Temporary Fix: Writing on the Wall
June 5th - June 19th 2008
Introducing Jerm9ine, Ninja9ine, Byron Cameraman and Shallom Johnson.
Isabella Egan gallery introduces Temporary Fix: Writing on the Wall, an innovative exhibition showing the works and talent of four local street artists. Inspired by the dedication and raw talent of Shallom Johnson, Jerm9ine, Ninja9ine and Byron Cameraman the Isabella Egan Gallery is pleased to announce a collaborative show which will introduce Vancouver to the variety and artistic movement of Street Art:
Situated in Gastown, Vancouver’s central hub for Street Art the Isabella Egan Gallery decided to explore further into the local urban street art scene. Lead instructively by Shallom Johnson, Isabella Egan Gallery was introduced to the talents and vibe of the Vancouver Street Art community.
In recent years the relevance of Street Art and Graffiti within the contemporary art industry has increased, with a general air of acceptance of the medium as a recognised art form taking precedence over the before perceived reputation of gang crimes and troublesome teenagers. The worldwide publicity of artists such as Banksy and his exceptional urban art stunts have increase public awareness to the art form, both from a political standpoint and from that of aesthetical appreciation.
The art form is rapidly becoming recognised as an artistic movement by local city councils, who are now providing areas for young artists to practice and national artistic bodies who are recognising the talents and skills of street artists. The Street Art community, although still embedded with the under ground vibe of insurgence, political unrest and rebellion now takes on a much more important role within the urban environment, one of education and insight into the local communities thoughts and feelings, be it of societal dissatisfaction or pride. Specifically “Jerm9ine and Ninja9ines work is about communicating with the general public in a world where this task is becoming increasingly difficult due to the commercialization and gentrification of public spaces. The street as a medium provides them with the ultimate means of communication with the viewer in a completely uncensored manner.” Far from your typical “taggers” (a term given to street artists that “tag or sign” a building with their signature mark.) Jerm9ine and Ninja9ine combine the genres of graffiti, street art, and poetry effectively creating socio-political mind bombs. Referred to by Timothy Taylor as “stark comments on the here and now, impulsive annotations of the urban landscape,” and “thinly veiled critiques” (Timothy Taylor, Globe & Mail March 24th, 2008).
Conversely Shallom Johnson plays the part of voyeur into the world of Street Art. Documenting the artists works with her photography. Conceptually, Johnson is “interested in capturing transience - providing a concrete record of street art and graffiti, art forms that are in essence ephemeral and fleeting.” Byron Cameraman takes the concept of photographic documentation with his creations of images representing images street art.
Vancouver’s Gastown has in recent years been an area of much urban conflict, decay and renovation. However it is also a thriving hot bed for some of Vancouver’s most talented street artists. “It really is incredible. I walk the same route every day to the gallery and every day I see the changing art work on the walls. Since being introduced to the Street Art community through Ms Johnson I now have a far greater understanding and respect for what I’m seeing. It’s a great feeling to walk past a work plastered to a random brick wall or dustbin and recognise the artists as I would in a major museum, or exhibition – suddenly the work seems that much more intuitive and far less intimidating.” (Isabella Egan – Gallery Owner)
Temporary Fix: Writing on the Wall will be on exhibition at the Isabella Egan Gallery from June 5th – June 19th. It is the gallery’s hope and the artists ambition that by seeing the works of Street Art in the formalised space of a contemporary art gallery, those enjoying the exhibition will find an affinity with the genre and will start to notice much more of the eye catching and sometimes politically based art that adorns the urban streets and buildings.
