Page 47 - BN1 July-Aug 2019 web

Image © by Spit Pixels

BY LOUISA STREETING

Brighton & Hove flaunts a wealth of exceptional and Although most cities have areas dedicated to beautiful
everchanging street art. The city holds a rich legacy of Street Art, Barry cites London, Liverpool, and Bristol as
public art, with Banksy’s Kissing Coppers stencilled onto major contributors to the artistic form. However, he tells me
the side of The Prince Albert pub, which was eventually his home, Malaga, takes some beating, displaying world
sold at auction for £345,000. Brighton’s list of local street class artists. “Ben Eine, who has produced a 100m stretch
artists constantly evolves, but recognisable pieces come of his famous letters along the riverbank, Shepherd Fairy
from Mazcan, Minty, and Cassette Lord. Now, 1:ZE Art, a aka Obey Giant, D*Face, along with Spaniards, Okuda
brand new art gallery on Madeira Drive, is inviting street and Pantone.”
artists to exhibit their pieces inside.
Over time, Barry intends to represent all the different
Artist and curator of 1:ZE Art, Barry Surtees, spent many aspects encompassed by the term ‘Street Art’ in his
years creating ‘Op Art’. This consisted of three-dimensional gallery: “From Muralists whose work can be commissioned;
pieces, mostly out of wood and found objects using Paste-ups the successor of the muralist, which evolved
house paints and materials. When he moved to Malaga because of the requirement of speed; Multilayer stencils;
following an illness, he became interested in stripping street photography; collage and its digital successor.”
down advertising hoardings and the tattered paper that The gallery also exhibits his own décollage pieces. As
hung from them – themselves, giant works of art. He it stands, 1:ZE Art currently displays seven artists, such
started peeling these off and creating abstract pieces, as Charlie Holt, Hillary Boardley, Kasseus, Curtains,
sometimes 25mm thick, ripping back layers until the Glimmerman and The Postman, whose pastings of music
piece met his satisfaction. “The process is the opposite to icons are scattered across Brighton.
collage, known as décollage, as you strip back instead of
layering,” Barry tells me. Eventually, he began introducing “While we have originals for sale, the emphasis will be on
words, letters and numerals, then a particular person or very high quality Limited Edition prints, mostly in small
icon into his designs. editions. Because it is a stunning format, we will offer
these prints mounted on DiBond , an aluminium based
“I initially thought that I was doing something different as board, which holds the piece clear of the wall and has an
I had not actually seen similar pieces”, Barry explains. He integrated hanging system.” 1:ZE Art is able to arrange
soon discovered a European style from the 1950s known for mounting and framing, and pieces can be sent to any
as ‘retro d'affiches’, with forerunners such as Mimmo location in the world. The gallery is hosting an exhibition
Rotella, Jacques Villegle, and Raymond Hains providing evening on Friday 12 July between 6 and 10pm, inviting
great sources of inspiration for him. the public to view and purchase artworks on display. A
minimum of two works will be created live, along with an
Barry is attracted to the versatility of this medium when artwork donation from Barry, which will be subsequently
creating his own pieces. “I may peel a piece off and auctioned for the British Heart Foundation.
be happy with it in conjunction with another part of a
completely different poster. Essentially, I use the torn 1:ZE Art Gallery is open Wed-Sun, 11am-6pm, or by
paper as a paint brush, or destruction as creation, having appointment. Exhibition evening on Fri 12 July 6-10pm.
pillaged my materials from redundant hoardings and www.onezeeart.com
obtaining chromatic combinations in the process.”
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