So just to make this clear it's exactly the same images Faile have been using for the last 10+ years, but painted onto blocks and jumbled around and then sold to the rich folk at rubenstein? Where's Derek Trotter when you need him?
www.failebedtimestories.net/
word in, it maybe new images but Funky thinks 'same shit different day', same fucking tedious tedious wrapping paper leaving a dull ache in his heart for, something better
word also in that artists regurgitate the same work again and again and again whilst understanding this amazing premise, Funky feels this shouldn't be something we all shrug our shoulders go 'yeah thats the lot of an artist, trying to find inspiration is jolly hard'
word also in that this remains Funky personal fucking thoughts on the shit that gets to him and sometimes somethimes makes him smile
Somebody save us from the tedium!
ReplyDeletesir. you must have, by now, realised that should you want to be famous, or at least have the level of fame where people will buy your work for a reasonably high price enabling you to live from being an artist, you must produce the same things over and over for many years. it matters not if those things are good or not, what matters is that you keep hitting people with the same stick until they take notice of you. And there's a lot of potential customers out there so it takes many, many years to hit them all with that stick.
ReplyDeletealso, bare in mind that most artists aren't doing anything really interesting until they reach their 50's, and have lived a lot of life. It should come as no surprise that artists in their 30's are still producing the same things as they were for the past 10 years. At this age you're taking all the opportunities to show, to travel, to earn money, to get laid. Once you've got to an age where money isn't such a hustle to earn, maybe you've had the opportunity to breed, stuff like that, you can start to concentrate much more on your art, without having to worry about it making you look good so that you can get laid, or about paying the rent. You've also lived a lot more life, so have more (potentially) to talk about. I know that I am very different now, in my thinking, my knowledge, etc, than I was 10 years ago. I just became a father, so no doubt in another 10 I'll have completely different ideas and perspectives on life.
If you are expecting something different in the next five years from artists such as Shepard Fairey, KAWS, Eine, Swoon, Space Invader, D*Face, Faile, Dave Kinsey, Banksy etc than they've given you in the last five, you'll be sadly disappointed. Of course, sometimes artist surprise us with something completely random and fantastic (like Swoon's Rockaway Armada) but it's rare.
Also remember that the generation of artists that followed this "famous" generation have learnt from what they've seen, so they too will be doing the same kind of thing they already do for the foreseeable future.
ReplyDeleteThere is also the problem that you get known for a certain thing, and if you break away from that people just don't "get it". I know from my own experience. Last year I made a show of collaborations with Ekta, where we tried to make things that were completely new. I thought a few of the pieces were the most interesting things I've ever made, but the show was a massive failure financially, and neither the artists or the gallery even got close to covering their costs. I simply can't afford to not drop some simple, flat-colour cartoon shit in my shows, or every time I make an exhibition it will cost me money, and I'll have to get another suck-ass day job!
I find the work of mine that sells best is the things that are at least five years old, as it takes a long time for people to catch up with you, or to get in the same groove you're in. And if you're one of the artists known for making the same things over and over you have to stick to that stuff to a certain degree. For example, if I invited Roa to paint the side of my house I'd be expecting him to paint a large animal in black and white. If he was trying out new things, and painted a red ferrari, or some abstract nonsense, I'd no doubt be a little pissed off. It doesn't pay to upset your fans/customers.
I'm sure if I'd stuck to the things I was painting 10 years ago, and hadn't wasted time making masks, publishing fanzines, directing pop videos, drawing cartoons, etc I'd probably be a lot more well known, possibly even in the junior ranks of the Big League. I'm also sure that if I had stuck to doing the same shit over and over I'd be incredibly depressed, single, and full of hate for the world, rather than the unknown, smiling father that I am today.
I think I made the right choice.
So try and relax. I try not to go to art shows as they usually make me feel bad. Sometimes because they are so great, but more often because they are so god-damn awful. And though I comment on this blog, I don't take too much interest in what's going on in the street art scene for the same reasons. Most of everything in life is boring, generic, badly-made. Just be happy that sometimes someone does something incredible. And celebrate that!
Pretty sure they are mostly new images... at least from the preview.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on becoming a new father Dave!
ReplyDeleteIf any of the aforesaid artists can do half of what Swoon done on the rockaway armadd, i'd doff my cap in praise.
ReplyDeleteHerr Funk. I agree, it is extremely boring, I for one won't be visiting their show or buying their work. I was simply pointing out that this is all you can expect from the big boys who are known. If you want pleasure and new-ness from your art you can't look in the obvious places (like Vandalog) and need to search deeper. I never see any blogs posting news about Product Two, East Eric, Wayne Horse, or many of these other folk that I think are doing good stuff, different stuff, interesting stuff. Probably because they don't do the same work over and over, don't have pr people, and there's no space in bloggers brains because they are full of the latest Eine shutter/Obey poster/KAWS toy/Banksy stencil.
ReplyDeleteso, it's kind of your fault that you get the same Faile images again. every time you post about someone you hate you give them publicity, the publicity drives people to the shows, the artists think "hey, people like this shit" and so they keep making it.
hands up who clicked the link that said DON'T SIGN THIS PETITION yesterday. I did. had I not seen it here I would be none the wiser.
I have to say I blame bloggers for the fact that "street art is dead"
before blogs we had to find out about it through going outside...
Another pile of crap from the coffee throwing paper tearing scribbling twats, someone buy them a painting by numbers kit soon, Faile Fail.
ReplyDeleteAgree with most of the above, but at least this blog says things as they are, instead of just copy/pasting press releases like the rest of them seem to. Somebody has to expose the reality of the bullshit the public keeps getting fed as being 'street art'.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of which, I see that Viscount Vandalog, the PR lackey in chief for Swoon and Black Rat Projects is promoting them both again today! Will he ever give it a fucking rest??? He might as well just start his own shopping channel and be done with it.
"He might as well just start his own shopping channel and be done with it."
ReplyDeleteI take it you haven't seen his new limited edition t-shirt shop?
Well a very trueful admission from Dave the Chimp as to why his art is not that great and rather repetitive.
ReplyDeleteIf it's all about the money, it is never gonna be great art...
A fiercely independent and incorruptable eruption of blogging talent will grasp the mettle with a reckless abandon, massive public profile, enquiring mind and tireless commitment, energised by a backlash against the current shower....a recognition of the real....and a willingness to speak out against bullshit..... glory and mad props to Dr Funky who has nobly led such a vital charge.
ReplyDeleteThis culture is in its infancy we will look back upon these past days with enlightened scorn.
Your culture needs YOU!
A fiercely independent and incorruptable eruption of blogging talent will grasp the mettle with a reckless abandon, massive public profile, enquiring mind and tireless commitment, energised by a backlash against the current shower....a recognition of the real....and a willingness to speak out against bullshit..... glory and mad props to Dr Funky who has nobly led such a vital charge.
ReplyDeleteThis culture is in its infancy we will look back upon these past days with enlightened scorn.
Your culture needs YOU!
Herr Funk. I agree, it is extremely boring, I for one won't be visiting their show or buying their work. I was simply pointing out that this is all you can expect from the big boys who are known. If you want pleasure and new-ness from your art you can't look in the obvious places (like Vandalog) and need to search deeper. I never see any blogs posting news about Product Two, East Eric, Wayne Horse, or many of these other folk that I think are doing good stuff, different stuff, interesting stuff. Probably because they don't do the same work over and over, don't have pr people, and there's no space in bloggers brains because they are full of the latest Eine shutter/Obey poster/KAWS toy/Banksy stencil.
ReplyDeleteso, it's kind of your fault that you get the same Faile images again. every time you post about someone you hate you give them publicity, the publicity drives people to the shows, the artists think "hey, people like this shit" and so they keep making it.
hands up who clicked the link that said DON'T SIGN THIS PETITION yesterday. I did. had I not seen it here I would be none the wiser.
I have to say I blame bloggers for the fact that "street art is dead"
before blogs we had to find out about it through going outside...
Congratulations on becoming a new father Dave!
ReplyDelete