- Street art vs Friezing art

There was a period in my life were the nostalgic feeling of a Sunday evening was non existing. On Mondays i would be told which days i would work the following week, with luck or by insisting i would eventually get two days off in a row. Some of you better than others understand what i mean, but well, what i want to say is that i am getting that feeling now again. And it feels so good...

The weekend was great, went partying on Saturday, met different people and with one of them, a Brazilian film maker (you) i ended up discussing the environment and potential of street art. Its a fabulous world, full of concept, Human, approachable and with the mission (i don't necessarily like the need of mission or goal in art but..) of making art more available to people. We didn't talk about it but i think on the ground of the movement there is also a dislike of the amount of advertising and marketing strategies all over the place, and an insurgent desire of competing for the spots/canvas in the landscape.

The conversation started because on my way the the pub, in the Old Street area, i saw three big paintings on the wall of a building which had two train wagons on top. Surrealism? No, street art.

Unlike most of the times, the exhibition had not finished yet and the sign was inviting me to come back the next day, today, and enjoy the works from different galleries and solo artist from around the world. The Brazilian film maker had been there just before we met, and so our conversation started.

Today is today and i there i went. Its in Great Eastern Street by the way, closer to Bishops Gate than Old street, the exhibition is over now, but there will be stuff going on. Which number? I don't know, look for the two wagons. Its easier.

Did you notice? Admission free. Not that London is badly served in terms of free access to art, but in this particular weekend, which culminates with the last day of the Frieze art festival in the Regents Park (and it's £15 entrance fee) i thought, hum, i'm liking this already.

The door is rather narrow, the entrance lacks all the flamboyance that generally comes with international exhibitions and you see this sign. You turn left, then right and the first work you see is a Banksy screen print. I am a huge admirer os this artist's work but it was nice to notice the little importance that it acquired in the overall space. The point was not to use his name as a promoter of the event, but, as a street artist, there he was represented.

This was probably the piece that most impact had on me and so i put it here first. It was unbelievable to feel the power of this painting hitting my chest. It has depth, strength, it's an illustration but abstract, black and white, full of feeling to be absorbed. Can you imagine this in front of you while you wait for the bus in the morning?

The exhibition was composed by 12 stands, there was work made from materials collected on the streets, there was work on wood, on canvas, there was work by the black rat press studio from London (all pieces sold out), there was work from Titi Freak, a Brazilian exposing as a solo artist and with a concept based on colors, there was people, there was that very nice vibe of an umpretentious art gallery. And Dios mio, how good the work was...

Below is a small selection on what impressed me the most.

For more info, check them out by simply clicking in the link below. Make sure you click by pressing your Cmd or Ctrl key so you wont leave this blog. www.monikerartfair.com

Hope you enjoyed what i absolutely had to share with you.

Have nice weeks...