Photography by Kenny Scharf, The Cosmic Cavern, playful, dayglo party installation, inspired by the night-clubs & discos of the 1980s.
What is the allure of street art? Aside from its synonymous bulbous shapes and vibrant colours, the thrill for us is its trading of temporariness. There’s a sense of fragility that only heightens the appreciation to make it all-the-more contemporary and special. It’s courageous too. At times applied without mutual consent, there’s a daring tone that we love. An art form we follow as much as the classics, an eye-popping exhibition of works is currently being celebrated at London’s iconic Saatchi Gallery, moments from some of House of Kip’s homes.
From adverse train writers to imposing large-scale muralists, BEYOND THE STREETS LONDON documents over 100 international names to deliver the most comprehensive display of graffiti and street artists in the UK. Sponsored by adidas, this world-famous exhibition currently occupies three floors of the Chelsea gallery after successful runs in Los Angeles and New York.
Interior of Trash records, including interactive record player, T-shirts, skateboards, and a multitude of youth culture ephemera.
Exterior of Trash records, purpose-built and site-specific representing the familiar independent record store.
Curated by graffiti historian Roger Gastman, BEYOND THE STREETS LONDON features new works, original ephemera, large-scale installations and extraordinary fashions over the last five decades to capture the powerful impact graffiti and street art has had across the world.
Exterior of Trash records, purpose-built and site-specific representing the familiar inde-pendent record store.
Room 4, emphasizing the mixture of East and West coast American, European originators and cultural icons.
The exhibition works to cleverly explore the fundamental human need for public self expression. Artists considered rudimentary to the street art scene feature heavily throughout with a documentation of their journey from the early days to now leading highly disciplined studio practices. The exhibition further explores a range of cultural figures inspired by the art scene as a key influence in their own works. Featured artists include both a run of contemporary names at the start of their careers plus iconic household names such as KAWS, Keith Haring and the Beastie Boys to name but a few.
Clothing from the CLAW MONEY archive highlighting the relationship between art and streetwear.
Installation view of Room 4, featuring archival photographs by Gordon Matta-Clark.
Split into different chapters, the exhibition considers a range of exceptional moments in the history of this artistic movement. From the birth of punk to the emergence of hip hop, through to its influence across fashion and film too. For those who can reminisce about the day-glo parties, nightclubs and discos of the eighties, The Cosmic Cavern is a neon wonderland for the eyes.
MISTER CARTOON brings the West Coast to London with his Skid Row installation.
The duo of FAILE takes 1980s nostalgia, in the form of video game imagery, skate graphics and youthful rebellion.
Or perhaps a visit to Trash Records – the purpose-built installation that represents the familiar independent record store, featuring an interactive record player, motto T-shirts, skateboards and a multitude of youth culture paraphernalia. Slap on some Greenday or Nirvana to be instantly transported back to the glam-rock eighties or grunge nineties. Further beyond, Room 4 seeks to highlight the dichotomy of the east and west coast of America in particular with a consideration of European originators and cultural icons, too.
Into the New realm with Felipe Pantone installation.
UNTITLED (NICOLE MILLER), 1996, UNTITLED (CALVIN KLEIN), 1997, by KAWS.
Exhibited in one of London’s most-iconic galleries, the Chelsea setting more-often considered a chic and bourgeois neighbourhood serves to heighten the intensity of the exhibition further.
Kenny Scharf, spraypainted onsite for BEYOND THE STREETS LONDON.
Site-specific spray paint installation by Lady Pink.
Trains covering the stairs and corridor between first-floor galleries.
Site-specific circulation area, spray painted by Aiko.
André Saraiva colourful Dream Gallery.
Todd James, Vandals Bedroom, overwhelming graffiti-filled, part object, part installation.
Further appeal is the gallery’s late night exhibition evenings ‘Saatchi Lates’ where visitors can experience the artworks on a Friday night alongside DJ sets, drinks, workshops and live performance drawing session. On display until 9th May, this is one show not to miss.
Interior of Trash records, including interactive record player, T-shirts, skateboards, and a multitude of youth culture ephemera.
Paul Insect, larger than life Puppet Workshop ‘Rubbish Stuff.’
Duncan Weston, extravagant installation.
BEYOND THE STREETS LONDON is open 17 February – 9 May 2023. The exhibition headline supporter is adidas Originals. Support also provided by LA Tourism Boars and onefinestay.
Saatchi Gallery, Duke of York’s HQ, King’s Road, Chelsea, London SW3
saatchigallery.com
Curated & Founded by: Roger Gastman
Curation: Kim Stephens, Evan Pricco & Raoul Shah
Historical Research & Curation: Caleb Neelon, Caroline Ryder, Toby Mott, Andrew Hayes, Rob Fever, Claudia Gold, Sean Corcoran
