The phrase “there’s art in a tag” isn’t just a catchy byline, its a indisputable truth. I never hesitate to throw disdain on anyone who ever utters a variation of the line “Oh, I love all the beautiful murals and street art stuff, but I hate those ugly graffiti tags”. Simple fact – without graffiti and those “ugly tags” there would be no street art movement. There would be no pretty things for tourists to gawk at in our city, and there would be no global phenomenon that has been street art in the past 20 years. I always wonder, if these people were actually educated a little more, if they could stop for a few minutes of time and actually look at how a tag is constructed, that they would, like a veil being lifted from their eyes, see the beauty in the artform.
Like all art, tags come in many forms. They can be wild, crazy, illegible, blocky and they can be produced by those with little experience (this is what most of those people hate) or it can be created by a master calligraffitiist in what can only be described as a beatific form that owes much to a long tradition, in many countries, of turning lettering into art.
The upcoming show at BSIDE Gallery, International Hands, showcases many of these artists who have taken their tags into new directions and nuances – they are craftsmen in the best possible use of the word. Showcasing work from Russia, Hong Kong, USA, France, Canada, Mexico and more, there are so many different styles on display that there will be something for everyone – read on for more info …
International Hands‘ is a group exhibition curated by Handstyler focusing strictly on the graffiti handstyle. The show will be exhibited across two Australian cities, Melbourne & Sydney, and features works from 20 artists from around the world that have been noticed as pushing their handstyles in forward-thinking directions. BSIDE Gallery will host the Melbourne show from 16th-20th August, with the launch night falling on the 18th.
The artists, all internationally renowned for pushing their unique handwriting – which is often shunned by the general public – aims to shine a light on an artform that is most commonly misunderstood and frowned upon within our society, but heavily respected within the graffiti subculture.
Featuring some of the world’s best and most respected writers, the exhibition aims to start a dialogue about the influence, significance and aesthetic behind this urban calligraphy and it’s place within society and the street art scene. Tagging is a part of an important underground and unsolicited conversation happening across the globe with many artists being able to decipher these complex scribes in seconds. Tagging in itself is the most common, basic and primal part of street culture and takes in most cases decades to become a true master – International Hands pays homage to these masters.
International Hands is a show to demonstrate to everybody – the public and the graffiti scene alike – that there truly is art in a tag. The pieces in the show have come from artists located around the world and as a result each brings a different style to the walls. A mixture of different methods and mediums are used, including spray paint, markers and stickers, which shows the diversity found in tagging.
Join us for the opening of ‘International Hands‘ at BSIDE Gallery from 6-9pm on Friday 18th August 2017, 121 Brunswick St, Fitzroy.
To view the catalogue please click here. For any sales or media enquiries, or to arrange a private viewing of the available works, please contact Gallery Manager Ariana Leane – info@bsidegallery.com
Shows like this are important, because they showcase the side of graffiti and streetart that the “General population” don’t usually understand, and often feel confronted by. For those people who love a good tag, this one is also important, as it brings together a whole bunch of local and international artists celebrating the cool shit that is a mad handstyle.
Tell your friends, tell strangers on the street – but get as many people as possible down to see this show – who knows, maybe one or two people who haven’t really understood it before will come away with a new love, and if not love, appreciation.
Who: Acro, Apexer, Badypnose, Buster, Canser, Ces, Cozek, Ekser, Feeceez, Freak, Keep6, Load42, Mach, Mayonaize, Nurse, Risote, Riteo, Sicoer, Siege, Soem, Sopehs, Soviet, Xeme
What: International Hands – a showcase of quality graffiti handstyles from around the world
Where: BSIDE Gallery, 121 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, Melbourne
When: Show opens Friday August 16th from 6pm til 9pm and runs until 20th August only.
Check out the Handstyler instagram for more details
Leave a Comment
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked with *