Let There Be More Light2011.08.26
Newly finished canvas, ‘Let There Be More Light’, oil 90cm x 90cm Inspired by the old Pink Floyd song of the same name from when they were still a psychedelic rock band, from the Saucerful of Secrets LP 1968, and visions it first brought to my head when listening to it many years ago (and still does); hip hop hippy, pre acid house walkman trip man.
Arcadia Glastonbury 2010- Exclusive Pics & Official Vids-Artwork by Elate2010.07.04
I did all the artwork for Arcadia, one of the highlights of Glastonbury 2010, the Festival’s 40th Birthday, the hottest on record and some say the best yet…
For two weeks we relished the bliss of perfect English midsummer in the most mystical part of the country, Glastonbury, where ley lines meet and legends were born, in The Vale of Avalon, the ancient mythic gateway to the heathen goddess; a place of pilgrimage for millennia. I was onsite with the team of militant revolutionary dreamers and genius engineers known as Arcadia, easily the best sound system around and quite possibly the greatest show on earth.
I painted anarcho punk slogans since 82 then graffiti at the birth of UK hip hop in 84, onto London’s tube system in 86 through the golden age of train graffiti moving to acid house backdrops in 89. The nineties and new millenium saw me painting at traveller squat parties and Reclaim the Streets protest raves. Throughout the quiet renaissance of classical, surreal and visionary oil painting I was at the easel and fused my skills back with graffiti in Shoreditch in 2009 then onto MuTate Britain with the Mutoid Waste Company in Ladbroke Grove under the Westway… Now in 2010 I feel glad to have played a small part by painting for the next underground zeitgeist, one which takes influence and energy from all those phenomenon and more, but boldly maps out a new frontier that is purely its’ own…ARCADIA. Like all underground revolutionary movements the gold rush is for the inner treasure. The ultimate reward is the accomplishment of the dream and the actualisation of the idea. At Glastonbury 2010 Arcadia surpassed all expectations and reached dizzying new heights of inspiration, engineering, teamwork, sculpture, music, lighting, pyrotechnics, performance art and energy as this film shows….
The Build
When we arrived onsite the Afterburner stage was still in its early stages, the ‘legs’ of the spider are actually scrap from customs xray machines that used to scan containers and lorries. Pure genius…
The core of the beast is expertly manoevered into place…
…and it shows its’ face.
In keeping with Arcadia’s militant branding and apocalyptic atmosphere I did the line-up board using their trademark stencil lettering, and carefully distressed the fragments of plane for that ‘hauled out of the swamp 5 years after the crash’ look….
…with lots of help from capable hands.
The entrance arch is a couple of modified plane wings, possibly from a glider, it’d been rubbed down to the bare aluminium so to keep the burnished metal intact on the ‘pipes’ I used Belton’s amazing transparent black spray paint to get the relief modelling without losing the wonderful texture which gleamed from underneath as the sun caught the metal…The design was finalised between myself and Pip Rush and based on carvings on an ancient Aztec temple….
Here’s a video of the build in progress.
I then cut back over the black with Belton’s burner chrome to get a contrast against the aluminium and carefully painted the pop rivets and ‘crazy paving’ seams by hand.
Pip was keen to use my ‘Circuit Splat’ style so I modified it to pure abstraction with a vivid tribal background on some pieces of aeroplane scrap to hang behind the massive ‘Arc Bar’, the sun was pounding down…
After painting ‘til twilight the lights go on on the new Afterburner for the very first time and the eerie entity blinks into life.
Next day the crew finish building ‘stage left’ so I can start the piece.
Across the field the punk tent takes shape
After being branded with the Arcadia logo by their prop maker and effects guy, Simon, he begins work on the dirty-metal-effect background for my piece….
…and I start blocking in the arrows. Some respectful inspiration drawn from amigo Keen One here, but in 3 dimensions and distressed with a strong Elate/Arcadia twist….
….and lots of rivets, seams, gleams, glints and the Arcadia logo in the centre….
….everyone seemed to really like this.
Finally after sweat and dedication, blisters, sprains and minor sunstroke Arcadia opened on Thursday 24th June 2010 to the public ….
My art at the Arcadia Arc Bar ‘scuse the poor shots
You could feel the heat on your face from the other side of the field. Experience Arcadia, they’re doing amazing things.
I’ll let the Lords of Lightning sign off this post as only they know how. All pictures of Arcadia build by me and Jenny apart from a few select shots of Afterburner show and Glastonbury used with permission Creative Commons and taken by Luke Blackmore, lusciousblopster, mark-vauxhall, medalliamagpie, Tangentical, fussy onion, Al Green midlander123 and bfirsh; thanks to all. Massive thanks to Pip and Bertie and all Arcadia crew. Elate in Arcadia @ Glastonbury 2010-Graffiti & Visionary Art2010.06.15
To See Exclusive Shots of Arcadia Glastonbury 2010 Build and Official Arcadia Videos Click Here To See My Post-Festival Blog Entry! …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, is the largest open-air music and performing arts festival in the world. The main attraction for many revellers for the last few years has been one of the smaller, more underground arenas known as Arcadia.
Arcadia is a synchronised pyrotechnic stage and lightshow sculpture arena featuring world class bands and deejays and illuminated by lasers, intelligent lighting, water jets and flamethrowers and is built from military and NASA scrap, primarily jet engine components. Deejays and bands play live surrounded by what must be the most incredible spectacle of light, smoke and flame on the planet, as tens of thousands of people dance in an ecstasy of ritual theatrics and shamanic pyrotechnics. Think Heironymous Bosch meets Mad Max versus ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’ and you’re getting somewhere.
I was delighted to find out that my painting is thought of so highly by the visionary behind Arcadia, Pip Rush, that I have been asked to design and paint all artwork for the entire Arcadia arena at this years Glastonbury, 2010; the festival’s 40th Birthday. Pip’s the younger brother of Joe Rush, founder of the Mutoid Waste Company and has spent much of his life since a baby in the delirium of Joe’s events; we share many similar inspirations and themes in our work.
…and some Graffiti by me….. We put our heads together and have been bouncing ideas backwards and forwards so expect something a bit special. Year by year Arcadia Spectacular have expanded at Glastonbury, starting off in ‘Trash City’ in 2008 with the Mutoid Waste Company. It was so successful that they were given their own field in 2009, this was in turn so successful that this year, 2010; to quote organiser Micheal Eavis… "We’re giving over an extra 15 acres to Arcadia …..because the feedback we got on that area was fantastic.” As a result the Arcadia crew are ramping up the spectacular even further, featuring a new top secret ‘Afterburner’, the main stage structure, which takes the whole show to the next level. Mutating daredevils on highwires and trapezes will do battle with actual lightning bolts, pyrotechnics and flamethrowers high above the arena in a mid air extravaganza of cosmic significance and electric delight that will bring the ‘invisible world’ into living focus before your very eyes and ears. I will be doing my best to provide this sensory feast with an incredible surround of amazing art that will help Arcadia to transport minds to places and times far from this dimension. Thanks to the guys at Chrome and Black paint shop in Shoreditch, East London, yet again, for looking after us so well…. Arcadia Stage Line Up Glastonbury 2010 Weds 23rd-Sun 27th June 2010
Arcadia photos Mutate Britain Winter Show Picture Heavy Post part 22009.12.11
We kick off part two of this post with the golden age train writer Cazbee 53 from DSS Crew Da Sure Shots, from Ladbroke Grove piecing the outer wall of the MuTate Britain mechanical zoo….Many of Cazbees pieces rolled past this spot on trains,or were under the Westway itself. Now he’s back 20 years later, along with oldskool steel writers Fuel, Skore, Mear, Crok, Don myself and a few of London’s more new skool to take the vibe back to the raw, enabling a potent and complementary mix of the hardcore underground vibes and tribes….
and back inside for another shot of me and Vibes….
……and onto the wild, diverse art within, here’s Jimmy South of War Boutique
Lyle Doghead, LRRY and friend
Elate, Obey
Anarchist Crockery by Carrie Reichart
In Dog We Trust by Jolly Good, made with real dollar bills…
The toilets…
New Arrivals… What I have posted is a fraction of what is there, you really have to get down to this 12,000 foot space and experience the most revolutionary art happening London, probably even the world has ever seen. The future is unwritten!!! The Mutate Britain shop is now online check it here!!!! Families are welcome to this multisensory extravaganza!. Full dates and opening times below. We look forwarding to seeing you! Opening times: Opens December 4th to December 20th – FRI / SAT / SUN Fri – 2pm -10pm We are also open 2 Wednesdays for the Portobello Winter Festival on the 9th & 16th December – 6pm -10pm FRI & SAT (NO ENTRY AFTER 9PM) SUN (NO ENTRY AFTER 8PM) £2 before 6pm / £3 there after’ www.mutatebritain.wordpress.com facebook mutatebritain Mutate Britain Christmas Special On Now2009.12.04
ONE FOOT IN THE GROVE ‘Christmas special’ ‘One Foot in the Grove’ is back from the 4th of December. ‘Our festival of underground art provides a welcoming, inclusive and visually astounding experience for all ages in an atmospheric 12,000 square foot setting just off Portobello Road. Walk amongst giant sculptures, installations and unique artwork and hang out for good times at our licensed bar with proper music and delicious grub. We are featuring loads of new work including an epic wall by Elate, Vibes and Obey Giant that cracks and crumbles the Westway to rubble before your eyes!
There’s new work by Joe Rush, a giant collaboration by Sam Haggerty and Dotmasters, new pieces by Teddy Baden, Wreckage, Seize, Code FC, Bleach, Best Ever, Zadok, Fuel, Skore, Crok, Mear, Towns, K-Guy, to name but a few, also light installations, lasers, stalls, bric a brac, curios, and anarchist crockery.
We have rehung our gallery room that offers exclusive posters, prints, originals, sculptures, photography, clothing and object d’art that make perfect prezzies for you and your discerning friends and family.
We provide that much needed alternative to the Xmas chaos of Oxford Street – so don’t miss out on the best show in town. See giant fire-breathing robots walking, drink at our licensed bar, see and hear film shows, trains thundering past and experience an authentic friendly festival vibe in the heart of London.
This promises to be London’s biggest, most inclusive, interactive and underground street art event this Christmas. Families are welcome to this multisensory extravaganza!. Full dates and opening times below. We look forwarding to seeing you! Opening times: Opens December 4th to December 20th – FRI / SAT / SUN Fri – 2pm -10pm We are also open 2 Wednesdays for the Portobello Winter Festival on the 9th & 16th December – 6pm -10pm FRI & SAT (NO ENTRY AFTER 9PM) SUN (NO ENTRY AFTER 8PM) £2 before 6pm / £3 there after’ www.mutatebritain.wordpress.com facebook mutatebritain Elate@One Foot in the Grove-Mutate Britain2009.10.20
For those that haven’t heard, the exhibition One Foot in the Grove by Mutate Britain is currently on under the Westway, Ladbroke Grove, West London; each weekend until November the 1st 2009, 12-10pm. The Westway is where the UK graffiti scene started in earnest when the Clash bought Futura 2000 there to paint in 1982. The Mutoid Waste Company are a travelling band of punk-squatter mechanic artists led by Joe Rush that infected the acid house party movement with their dark and surreal bio-mechanoid humour, building scrap metal wastelands and delirious mindscapes in a shock juxtaposition of realities guaranteed to give any trip a hair raising edge. Think Heironymous Bosch versus Tron and you’re getting somewhere…
Inspired by the desolation of the 80s to escape into a parallel post apocalyptic universe they inspired a generation to create, myself included.
Some of the best acid parties I attended in the late Eighties and early Nineties had input from the Mutoid Waste Crew or their many splinter groups Circus Irritant, Circus Warp, Splattered Fantasy etc, these plunged my young, impressionable and highly expanded consciousness into a Bermuda Triangle of anamorphic archetypes, cyborg spectres and grotesque apparitions in parody of human and machine form, fractured and echoed by laser and strobe, syncopated and shaken with deafening electronic bass. The vibe was always intensely surreal, the most outrageously attired and hideously painted forms appeared from the flickering fog in theatrical convulsions, the music was the most twisted repetitive acid, deep and tribal, which stripped the senses gradually to total derangement, beat after pounding beat, until finally at one with the music the chaotic environment and your inner world became one.
Now twenty years later the Mutoids are under the Westway, and it’s not a squat, the police are not outside, the pounding house and techno has been replaced by an eclectic mix including ragga, reggae, punk, soca and rockabilly and the sweating, swaying trance-dancers have grown into bespectacled media professionals pushing buggys. They still roll out the 303 acid sound when the fire-breathing machines get loose though… Their amazing signature art, friendly warm family atmosphere and tongue-in-cheek vibe is however present in abundance, accessible and inspirational to the whole family, exhibited together with an array of street and graffiti art, so when I was asked to come and paint a wall I was honoured to oblige, being able to give something back to the community that gave so much inspiration to me in the mad days of the late eighties and early nineties! It was very short notice so I improvised with some graffiti letters with a twist ….
There is no doubt in my mind from the captivated expressions on the faces of their visitors that their inspiration will grow into new and exciting ideas in years to come.
Oh and by the way everything is for sale!
All photos by Jenny So in their own words…. Below you will find details of how to get there and when it’s open. It’s one of London’s biggest underground art events ever. So don’t just hear about it, watch the video, read the info, explore the blog and get down to the show! We promise to look after you with our fully licensed bar, delicious food and inclusive festival atmosphere. There honestly, really and truly is no better way to enjoy art. Open on : FRI 12-10pm / SAT 12-10pm / SUN 12-9pm Ends: 01.11.2009 Location: 3-6 Acklam Rd, London, W10 5YU MAP Entrance: £1 before 6pm – £3 thereafter Website here Mutate Britain
Disintegration of Night…Fuse/Go!2009.10.14
Cropped from oil painting ‘Something Scary’ and Photoshopped. The Inspiration of William Blake2009.09.25
Empire follows art and not vice versa as Englishmen suppose.
The man who never alters his opinions is like standing water, and breeds reptiles of the mind.
The man who never in his mind and thoughts travel’d to heaven is no artist.
To see a world in a grain of sand and heaven in a wild flower Hold infinity in the palms of your hand and eternity in an hour.
The true method of knowledge is experiment.
As a man is, so he sees. As the eye is formed, such are its powers.
He who binds to himself a joy Does the winged life destroy; But he who kisses the joy as it flies Lives in eternity’s sun rise.
I must create a system or be enslaved by another mans; I will not reason and compare: my business is to create.
Great things are done when men and mountains meet
Prose by William Blake-1757-1827 All paintings by myself, many of these and many more will be displayed at my forthcoming exhibition
I wander through each chartered street, In every cry of every man, London- William Blake The Subjective Association of Symbols2009.09.03
Here’s an oil painting I did way back in 1998. I thought I’d drag it out and post it as it seems to have gained new significance…
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