Despite their name sake’s view point (a local old lady said of the first display work “that’s ugly”) there is most definitely nothing of the uncomely in the work of Project Ugly .
Tony Kenny and David Leach, the founders, began this endeavour to aid emerging Australian artists in legally showcasing their talent and have acquired Curator, local artist Daniel “Ears” O’Toole to put on an awesome “take that!” to the nay-sayers of street art.
The project takes to the canvas of a commercial billboard, and uses this unexpected medium to shine a light on the integrity and positivity of the street art culture – advertising space that we actually WANT to see be filled! YAY!
This outdoor exhibition and live art event is a “collaboration of big business (Look Print) and small business (a grass roots art gallery called ‘Oh Really Gallery‘). Oh Really was one of the few artist run spaces in Sydney to support the street art culture and connected with many of the most talented street artists from around Australia. When such artists come to town, Project Ugly is one of the few accessible platforms on offer for such artists to paint at no expense to themselves.”
With Brisbane’s Shida and NZ original Mr Sprinkles completing the final panels live, the Project (which we should now dub Project Awesome!) will surely achieve creative kudos, as those billboards will beckon many to rearrange their regressed views on Sydney street art.
Who: Daniel O’Toole (Ears), Mr Sprinkels, Shida
What: Project Ugly
Where: Outpost Project – Cockatoo Island, Sydney
When: Saturday 5th – Sunday 6th November 10am-5pm
Check out the Outpost site for more details.
2 comments
2 Comments
Tara Rennie
November 7, 2011, 6:15 amcan you wipe out that ugly picture on the side of the building that we in Balmain have to wake up to every morning.
REPLYPlease.
It’s sincerely bad art and this is in no way a compliment.
Please don’t uglify the building again.
Facter
November 7, 2011, 4:51 pmSorry, we are not a part of the Outpost Festival nor do we represent the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust so we can’t do anything about your request. Do you mean the beautiful mural that adorns the side of the building by the internationally acclaimed and talented Australian artist by the name of Vexta? It is a legally painted mural that was commissioned on behalf of the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust.
That image is not a part of Project Ugly, nor do we here at Invurt find it ugly whatsoever – it is a shame that you would think so, but, thats what art is there for – to be subjective and to create talking points – its certainly doing that. Everyone has different taste, and there are thousands of people who visited Outpost, and indeed who live in Balmain, who do not share your opinion.
We dont particularly like all of the 8 million dollar homes dotting the edge of the harbour of Balmain, we find them ugly – poorly designed and extremely distasteful – they destroy the natural feel of the harbour with their grotesquely rich attitudinal presence – so could we please remove them and stop uglifying the harbour?
Do you see the point here? Its all subjective – just because you dont like it, doesnt mean that it is “ugly” – nor that others dont thoroughly enjoy it.
To remove such a landmark piece of artwork would be a terrible thing, it would be like walking into an art gallery, taking a Brett Whitely off the wall and setting it on fire – a lot of people dont like his work either, does that make it anything less than art?
I guess if there are any moves to remove it from the wall – well, we’ll just see what we have to say about that if it were to ever happens.
REPLY