Pics of the opening for ‘SOB – Streets of Berlin’ in cooperation with JAM Berlin
As a nice kick-off for Berlin fashion week, which is taking over the city this week with lots of trade shows, events and runway presentations, we celebrated the opening for ‘SOB – Streets of Berlin’, which was realized in cooperation with international tradeshow for Jeans- and Sportswear Brands JAM Berlin. The crowd (and we too ;)), looking forward to a bustling week, really enjoyed the nice and friendly atmosphere, good music by VKMP3 and especially the open bar – great support again by Beck’s Gold, Bacardi and 42Below!!
So if you happen to be in Berlin for the fashion week, don’t miss to take a look on Marcus Fischer’s silkscreen prints of Berlin’s urban cityscape and the best designs for the JAM Berlin Shuttle Bus contest.
More pics, as always, on our flickr…
Next exhibition: SOB – Streets of Berlin
We are really happy to invite you to the opening of ‘SOB – STREETS OF BERLIN’ in cooperation with international tradeshow for Jeans- and Sportswear Brands JAM Berlin. Don’t miss this kick-off for fashion week, enjoy yourself, nice designs, watching stylee people, open bar (with the friendly support of Beck’s, Bacardi & 42below) and dancing on VKMP3 djs beats.The vernissage will take place on Monday, January 18th, 19:00 at West Berlin Gallery, Brunnenstr. 56, 13355 Berlin
West Berlin Gallery shows in cooperation with the international tradeshow for Jeans- and Sportswear Brands JAM Berlin from January 18th – 31st 2010 works by Marcus Fischer (responsible for the visual communication of JAM Berlin) and the best designs for the Shuttle-Bus contest, organized by laFraise.com for JAM Berlin.
The exhibition at West Berlin Gallery shows silkscreen prints by Marcus Fischer with typical motifs of Berlin’s cityscape: the Große Stern, Brandenburger Tor or Checkpoint Charlie are symbols of Berlin like the modern architecture, contemporary art and the musical culture of the young metropolis, which attracts people from all over the world. His work alienates this well-known views of the Berlin sights by using irritating colours full of contrasts, uncommon details and graphic halftoning, putting the medium silkscreen on the spotlight. This reworking in terms of graphics and colour creates effects like in OP ART and forces the recipient to a new attitude towards the emblems of Berlin, often just shown as touristy Kitsch, and to question his own perception. At the same time they create the impression of movement, they seem to vibrate and pulsate – like the creative metropolis Berlin, always on the move.
All posters are limited to 100 pieces and based on photographs taken by Fischer. The silkscreen prints are professionally crafted by a printer in Berlin-Wedding. Alongside the posters in different colours the original press proofs and color proofs will be available at the exhibition.
Further we will show the best designs for the JAM Berlin Shuttle-Bus contest, realized by laFraise.com for JAM Berlin. The JAM Berlin Shuttle-Bus, adorned with the winning design, will connect all important events of Berlin Fashion Week. Who wants to see the winner live at work can visit the laFraise.com booth at JAM, where he will work on a graphic-wall.
Pics of the Vernissage for ‘Cuypi: Life Is a Gift’
Yesterday we celebrated the opening of Cuypi’s first solo exhibition and it was a really nice evening. The show is still on display until January 17th and it’s really worth to come around. We have set up a nice collection – posters, handpainted skateboards and vinyl toys, shirts and canvases and a painted wall.
As always more pictures on flickr!
First Look: Cuypi taking over West Berlin Gallery
Here is a first teaser for Cuypi’s solo exhibition ‘Life Is A Gift’. Don’t miss the opening tonight, December 16th, starting 19:00. Come around and see some cool music-inspired designs, enjoy Massimiliano Pagliara playing straight vinyl and have some decent drinks! For the bar West Berlin Gallery will have the friendly support of Becks who will provide you with fresh and free beer. The exhibition will show a broad overview of Cuypi’s artistic expression, including digital prints on canvas, shirts, toys and skateboards.
More pics on our flickr…
Next exhibition: ‘Cuypi: Life is a gift’
The end of the year is coming nearer and nearer, but we are happy to announce the opening of another exhibition for this year. We will show french graphic designer and illustrator Cuypi in a solo exhibition, opening on Wednesday, December 16th. Don’t miss the opening as Cuypi will paint a wall of the gallery live!
Born in 1980 and got used to drawing from early childhood on, Cuypi developed his own unique style which combines character design with typography in a highly recognizable way.
In his works typography adds to the motif to make it complete but at the same time acts as an autonomous and stand-alone feature of the layout. He handles letters like characters, allowing for their own and strong expression. One of his predominant topics as well as a constant source of inspiration is music: ‚It’s the rhythm of my life, and my life is the rhythm of my music. Before I start drawing an illustration, I put my headphones on and choose a playlist which matches my mood. Then I try to translate feelings into images’ (Cuypi). You will also find a lot of references to comics, street culture and movies.
Cuypi’s designs are not bound to one single medium, he is working as a graphic designer for a communication agency as well as designing for T-Shirts and Skateboards and customizing vinyl toys. He has worked for a wide range of customers, including laFraise, Threadless, DAHRA (Against Tibetan Abuse), Late Nite Hype, Salomon, Grey London, Archiduchesse and Vinyl Kills Mp3. His design for a christmas make-over for the facade of Louis Vuitton’s shop on 5th Avenue, New York, reached the final round of the competition.
The exhibition at West Berlin Gallery will show a broad overview of Cuypi’s artistic expression, including digital prints on canvas, shirts, toys and skateboards. We are happy to invite you to the opening on Wednesday, December 16th, starting 19:00. Come around and see Cuypi painting a wall live, enjoy some good music and decent drinks! For the bar we will have the friendly support of Becks who will provide you with fresh and free beer.
Becks is also organizing a pretty cool event series concerning urban culture, called the Becks Gold Urban Experiences – check out the accompanying blog, it’s worth reading :)
First Pics of the BSV Vernissage
Here are the first pics of the ‘WEST BERLIN GALLERY presents BLOOD SWEAT VECTOR’ opening last Thursday. Thanks to all who came around, especially to Brad, Jared, Marius and Eleanor, to 42Below and the excellent bartenders, to Tatjana and Guillaume for spinning some nice music and last but not least to all participating designers – really good job
For all who didn’t make it for the opening – the show is running till December 12th!
For even more pics try our flickr…
Featured Artist: Martin Krusche
Tomorrow, October 15th, will see the big opening of the ‘Martin Krusche vs laFraise: ‘Ugly & Drippy’ exhibition, so I sat down with Martin and talked to him about his work, ink and other ugly and drippy things. Meet Martin after the jump…
‘Heads’, acrylic and ink on carton
Hey Martin, how are you doing? Would you like to introduce yourself? What should we know about you?
I’m fine, thanks. My name is Martin Krusche, I’m 27 and I work as an Illustrator. I’m mainly working for my own brand Yackfou, but i also do many free stuff, like paintings, free illustrations and ink sketchings. You can see some examples in the upcoming exhibition.
First tell me, how comes your special interest in ‚Ugly & Drippy’ things?
I like ‚Ugly&Drippy’ because I’m just attracted by raw, unfinished and even unaesthetic things. Our life is very ‚overaesteticised’ and in art/graphics we always try to create very beautiful things as well. This contrast between the Ugly and Imperfect and the Beautiful is always very charming for me and influences the style of my illustrations a lot.
Do you like the way the contestants worked on the ‚Ugly & Drippy’ topic?
Yes, basically I’m very satisfied with their adaption of the topic. But I was really surprised that almost all contestants just worked on the motif of ‚Ugly & Drippy’ and didn’t use it as a technical approach.
And what do you think about combining your works with the contest designs in an exhibition?
I like that very much, super! Actually I really like group exhibitions, and if there’s a topic above all, I’m always all excited! So you can see how different people pick up a topic and work on it. I’m looking forward to the exhibition…
What inspires your works?
I’m inspired by everything. I don’t have any particular examples or heroes or anything like that. Of course I go to see exhibitions, check magazines, books and blogs, but that’s not the only input. Everything I experience all day or leave impressions can affect my work.
Can you describe your workflow? For me it was a really interesting point that your designs rely a lot on analogue handwork with ink and pen.
Yes, that’s right. I like the feeling of producing something by hand. And I like the haptics and optics of analoguely sketched illustrations much more than the relatively cool and mathematic layout of digital works.
But regarding the workflow: I draw a lot, which serves as a foundation for elaborated illustrations. Mostly i take good drafts and enhance them until I judge them as good as in the sketchbook. Then I enlarge them and do a black and white final drawing on the light box. These I will scan and colour the ink sketching digital.
You are often working with the contrast of black-white and colored details. That makes most of your designs highly recognizable.
You are right. The reason for this is the way I work – basically inking the illustration in black and white.
‘Smokerface’
As you are socialised with Graffiti, in which way does it influence your work today?
Hardly intentional, as I’m not thinking: How would this work on a wall or something like that. But indirectly or unconsciously I would say that a certain sense for letters, size, colours and forms is rooted in this graffiti aesthetic somehow.
Why did you decide to focus on designs for clothing? You are running your own clothes brand Yackfou…
It wasn’t a deliberate decision, things just turned out like that.
In the beginning i just wanted to use my abilities for creating a product, which is beyond the duration of a flyer or a website but, like a T-shirt does, shapes a phase in one’s life and your everyday life in a very intense way. But over the course of time me and the fabric became friends, so my focus automatically came to rest upon it!
Thanks a lot for your time, Martin, and we are happy to show your work here at West Berlin Gallery!
Thank you too.
If you are now curious to see more of Martin’s work and the results of the laFraise ‚Ugly & drippy’ contest, join us on the opening tomorrow, starting at 7pm. We will care for nice music and 42Below will serve you with tasty and boozing drinks. If you can’t make it, the exhibition will run until November 06th. In any case check Martin’s blog and laFraise for the shirt designs.
2011 West Berlin Gallery