AFGHANISTAN LIFE Revised 2008 05 16 CLICK PHOTO if you want view !http://images-1.redbubble.com/img/art/cropped/size:small/v…
AFGHANISTAN LIFE Revised 2008 05 16 CLICK PHOTO if you want view
The UK has been a bastion of free speech for many years now and it is something I am very proud of. Our recent heritage is full of grea…
The UK has been a bastion of free speech for many years now and it is something I am very proud of. Our recent heritage is full of great bands, writers, artists and film makers that have thrived in tolerant society that has welcomed free expression. The UK’s artists are known the world over for pushing boundaries and mixing together genres of art to create sub-genres and in some cases completely new genres! However I sometimes wonder what this tolerant, free society is going to make of the latest trend to hit the streets of the city, political urban art. Of course I realise Its not a new phenomenon , look at the scrawl on the old Berlin Wall or on the walls in Northern Ireland and you would find political graffiti slogans left in protest and to provoke thought. You can even find the ancient paintings of any native race anywhere in the world on rock faces or cave walls, whether they were made as decorative pieces or with some social impact in mind, who knows? Even in its most recent form as scrawl with spray can on a wall it has been alive in this country for years. The point is it is becoming very evident to me that this is becoming something of an epidemic here in London. When I say becoming, well I travel the streets searching this stuff out and I can tell you it is on the rise in quite a dramatic fashion here! Kids, young men and professional artists are getting more and more confident and ballsy about making bigger and more controversial statements on the walls of our city. The obvious answer is Banksy has created a precedent for the flood gates to open… although he was not the first to create this form of political graffiti in London, he is just the most well known and the first to achieve worldwide fame and fortune. But I feel to blame him or to even praise him for this would be wrong because to me he is only responding to the problems in society not creating them. Almost like blaming Hip Hop for the problems in Harlem, it’s short sited and completely missing the point. These artists are responding to the way the people are feeling right now and trying to get their voices heard the only way they can. For me this rise in political graffiti stems from the feeling that the noise society is creating is so loud and inconsequential the important points are not reaching the people. For example, a messed up singer will get front page headlines of our major newspapers while continued atrocities are being committed the world over by that do not even get a mention! How can a footballers affair be more important to the people than 2 million refugees going without food, water and medicine in Dafur. We are being drowned in a sea of pointless messages, with the substance floating past unnoticed. Whether you think it’s a problem with society or a government ploy to control us it’s clear that that to get the message across artists are resorting to more drastic measures. These measure are to take to the streets and to paint them on our walls for all to see… and in that respect I support what many of them are trying to do. Now I’m not saying all of this is political, some is just a beautiful piece of artwork designed to brighten up a… well Urban sh1thole! As well as this much of it is blatant vandalism that causes distress to its victims and actually ruins a perfectly beautiful building. Whatever the point is I have been documenting these images in my own way for years now. I don’t want to just show the images, I want to show them in context, this means including a bit about their surroundings and even the people that pass them on a day to day basis. The rest is up to you as to what you consider art, political messages, vandalism or even all three put together! So I am making it my mission to bring these images to you in what will be called my URBAN DÉCOR Journal, this is part 1 Ben AKA Redtempa
After publishing Urban Décor part 1 on M…
After publishing Urban Décor part 1 on Monday I was interested to see the reaction from the Redbubble community on the subject of urban art. To be honest I was expecting a mixed reaction because this form of art has many guises, some of which have a habit of pissing people off… tagging being one of them. This side of graffiti is the hardest to justify, something even I would struggle to do… not that I would want to anyway! Personally I am not even going to get involved in the debate because I can see both sides of the story and both are as valid as each other… in reality your opinions will probably be individual and varied and will be based on your personal experiences, good or bad. My own experiences have been both negative and positive and I’m pretty open minded on the subject, so I can understand the mixed reactions that some of the images I produce may cause. Some people will say tagging causes distress and is just blatant vandalism created by bored jobless youths with no respect for the property of others. Others will say it has been around for as long as the human race has been able to express itself through painting and (in some cases) can even brighten up the ugliest of human creations. Whatever your opinion in a free society such as the UK’s it is not going to disappear anytime soon. This is because to truly stop it we would need to take drastic measures that would not sit comfortably in our so called ‘free society’. However, as a photographer I like to document a street scene that I’ve found and I see beauty in. As I primarily photograph natural street scenes in urban areas urban art/vandalism is often a major feature of my work. This is because to me it is such and intriguing and powerful form of artist expression completely without censure that can reach and effect anybody or any age. I am intrigued as to the thought processes that go into designing tags and what they tell you about the artist/criminal that has created it. My intention with these is not to express my personal opinion, instead just to document a scene I think is beautiful and to show it in context with its surroundings. The fact these scenes are dynamic and constantly changing as more graffiti/urban art/tags gives me confidence that recording them is an important thing to do. In fact many of the scenes I have shot in my portfolio have been whitewash or replaced, something that makes me feel justified in spending the many days trawling the streets looking for them. Peace Ben AKA Redtempa
You may not realise but the dark s…
You may not realise but the dark streets of London are littered with some of the worlds most cutting edge and ingenious marketing campaigns. Stencils, billposters and general scrawl are being used to sell products or raise a public profile, in some cases very effectively. You only have to look at the money behind some of the brands turning up on street corners and street signs to realise this is no longer only the work of kids with too much time on their hands. These are big businesses that have recognised the impact guerrilla marketing can have on creating brand awareness. The most recent example to be seen on the streets of the East End of London are stencils of a Zepplin with the word ‘Mothership’ emblazoned across it. To those that know this is advertising the new album from Led Zepplin, and to those that don’t this creates a certain intrigue and awareness that Atlantic Records hope will boost sales amongst a younger generation of music fans. My point is this is not a small back street company that has employed these techniques and Led Zepplin are not a bunch of ‘wannabe’s’, these are big names utilising urban art as part of a high profile campaign. Some, of course are not big businesses and do not have a capitalist agenda. They just want to spread a message or an ethos and are utilising the best cost effective methods available that can reach the widest possible audience. Some of these are even global movements expanding their cause (quite strategically) by using guerrilla marketing techniques. / Artwork by Obey Obey is a great example of this. Obey is the brainchild of Shepard Fairy and is a regular feature on the streets of some of the worlds major cities. He explains his work as “an experiment in Phenomenology” with one of the aims being to “awaken ones sense of wonder about their surroundings“. He says of his work; “The Obey campaign attempts to stimulate curiosity and bring people to question both the campaign and their relationship with their surroundings. Because people are not used to seeing advertisements or propaganda for which the motive is not obvious, frequent and novel encounters with Obey propaganda provokes thought and possible frustration, nevertheless revitalizing the viewers perception and attention to detail”. / Artwork by Obey Whether or not you agree with the point the is trying to make or the methods he is employing you have to admire the sheer scale of his work. Much of it is also very attractive and really does brighten up some of the dingiest London streets. I have taken many shots of Obey’s and other guerrilla media campaigns, some of which I have posted here and on my portfolio. To be honest some of them I love, some I hate, some I understand and some, well, I have no idea what their rhyme or reason is! They come in many forms with many points to make on many levels from the blatantly obvious to the completely surreal, the commercial to anti-capitalistic, the humorous to political. I’ll let you make up your own minds! Please feel free to comment, I’d like to hear your opinions on the subject Peace Ben
Thanks Mark German and Olympus77 for featuring Leather Life in C…
Thanks Mark German and Olympus77 for featuring Leather Life in Candid Photography!
The below 2009 Calendar featuring a collection from my ‘Black & White’ works is now available for purchase for $35.00. If you are inte…
The below 2009 Calendar featuring a collection from my ‘Black & White’ works is now available for purchase for $35.00. If you are interested in purchasing a calendar please bmail me. Life can be beautiful in Black & White. Kitsmumma
Booyakasha… or something like that anyway… most privileged and ecstatic about my latest and first feature on the RedBubble homepage…..
Booyakasha… or something like that anyway… most privileged and ecstatic about my latest and first feature on the RedBubble homepage… all my love goes out to the admin that chose PNAU Wooooo Hooooo to be featured!
The PNAU Wooooo Hooooo photograph has had an amazing run lately …
The PNAU Wooooo Hooooo photograph has had an amazing run lately with the latest feature being in the Sydney group group. Once again a group with exceptional talent, and probably just as hard as the RB crew to get featured in, so extremely humbled as always, and thanking the support and appreciation… just adds to the excitement of pursuing onwards.
So I went to the North Sydney Photographic Society meeting last night to see what they were up to, and it turns out they were showing ‘Au…
So I went to the North Sydney Photographic Society meeting last night to see what they were up to, and it turns out they were showing ‘Audio/Visual’ presentations of their images… and then I realised that Muscular Teeth does the same thing just on a grander and more technical scale with many images from RB to promote all the artists he can in one video. It got me thinking, why not grab some of my concert photography images and slide them together with one of the band’s songs and link back to my RB account to hopefully get some extra exposure… and with iVideo it couldn’t be any easier! So without further adue, I invite you all to view my latest and greatest (first) grain-fed production on Youtube… PNAU @ Enmore Theater 2008 [ENJOY]
/ I priced previous acquaintances, lost fri…
/ I priced previous acquaintances, lost friends and former lovers. / You would be amazed at how low you will go to dispel the past. / So it is, so it is. / http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5600434 / I made a store in their name.
Thank you to the group hosts and all the members of the Inverted World group for featuring this image; this means more to me than I …
Thank you to the group hosts and all the members of the Inverted World group for featuring this image; this means more to me than I can put into words… the support I have received here at Redbubble is incomparable and I cherish each of you! / Inverted World My Image
Wow! What a wonderful surprise! Thank you so much – you have brightened up a totally horrible morning:) Blessed Be! “In The Wild Woo…
Wow! What a wonderful surprise! Thank you so much – you have brightened up a totally horrible morning:) Blessed Be! In The Wild Wood Wild Horses
Thank you…. Imperfectly !http://images-0.redbubble.net/img/art/border:blackwithdeta…
Thank you…. Imperfectly
When I left AW a year ago for RB, I was really happy to find a group for AW dropouts... !http://images-3.redbubble.net/img/art/frame…
When I left AW a year ago for RB, I was really happy to find a group for AW dropouts... / The Lily Thank you so much
This is a link672.entry to the blog entry I made today. It’s …
This is a link672.entry to the blog entry I made today. It’s nothing important, but, someone might like the writing a bit, I guess.
!http://images-1.redbubble.net/img/art/framecolor:black/framestyle:flat30/mattecolor:black/product:framed-print/size:large/view:preview/3…
/ Illusion The mystery and light of eyes / That near to mine grow dim and cold; / They move afar in ancient skies / Mid flame and mystic darkness rolled. Thank you so much
!http://images-3.redbubble.net/img/art/framecolor:black/framestyle:flat30/mattecolor:black/product:framed-print/size:large/view:preview/3…
/ Sylvia Who is Silvia? what is she, / That all our swains commend her? / Holy, fair, and wise is she; / The heaven such grace did lend her, / That she might admirèd be. Thank you so much
In Watermedia !http://images-0.redbubble.net/img/art/framecolor:black/framestyle:flat30/mattecolor:black/product:framed-print/size:l…
In Watermedia / Virtue In Fine Arts / Sylvia In Who Are You To Judge / The Wish Thank you so much to all the Group Moderators
!http://images-3.redbubble.net/img/art/framecolor:black/framestyle:flat30/mattecolor:black/product:framed-print/size:large/view:preview/3…
/ Katharine Elfin and human, airy and true, / And backed by the reflected blue. Thank you so much
Featured Member as well !http://images-1.redbubble.net/img/art/framecolor:black/framestyle:flat30/mattecolor:black/product:framed-pr…
Featured Member as well / Beatrice Thank you so much
!http://images-0.redbubble.net/img/art/framecolor:black/framestyle:flat30/mattecolor:black/product:framed-print/size:large/view:preview/3…
/ The Party Unrhymed, unrhythmical, the chatter goes: / Yet no one hears his own remarks as prose. / Beneath each topic tunelessly discussed / The ground-bass is reciprocal mistrust. / The names in fashion shuttling to and fro / Yield, when deciphered, messages of woe. / You cannot read me like an open book. / I’m more myself than you will ever look. / Will no one listen to my little song? / Perhaps I shan’t be with you very long. / A howl for recognition, shrill with fear, / Shakes the jam-packed apartment, but each ear / Is listening to its hearing, so none hear...Auden Thank you so much
I’m very happy to see after some days of absence this message…:) “Congratulations! You have been featured in All Street Portrais & P…
I’m very happy to see after some days of absence this message…:) “Congratulations! You have been featured in All Street Portrais & Photography!” Thank you !!!!! Dominique
Alright since alot of you like the video for “Coming Straight from the Heart” / I did a piece for “Chilling” / I was wondering what piece I…
Alright since alot of you like the video for “Coming Straight from the Heart” / I did a piece for “Chilling” / I was wondering what piece I should do next and out of no wheres a good friend b-mailed me and she suggested that Chilling would probably make a nice video and to hear it spoken / So I have posted it on my poem and you all are able to hear, view, comment, critique, have your say so, fav, spread the word, lol whatever …LOL / Just as long as you let me honestly know if I need to switch something up or it is okay as is - oh yea i added a little music for the background…. So here it is / Chilling
FEATURES WRITING / THE AUTUMN COLLECTION...
FEATURES WRITING / THE AUTUMN COLLECTION TWO FEATURES FOR THIS PAINTING…VIBRATION IN ART AND VERSE AND ART AT IT’S BEST / / MOSAIC BITS AND PIECES / / FISHY STUFF IMPRESSIONISM CAFE / / EVERGREEN IF IT DOESN’T BELONG / / THE FIRST DAY ALL THINGS POETIC ARTISTIC PHILOSOPHICAL / / LOOKING FOR CORNELIUS AND NOT FINDING HIM IMAGE WRITING / / MELANCHOLY MAN JUST WATERCOLOURS / / AFTER THE STORM SPLATTER, SMUDGE, SMEAR, DRIP / / TROPICAL FANDANGO TOP TEN WINNERS IN FREEDOM TO SHINE..CHALLENGE: WORDS IN AN IMAGE / / LAYERED WITH TEXTURE THREE FOR THIS IMAGE / AVANTE GARDE ART..CHALLENGE: HOLIDAYS AND SEASONS / INSPIRED BY LIFE…CHALLENGE:INSPIRED BY THE SEASON / IMAGE WRITING…CHALLENGE:WISDOM OF THE HOLIDAYS / / GRATEFUL ART UP CLOSE…CHALLENGE: ABOUT FACE / / THE TEMPTATION VISUAL TEXTURE…CHALLENGE: RED AND BLACK / / MIDNIGHT CUPPA IMAGE WRITING…CHALLENGE: MOST FAVOURITED IMAGE / / TOWARDS THE LIGHT Thank you to all the group moderators and to those who voted to make these wins possible
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