think!!! Massive thanks to the team at Just Another for letting us use their awesome Just Another Project Space for the launch, we couldn’t be happier with the venue!!

Don’t forget, that if you can’t make the launch, we have released the magazine for purchase over the internet here! We’re already deep into planning Issue #2 also, so your feedback is more than welcome – we also have extremely affordable advertising space available for full page ads in the next issue and beyond.

Massive thanks to everyone for all of their support, especially the artists and advertisers who are featured in the first issue!

Who: The first issue of Damn It! Magazine features articles on artists and creatives such as Lee Romao, Greg ‘Craola’ Simkins, Ken Taylor, Chris Peters, Poise, Adam Oehlers, Ink & Clog, Skateistan, Polar Bears of the Arctic, Naoto Hattori, Tom Hussey, and Hit+Run and some special artwork from Chris Hancock and Eleven, photography from Nicole Reed and much more.
What: Damn It! Magazine Launch Party
Where: Just Another Project Space, 153 Greville St, Prahran, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
When: Opening will be one night only, Thursday 2nd May 2013 from 6pm til 9pm!

Check out the facebook event page for ore info as well as the Damn It! Magazine website!

Since returning to Melbourne after spending some time up in Brisbane and overseas, Shida has been killing it. His street work is looking super fresh. I’m loving the bright colours and his sharp lines which are his signature style. Shida’s latest show “Ecstasy in the Abyss” is opening on Friday the 19th of April and running until May 5th at Backwoods Gallery, Collingwood. Make sure you get to this.

From the press release -

“The inherent desire for order over chaos – for categories and labels – is rife in the art world, and as a result, street art is often condensed into subgenres.  Shida’s art is testament to the fact that you cannot and should not categorise street art – his vibrant, fractal-based work is part of an ever-evolving mythos that flows continuously across manifold mediums.

Deities emerge from fathomless depths in a climax of luminous colour, as Shida summons the spirits of a parallel dimension. He weaves an epic visual mythology through his art, as the towering incarnations that he paints across city walls envelop onlookers. The exact nature of Shida’s work is hard to define; yet his imagery is unwaveringly distinct, poetic and evocative. His anamorphic creatures, like nature itself, are tempestuous and unpredictable, evoking feelings of vulnerability, sexuality and perhaps even utopia.

When viewed from the street, the sheer scale of Shida’s art places emphasis on bodily presence. These larger-than-life, otherworldly beings reflect the dynamics of intimacy and physicality in their gestures. Shida’s name is eponymous with meticulous line-work, rapid movement and extreme colour contrasts, and he draws on these techniques to foreground socio-sexual aspects of the body. Painted across water towers and multi-storey buildings, his creatures laugh ecstatically as they embrace, their vast, naked limbs spread wide in ecstasy or carefully intertwined in acts of affection and lust.

Ecstasy in the Abyss is a showcase of the pivotal influence that Shida has had over the Australian street art scene. At twenty-three years of age, Shida has established himself as an ambitious innovator, returning to Melbourne after a world tour that spanned four continents. Shida participated in the Galeria Urban Forms large format street project in Łódź, Poland in 2012, where he painted a five-storey mural over twelve days. He has also been involved in multi-storey mural projects in Phuket, Chicago, Berlin, Vienna, Brisbane, Melbourne and the Gold Coast - Chloe Sugden”.

Ecstasy in the Abyss from Shida ZRF on Vimeo.

Check out some of his latest street work and some previews of the show below.

Shida – Ecstasy in the Abyss – Preview

Shida – Ecstasy in the Abyss – Preview

Shida – Hosier lane – Photo by David Russell

Shida – Ecstasy in the Abyss – Flyer

Who: Shida

What: Ecstasy in the Abyss

Where: Backwoods Gallery – 25 Easey St, Collingwood.

When: Opening Friday April 19th from 6-9pm and runs until the 5th of May.

Facebook event page here.

We missed the debut show from Factotum, the latest crew of cool creativity to join the Sydney scene, back in January – but we got word of this show in the nick of time, and damn it does look pretty cool!

“The Rum Diaries” is a group exhibition, featuring established and emerging local street
and contemporary artists. A nod to the drink it self and the island culture it’s synonymous
with.

The show will include a collection of old rum bottles, hand painted by the artists, each with
their own unique interpretation of the theme."

Well, they also have The Hills Cider Company, Sailor Jerry, El Camino Events as sponsors, so theres plent of rum, cider and good times ahead!

Welcome Factotum, nice to see such a great lineup for a cool group show – we’re looking forward to seeing a bunch more from these guys in the future!

Who: Phibs, Jesse Brockis, Mulga, Hules. Jess Bush, Opensesame, Jerry Washington, Brodie McLennan, Oricks
What: The Rum Diaries Group Show
Where: Factotum – Basement 76 Oxford Street, Paddington, Sydney
When: 6pm – 10pm on Thursday 28th February (gallery open 1st – 3rd March)

Check out the facebook event page for more info!

Last year saw a great collection of artists at GTNBZY, and this year is no exception – we’ll let the press release do the talking!

"It’s Fringe season again and GTNBZY is back with their next ‘Fringe Dwellers’ group art exhibition and music showcase – ‘Outside the Box’. Upstairs at the Light Hotel on Saturday the 2nd of March, ‘Outside the Box’ combines visual art with the local hip hop scene and will showcase fourteen exhibiting visual artists, two live visual artists and seven of Adelaide’s emerging hip hop acts.

A varied collection of artwork, all following the ‘Outside the Box’ theme of creativity will be displayed from 7pm, featuring artists Alex Gilchrist, Jelena Vujnovic, Dabman, Dan Adams, Donovan Christie, Fletch, Joel Sanders, Josh Muller, JPEG, Kevin Rumbelow, Luke Trevorrow, Munki, Nick Strutton and Pip Cocciolone. As a part of the exhibition Dan Adams is exhibiting his own custom vinyl toys which will be painted by each artist, and local art heavyweights Donovan Christie and Luke Trevorrow will also be providing a live painting demonstration using aerosol and acrylic mediums on the balcony outside during the exhibition, courtesy of Clinic 116. Entry to the exhibition is free before 8pm, and $10 from 8pm onwards.

Following the exhibition, ‘Outside the Box’ will transform from art-space to music venue, showcasing a broad and talented collection of local Adelaide performers. As well as performing, 2011 Hilltop Hoods Initiative winner Koolta will host the night alongside The Kid, with additional performances from Til the Break, Foreign Correspondence and Elapsed Time. DJ’s Chaps and Antrax will round out the night on the decks."

Looks like another great event from a great crew, who have a lot of experience in putting on some fine assed art events! Head down and see it for ourselves next week!

Who: Alex Gilchrist, Jelena Vujnovic, Dabman, Dan Adams, Donovan Christie, Fletch, Joel Sanders, Josh Muller, JPEG, Kevin Rumbelow, Luke Trevorrow, Munki, Nick Strutton and Pip Cocciolone
What: GTNBZY Outside The Box Group show & Event
Where:  The Light Hotel, Adelaide
When: Saturday the 2nd of March from 6pm, entry to the exhibition is free before 8pm, and $10 from 8pm onwards.

Check out the facebook event page here.

Almost missed this one, apologies as it looks absolutely mad! Some of Melbournes finest will be getting together tonight to put on Animal Styles – a great charity show in support  of the WSPA Wildlife Society.

All you have to do is take a brief look through the list of artists to know that this will be absolute quality – and with hand painted bird boxes, planters and animal inspired artworks, you know you’ll get something unique whilst supporting a great cause!

Head down to 143 Johnson St in Collingwood tonight to check it all out!

Who: Toots Mcgee, Tiws, Tisk, Sofles, Stopem, Silk Roy, Sear, S4beth, Ruby Gaile, Putos, Pornograffixxx, Makatron, Jorz, Jack Douglas, Gent 4, Flint, Dvate, Duke, Dubiz, Doodle, Danny Young, Cam Scale, Armed KSA
What: Animal Style group show
Where: 143 Johnston St, Collingowood
When: Show opens Friday 15th February 2013, from 6pm til 9pm – show runs for only Saturday and Sunday from 11am til 5pm!

Friday night saw us head down to Egg Gallery to see Be Free & Erin Greer put on a great show with Monster and the Girl – so great that it was sold out within a very short amount of time, from all accounts!

Thanks again to Dave Russell for all the snaps from the show, enjoy …

After having interviewed George Diamandis the other week, we were excited to see what he had been up to with this show and, damn, we love what we see in these pics! David Russell got down to House Of Bricks to check it all out for us as I was away, but I wish I could have seen them with our own eyes – those of you who did, you lucky buggers.

If you didn’t see it, you missed out just as badly as I did – so check out the photos below!!

One man who continues to make us love art on a wall, is Shida. Over the years we’ve been following him, Shidas work has gone from strength to strength, and every new piece he puts up is grander than the last.

Just as grand though, is when he puts on an exhibition – and, with this one, it looks like he’s going to be pulling out some almightily cool stops at Brisbanes Blake House gallery.

"In early 2012 Brisbane artist Shida embarked on an international tour determined to make his mark on the world’s street art scene. Painting monumental murals in his signature dynamic style he collaborated with some of the most talented street artists across the globe. A gestural climax of colour and ecstatic line surges through his mystifying imagery, allowing viewers a glimpse of a sublime, pulsating paradise. Shida has ignited his career with local and international acclaim; his ongoing success in the art world is testament to his relentless creative spirit.

Shida’s signature style transitions from the street to the gallery for a series of shows across the world, beginning in his home town of Brisbane Australia.

Blake House Gallery will play host to an all encompassing show featuring refined paintings, sculpture and conceptual installations.

The “Spirits” exhibit will Throughout 2013 Shida will continue to tour the world with his works being shown in some of the most highly regarded contemporary and modern art galleries in both group and solo shows. With such a unique and memorable style, an unrivalled passion for creating and a fresh view on what defines street art his name will begin to spread farther than ever."

Head down and check it all out – a Shida show is not to be missed, ever. Here‘s a little preview from the video he just released for the show …

Spirits from Shida ZRF on Vimeo.

Who: Shida
What: Spirits solo show
Where: Blake House Gallery, 35 Adelaide St, Brisbane
When: Show opens Friday February 1st from 6pm til 9pm and runs til 9th February

Check out Shida at his website, or the facebook event page

Without a doubt, Melbourne street art would not be what it is without the talented Drewfunks work adorning our walls.

Over the past ten years, Drew has produced a massive body of work – both on the walls, and in the gallery. His style is instantly recognisable, his fusion of Western and Asian culture pervading its presence. Now, Drew is taking that work and placing it into a book for all to enjoy – and its a must have for anyone interested in both Drews work, and Australian art in general.

“Drewfunk & No Vacancy Gallery QV are proud to present the launch of Oriental Funk, the debut self publication by Drewfunk.

Oriental Funk follows the creative evolution of Drewfunk and his work over a ten year period from 2002-2012, documenting his work from the streets to the studio and everything in between.

Join us on Friday 18 January from 6pm – 9pm for the official book launch and signing, as well as an exhibition of new and old works.”

Amongst the show, will be an installations, and whole heap of news work, as well as hidden gems from Drews archive showing a snapshot of his works progress over the past decade.

Seriously can’t wait for this one, its going to be epically good – and can’t wait to get our hands on the book!!

Who: Drewfunk
What: Oriental Funk Book Launch & Exhibition
Where: No Vacancy Gallery QV, 34–40 Jane Bell Ln, Melbourne
When: Shoe opens Friday 18th January, from 6pm til 9pm and runs til January 27th

Check out Drews website, as well as the facebook event page for more info on the whole shabang!

Well, we know this one is a little late, but things have been way too hectic lately as we go into the Xmas period – apologies.

The other week we were invited to The Peoples Market grand opening – since then its been in full swing, with a huge variety of art, music and events happening down at this amazing temporary space. If you haven’t been down there just yet, then you should go and check it all out – theres something new and unique every weekend.

Dave Russell got down there whilst they were preparing for it – getting the containers in place and watching Meggs and Rone doing the amazing feature wall, and we also got a few shots from the opening, and all the artwork about the place – theres plenty of it!

If you haven’t been down there yet, you’re really missing out!

When artists come together to donate work and raise money for charity it always warms our hearts. Relatively new Sydney gallery, He Made She Made, put on an excellent group show of work from nationally and internationally renowned artists of differing genres. The cause, the Dandelion Support Newtork – an organisation that provides baby equipment for less fortunate families in NSW and ACT. 26 artists took one letter of the alphabet and reconstructed it with their creative flair, they included Will Lynes, Numskull, Luke Lucas, Paul McNeil, Greedy Hen and Jeff Rogers.

Soldiers Rd, which opened earlier this year, has already had some of our favourite shows and put some damn fine artwork up on the walls. Now, in the leadup to Xmas, the gallery gathers together a whole bunch of exciting artists to transform the simple cardboard medium into works of art – at an amazingly affordable price, as well!

“Cardboard city offers up 25 Australian artists, from the up and coming to the super experienced, practicing photography, fine art, street art and everything in between in one room for one night only.

Each artist will exhibit 10 pieces, on cardboard at $100 a pop. With those the only restrictions expect diversity, ingenuity, and a whole load of cardboard in the explosion of works set to fill every nook and cranny of Soldiers Rd on Thursday December 13th.

Works are expected to fly off the walls so get in early to grab a piece from your favourite artist without having to pawn your bike to pay the bills!”

We love cardboard!! Twenty five by ten – thats two hundred and fifty works of art all for under a hundred bucks each – and damn if we dont want some of that!

It only runs for the night, so theres only one chance to see it all. Head down to Soliders Rd Gallery this Thursday to see it all for yourself, and grab yourself some work from these awesome artists.

Who: Ears, Bennet, Mark Alsweiler, Max Berry, Numskull, Phibs, Jumbo, Bridge Stehli, Tom Ferson, SMC, Houl, Bafcat, Birdhat, Joe Wilson, Chanelle Collier, Ella Condon, Syke, Benjamin Reeve, Claire Nakazawa, Choq, Tim Andrew, Kaffeine, Michael Hazel, Mim Fluhrer, Sid Tapia
What: Cardboard City group show
Where: Soldiers Rd Gallery, Suite 405, 342 Elizabeth St, Surry Hills, Sydney
When: Show opens Thursday 13th December from 6pm til 9pm, for ONE NIGHT ONLY!

Check out the facebook event page for more info on this show, as well as the Soldiers Rd Gallery website.

It’s a day of photos here, and what better way to end up the week than with a catchup on everything that has been happening over the past two weeks?

Mike Makatron, what can we say? The man is fkn talented, and his show proved to be everything we had thought it would be. Infused with beautiful eco-centric and mutable imagery, Cycles was another show that proves how versatile he is as an artist. From the resin painted bees to the bright, new world visages and creatures, House of Bricks was filled was so much shit we loved that.

Check out all the images from the show below – thanks once again to Dave Russell for all the shots.