Its been over a month since we were in London attending the Futurism 2.0 exhibition which featured work from many of the artists we feature on our site. The show titled Futurism 2.0 was a nod to today’s thriving contemporary scene and our impact on the future of the artworld. There has been great debate about this show and its ties to the actual Futurism movement. We have stated it several times before as we talked to the curator and the artists involved and this show was in no way associated with the futurists and their unpopular views. There was synchronicity at work here though as Futurism 2.0 was due to take place 100 years from the futurist movement. In an age where contemporary art is a convoluted scene that in our eyes has lost its way a bit. We wont get that discussion as it could take multiple essays to even comment on. What we can say is that today our contemporary artists are coming together like never before and making a real assault on the scene. Futurism 2.0 yet another example of our top artists coming together and not only exhibiting together, but actually coming together as a group. 90% of the artists made the show as well as numerous other talented artists who are just as important to the overall picture of the scene.
Gamma Proforma presented Futurism 2.0 in Shoreditch London and also released this new video that walks you through the exhibit in all its detailed glory. With a huge turnout Futurism 2.0 opened to a line of guests waiting to be let in. The video captures the scene of the event as well as each work in the show. Curated by Rob Swain Futurism 2.0 proved to be a successful event and opening.
After opening night with many of the artists in town the group took to the walls of London leaving some amazing murals for the UK. It is always exciting to see what happens during these events as so many artists who might not be able to work with each get that chance. We seen collaboration between Sat one and Roids, Shok-1 Remi Rough and Joker, and much more. As with rudimentary perfection in 2011, Futurism 2.0 proved to be an amazing meeting of artists. We thank all the volunteers, contributors, and Gamma Proforma for taking on such a tall task. Make sure to check the website where you can still get a copy of the catalog or order a book. Daniel has a great quote from the Book below
“Because of the global composition of the group, the loosely-associated members are from disparate backgrounds, professions, and locations. They create in different styles and mediums, but for the majority of the artists involved in the group so far, their unifying influence is graffiti, their medium is painting, and their theme is abstraction. These artists aspire to a master’s level at their craft, which includes not only technical proficiency, but also historical research, theoretical readings, and possibly educational pursuits pertaining to their discipline. This kind of in-depth, well-rounded, self-cultivation has produced a community of artist’s with styles that are a refined visual poetry comprised of depth and complexity in content as well as technique.
The Graffuturists could be classified as a High Style New Millennium movement, consisting of a dialogue and cross-pollination between advanced graffiti and fine art techniques, practices and theory. Wildstyle Graffiti is combined with Abstract Expressionism, Geometric Abstraction, or another high style historical form. Then it is transposed through the artist’s unique vision and medium into a personal vocabulary of hybrid techniques, an experimental mix of the high and low, intellectual and visceral, the visionary and the primitive. Whereas the Street Art movement of the mid-2000s tended to focus on figurative stencils and silkscreens used for wheat-pastes, this group of artists on the whole is more concerned with the act of painting and its history, whether academic or street, oil paint or spray, fat cap or sable brush.
Just as Be-bop developed from jazz, Raw Magazine from Superman comics, and Wildstyle from Original Writing, Graffuturism progresses from graffiti, and then takes up the oily-rag torch to ignite the future.”
Daniel Feral (Pantheon Projects / 12oz Prophet)
Great people, Great event, and great memories as usual.
GF
