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!

Admittedly, this is the first time we have heard of Skount – for which I am actually slightly dismayed – because his work both in the gallery, as well as out on the streets, is fucking rad.

That bastion of brand spanking cool in Sydney, The Tate, will be playing host to this Spanish artist tomorrow night for his first Australian show – "Fragments Of Mythological Dreams", and it looks like an amazing show.

“Dreams are not just messages (coded messages, at that), but are also an aesthetic activity, a game of the imagination that has its own value. Dreams are proof that fantasies – emotional immersion in the visualization of events that have never and may never occur – are one of the profoundest necessities for human life. The characters that come from my imagination are my own possibilities, those that never came to bear, or those still on my horizon.” – Skount

Inspired by the classical Spanish theatre of his hometown, Skount’s oneiric masked characters beckon the viewer from the urban environment into their mysterious and playful dreamscapes. The great playwrights of Skount’s youth formed a lasting impression, where he regards life as a wonderful play, in which everyone has a role. Driven by the fundamental desire to free his own mind, Skount’s creativity knows no bounds. With a background in graffiti, his artistic expression spans paint, paper, music and performance, to video art, sculpture, and installation. Skount’s irrepressible curiosity for other cultures has inspired him to travel and study different forms of creativity and traditions around the world. Currently based in Amsterdam, Skount has worked and exhibited throughout Spain, Europe, China, Mexico, Israel and the United States.

Now for the first time in Australia, The Hours presents ‘Fragments of Mythological Dreams’, an exhibition of new paintings and installation by Skount. In this exhibition, inspired by Ancient Greek myths and legends, Skount presents a reality, drawing a relatively cohesive oneiric spectrum with mythology. Recounting a pictorial discourse by which we enter into a world of dreams, created to explain the universe, the origin of the world, natural phenomena and anything for which there is no simple explanation. Through this new body of work on canvas and paper, Skount investigates this complex philosophical world full of arguments about the nature, properties, causes and effects of natural things, especially the human being and the universe."

Skounts work edges across bizarre dreamscapes, theatrical nuances and unrelenting facets of carnivalesque brilliance – if you want to see something unique and beautifuically produced, head down to the Tate in Sydney tomorrow night for his show.

Who: Skount
What: Fragments Of Mythological Dreams
Where: The Tate, 345 Glebe Pt Rd, Glebe, Sydney
When: Show opens Wednesday 15th May from 6pm til 9pm

Check out Skount as well as The Tate 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!

We checked out HAHA‘s (Regan Tamanui) latest show “Metamorphosis” at Dark Horse Experiment on Friday night. It was great to see his awesome stencils again. A great series of stencils blending HAHA’s chosen subjects together, some of them were there in the crowd. Some of them featured himself. Very cool. I also loved the installation with all the used stencils scattered on the floor and the mad piece on the wall. Thanks to David Russell for the photos as usual.

HAHA – Metamorphosis

Amongst my travels over the last few months, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and visiting with a whole bunch of artists. Last week I had the chance to catch up with two favourites, The Yok and Sheryo in their Brooklyn studio as they prepare for their upcoming exhibition "Pipe Dreams" (we posted a whole bunch of photos from their Mexico adventures not too long ago also).

Not only was I able to get a great interview with the pair of them (for the next issue of Damnit! Magazine), but I was also able to get an awesome preview of the show in the works …

"Krause Gallery is pleased to present the highly anticipated exhibition of recent works by Brooklyn-based duo Sheryo and the Yok. While previously seen in group exhibitions, Pipe Dreams marks their first solo show in the United States since establishing the city as their primary residence last year.

Working with varying painting techniques, the artists have culled together collaborative pieces that represent their shared life together. From their nomadic travels the past year to in-jokes with their friends in New York, the Yok and Sheryo seamlessly combine their adventures into every detail of their work.

For example, their hand painted vases combine eastern & western elements to portray the values of ideology, devotion, relationships, dharma and karma, depicting a narrative from the rich tales of their journey.

From their fun filled art renderings with Chinese dragons, pipes, and geishas intermixing with the New York culture, Sheryo and the Yok put their own illustrative styles on imagery as they re-interpret the traditional folklore and fables of old Chinese times while injecting their own personal stories with their iconic styles.

Their most recent body of work for their upcoming show at Krause Gallery is full of adventure and intrigue as they departed the United States for countries like Cambodia, Vietnam and Indonesia. By traveling to their native countries as well as a few places in between, Sheryo and the Yok characterize their formative life experiences with the memories that are being made together. Another example of this can be seen in their newest body of work; after returning from warm Mexico to the rain and snow of New York they used their cartoons to reflect on the sunnier days behind them; beer, Spanish icons and surf boards began to be a part of each piece.

For their solo show at the gallery they will also be creating hand painted ceramic plates, vases, painted pieces on paper and canvases, a surprise installation downstairs along with Limited Edition one color 25” x 19” high quality screen prints. Pipe Dreams is a must see for any street art enthusiast or talent seeker of any kind."

Also check out the rad video that they’ve put out with some of the plate and vase action in it all …

Here is all the details for the show – and check out the gallery down below for a great preview of the show and a bunch of shots from around their studio! Also, check out the catalogue of all the work in the show – amazing.

Who: The Yok & Sheryo
What: Pipe Dreams
Where: Krause Gallery, 149 Orchard St, New York City
When: Show opens Thursday 16th May from 7pm til 9pm and runs for a month.

More pics from the studio visit below ….

A new monthly post from resident Invurt photographer David Russell – introducing “Through the Lens with David Russell”

Dave doesn’t miss a beat around Melbourne wether it be gallery shows, street work or abandos. Dave has decided to do a monthly round up of some of his favourite works he finds on his daily missions. Thanks Dave keep the photos coming.

DOES

Another month goes by and another brilliant top ten from our good mate Dean Sunshine :) I always love getting Dean’s monthly email to see what goodness he’s found around Melbourne this month. An awesome selection as usual.

Insa and Rone

I went down to Metro gallery in Armadale on Saturday to check out the live painting by Adnate, DVATE and Shida.

Shida – Painting live at Metro Gallery

Adnate – Painting live at Metro Gallery

Adnate – Painting live at Metro Gallery

Adnate – Painting live at Metro Gallery

DVATE – Painting live at Metro Gallery

DVATE – Collab piece – Painting live at Metro Gallery

DVATE – Collab piece – Painting live at Metro Gallery

 

Sorry for the late post on this one. Tomorrow KISS FM is holding “Diggin for Tunes 2″ a live to air record fair, and much more including live painting featuring some awesome artists (GENT48, Ghetto, Method, Rase and Eleven). Brought to you by KISS FM and the lounge. Proudly supported by Invurt.

From the press release: “On the first Saturday of May 2013 KISS FM & a line up of vinyl sellers and supporting businesses across the dance music spectrum will be taking over the entire LOUNGE, bringing together dozens of stalls run by the city’s favourite record shops, dedicated record collectors, vinyl makers, needle creators and so on…. all going live to air on KISS FM.

A LIVE TO AIR RECORD FAIR!!!  DIGGIN FOR TUNES will also feature live to air shows & performances from some of our stall holders & KISS FM’s best vinyl based shows.

Family friendly and fiercely independent, DIGGIN FOR TUNES 2 is part market-part vinyl meet, part music and broadcasting exhibition, with a graff off around the premises by artists organised by KISS FM and their partner and crew INVURT”.

Diggin for Tunes – Flyer

Before I left Melbourne, I had been an avid reader of Ha-Has "The Unreal Adventures Of HaHa" blog – in which he was documenting his travels overseas. Always hilarious, always thought provoking and conspiritorially cool. After a lengthy stay overseas, painting and showing across the eurozone and asia, HaHA has now returned to Australia – and he’s about to have another solo show

"Metamorphosis is an exploration into the archetype’s of the human psyche. As humans, we create the archetypes that exist amongst us as individuals, and as a part of a couple, a family, a tribe or a nation.

Here HAHA investigates these archetypes by means of stencil: fusing portraits of people together to find a link or connection between couples, or by fusing man with machine and beast.

The viewer is presented and faced with questions about the archetype within relationships, transhumanism & the beast man.

HAHA (Regan Tamanui) is one of Australia’s most notorious and prolific stencil artists. He called the Blender Studios home for many years before extending his art practice with an extended, overseas trip.

Now he is back, and is having his first solo show since returning to Melbourne at Blender Studios’ gallery Dark Horse Experiment."

Wish I could be in Melbourne to check this all out – its going to be ahell of a show, and its been way too long since I’ve seen one from HaHa! Ah well, you guys enjoy the shit out of this one for me!

Who: Regan Tamanui
What: Metamorphosis solo show
Where: Dark Horse Experiment, 110 Franklin St, Melbourne
When: Show opens Friday 10th May from 6pm til 9pm and runs til 1st June

Check out the facebook event page, and of course, Regans website for more info!

Aucklands K Road is infamous for its street art, and this group show, gathering together some of NZs coolest and finest, looks like it’ll be a great showcase of work – live!

As part of the running First Thursdays events, Alfresco will be a “rad street art festival up and down K’Rd, 10+ walls being painted by 10+ street artists from all around the country. Come watch these artists do what they do best LIVE in person and watch K’Road be transformed with colour across our walls”

“Karangahape Road is a long time home to art and cultural activity that doesn’t fit amongst the typical mainstream vernacular. It abounds with mythical figures and local legend from across multiple generations.

It is an area of Auckland that is fighting to retain all that is good about grit and grime, to celebrate the eccentric and erroneous. All the while ensuring that it remains a relevant and vital creative community that is recognised for its value as a rich depository of cultural artefact and activity.

All Fresco is both a response to the traditions of Krd, and to the paucity of street art in the Krd district. The character of a community is reflected in many things including the evidence of an engaged and ongoing public dialogue. And in an area noted for it’s character, a distinct lack of sites hosting relevant and revolving street art is something to be addressed.

The value of this event isn’t just in the opportunity it provides to artists, or even
the spectacle and experience it offers spectators. It’s in reestablishing and re-affirming the qualities of a part of our city that makes it the most well know, most notorious and fabled strip in the country.”

Thats a lot of wall space to be painted up on one single night, K’Rd is going to look mad!The week before his solo show, even HaHA will also be in Auckland on the night doing some live art for the opening!

There will also be an exhibition on the 2nd May at Method & Manners studios. Head down and see it if you’re anywhere near the North Island!

Check out the full press release here.
 

Who: BMD, Eno, Erin Forsyth, Deus, Dagar, Mica Still, Wert159, Xoe Hall, HaHa,
What: Alfresco street art festival (First Thursdays event)
Where: Up and down K Road and Method and Manners studios, 6 Upper Queen Street, Auckland
When: Exhibition opens at 6pm til 9pm on 2nd May, and the paiting goes on from the 3rd, 4th and 5th.

Check out the Alfresco and First Thursdays website for more info!

When Sean Morris put together the remarkable group show "Lets Go, Magic Weirdos" at Paper Mountain in Perth, we had no idea that it would have a sequel – but it does, and this time it will be held in London!

Lets Go, Magic Weirdos is succeeded by the brilliantly curated Magic Weirdos Never Die – which once again sees Sean gathering together a diverse array of talent that has the magical underpinnings of weirdosity as its theme.

"As Scawfell street officially opens for business we are thrilled to present “Magic Weirdos Never Die” – a group exhibition featuring 11 contemporary artists from 4 different countries, curated by Sean Morris. Following on from the successful group show "Let’s Go Magic Weirdos", held last year in his hometown of Perth, Western Australia, the ridiculously talented Sean Morris is at it again. This time he’s bringing his work and bunch of impressive, magical weirdos to London.

The line-up includes Australian art heroes Ghostpatrol and Kyle Hughes-Odgers, Spanish comic artist Berto Fojo, the prolific Luke Pelletier from the States and killer London based illustrators Suzie Kemp, Jasper Dunk and Jon Boam. Along side these phenomenal names will be the usual awesome depravity from Londoner James Unsworth, the black metal space demons of Madrid’s Manuel Donada, beautifully strange and politically charged drawings from Florida’s Dillon Froelich and the white trash fables of Sean Morris himself, who hits London just 2 weeks after a successful solo exhibition in Madrid."

With such an incredible lineup of fantastic artists, this is a show that if you’re in London, you really need to go and see. The first show was brilliant, this one will be just as much – what wonder does Sean Morris have in store for us next??

Who: Sean Morris, Kyle Hughes-Odgers, Ghostpatrol, Berto Fojo, Luke Pelletier, Suzie Kemp, Jasper Dunk, Jon Boam, James Unsworth, Manuel Donada, Dillon Froelich
What: Magic Weirdos Never Die
Where: Scawfell Street,6A Scawfell Street, E2 8NG London, United Kingdom
When: Show opens Thursday May 2nd from 6pm til 9pm

Check out the facebook event page for more info!!

Thanks to Shane from AllThoseShapes for covering the opening of Ryan McGennisken‘s latest show “She’s The Moon“. Wish I’d been able to make it down. The works look amazing, so detailed and intricate. The installation looks rad too.  Check out his awesome photos from the show below.

Ryan Mcgennisken – Mother of the Mountains

Shida‘s long awaited show “Ecstasy in the Abyss” opened Friday night at Backwoods Gallery in Collingwood.

SHIDA – Ecstasy in the Abyss

I actually had a bit of a chuckle when I saw this event coming up – I’m in Oaxaca, Mexico right now, and here I am wishing that I was in Melbourne and able to go to this laneway party, featuring all things great and Mexican! Ironic, I know. Its all okay though, as I can live vicariously through the internet, and if I want a taco, I can just step outside the hostel and walk five metres!

For those of you, though, who are in Melbourne this weekend, and the following weeks, this event looks absolutely awesome – and if you like all things Mexico, taco, street art and laneway-lush, then this is for you!!

"Welcome to Las Laneway Fiesta, the opening night of one of Melbourne’s most innovative pop-up experience , Si Señor Art Taqueria. Brought to you by the new Mexican kids on the block, Si Señor Group & Melbourne Books. This one of a kind, pop-up art project celebrates Melbourne-Mexican art, emerging Latin American musicians and Mexican street food over four exciting weeks.

Prepare to be transported to a callejon in Mexico in the heart of Melbourne when Si Señor Pop Up Art Taqueria kicks off with:Las Laneway Fiesta opening night.

Fiesta like it’s 1999 with Tequila and Mezcal special edition cocktails, and unique regional tacos.

Expect Latin tunes and Aztec beats, a visual laneway projection phenomenon by the talent behind White Night Melbourne, Projection Teknik and live graffiti’s.

Si Senor Popup will showcase 4 up and coming street artists:
Gaston Mendieta
Juliette Claire
Heesco
Theo Robinson

With the 10th May introducing the second round of artists and installations.

All artwork for sale on the night.

We looking forward to see you!"

I believe that the whole thing opens with a big bash this Friday, followed by more mayhem on Saturday, and then new artists and shows for four weeks! There are plenty of other artists involved as well, and we’ll keep you updated on whats happening! If you want to know more, theres a great interview here on what its all about!

Head down to the laneway and to Gallery ONE THREE to enjoy it all for yourself – looks like there will be a few people enjoying it with you!

Who: Gaston Mendieta, Juliette Claire, Heesco, Theo Robinson, White Night Melbourne, Projection Teknik, Ruskid,
What: Si Senor Popup Art Taqueria
Where: Gallery ONE Three13 Somerset Place, Melbourne, Victoria
When: Starts this Friday 27th April and Saturday 2th April with events on every Friday and Saturday for 4 weeks!

Check them our atTwitter. @sisenorpopup and nstagram@sisenorpopup – also take a look at the Si Senor facebook page for a heap more info!

We’ve been hot on the trail of Paul Deej’s work for quite some time – we interviewed him way back in 2010 and since then he has had some damn fine shows. This time, Deej hits Kurb Gallery in Perth for what may be his best yet – Harlequins.

"On Saturday the 27th of April, Kurb Gallery in Northbridge will play host to the third solo art exhibition by accomplished Perth artist Paul Deej, entitled “Harlequins”.

“Harlequins” marks the end to a series of artworks recently completed, exploring the theme of the female clown, or “harlequin”, in an array of styles, moods and mixed media.
Always on the quest to capture the beauty of the female form and face, he has created a body of colourful and bold work that represents his love of comic book and street art, while adding a graphic designer’s touch.
In the past 3 years since his highly successful first exhibition “Nicely Toasted” at ABD The Gallery in Northbridge, Deej has worked diligently and shown pieces in a plethora of exhibitions locally and nationally. His last solo show was the successful “El Deejo” Exhibition at The Grey Door Gallery in Claremont in late 2011.

About The Artist

Paul Deej has been a professional Artist, Illustrator and Graphic Designer for 12 years. Originally known for working within the digital realm, around 3 years ago he started painting canvas and murals in the traditional style of acrylic paint and aerosol, and found he had a overwhelming desire to capture his minds eye on this raw medium based in reality rather than a computer screen.

With a short time on the gallery scene, Deej has been a part of 20 solo and group shows within the past three years.

Deej has also made a name for himself over the years as a part of the ever growing Australian Hip Hop community in Perth and the eastern states, creating literally hundreds of event posters for local and interstate acts as well as many award winning album covers. Deej is also closely affiliated with the West Australian music collective known as Syllabolix.

With a passion for throwing around paint and a workaholic attitude for creating artwork, there is plenty more on the way from this esteemed Perth artist"

We’re looking forward to this one – its been a little bit since the last mad show in Perth, and this one is going to rock!

Who: Paul Deej
What: Harlequins solo show
Where: Kurb Gallery, 312a William St, Northbridge, Perth WA
When: The exhibition runs for one week only, from Saturday April 27th until Friday May 3rd.

Check out Paul Deej’s website as well as the facebook event page, and Kurb Gallery, for more details.