Group Exhibition ‘In and Out – Urban Expressions Across Borders’ – Tang Contemporary Art Bangkok

Tang Contemporary Art Bangkok

Dec 09, 2023 - Jan 10, 2024

^{Muklay, childhood memories #1 (Rockman), 2022, Acrylic and spray paint on canvas, 80 × 80 cm
All images courtesy of Tang Contemporary Art Bangkok}

In a groundbreaking fusion of urban vibrancy and contemporary art, Tang Contemporary Art Bangkok unveils "In and Out – Urban expression across borders," a mesmerizing exhibition curated by Michela Sena. This exhibition serves as a testament to the evolving intersection of street art and the traditional gallery space, where the canvas serves as concrete walls to unveil the street’s atmosphere across different continents. The show creates a dialogue that challenges preconceived notions of art and its place in society.

Ben Eine 
B. 1970, London, United Kingdom
 Ben Eine is one of the most successful letterform artists in the world and is regarded as a pioneer in the exploration of contemporary typography art. Originally a graffiti writer, Eine started his career over 30 years ago, leaving his first tag all over London before developing his distinct typographic style.

Eine began painting huge, bright and colourful letters on shutters all over East London, creating beautiful forms executed with a relentless “graffiti mentality” – painting over sixty shutters in a couple of months. These imposing and engaging, yet unattributed, anonymously-painted letters stood out from the usual tags and dubs seen on the streets. They caught the public’s attention and were seminal in the rise of street art’s popularity.

Benzilla (Parinya Sirisinsuk)
B. 1984, Bangkok, Thailand
Parinya Sirisinsuk or better known as Benzilla, is a graduate of Fine and Applied Art from Bangkok University.  The artist finds profound inspiration in the realms of Japanese and American Pop Culture, Street art, Sci-Fiction. Guided by the character "LOOOK," a 3 eyes alien that presents a concept of perspective of an outsider, Benzilla combines the techniques of craft painting, spray painting, and graphic art to craft a mesmerizing narrative.
 
Benzilla’s work challenges boundaries, ignites contemplation, and humbly invites viewers to explore the intricate complexities of our world. Delve into the realm of curiosity and embark on an enlightening journey through the artistic.

HIMBAD
B. 1983, London, United Kingdom
Immersed in the vibrant hues of urban life, HIMBAD, a distinguished alumnus of Central Saint Martins in the UK, transforms ordinary cityscapes into extraordinary canvases, breaking the conventional boundaries between the pristine 'white box' of galleries and the pulsating open space of the streets. Every stroke tells a story, a narrative that unfolds beyond the confines of traditional art spaces.
 
Drawing on his study of Celtic, Greek, and Eastern mythology, HIMBAD infuses his works with a richness and depth that captivates and challenges. His art is a journey into the archetypal and the subconscious, creating not just visual treats but experiences that engage and provoke thought. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, HIMBAD’s art serves as a voice for the often looked aspects of street culture. His creations are not just visually striking; they are a platform for expressing the narratives and experiences of those who find their voices echoed in the vivid colors and bold lines of his street art.

JBROCK
B. 1979, Rome, Italy
Currently working and residing in Rome, JBROCK has been part of the capital's underground graffiti scene since the early nineties.  It is an endeavor he pursued alongside his artistic studies, which founds and characterizes his aesthetics and production.  His works consistently reference graphic and pictorial traditions of the 20th century. Since 2003, he has exhibited in galleries and museums, but the streets remain his main imaginary reference and exhibition space.J

Muklay
B. 1993, Indonesia
In his artistic works, Muklay employs a dynamic pop-art graphic style to express personal reflections and inner truths. The artist utilizes pop cultural signifiers in his artworks to convey his deepest thoughts and feelings, reflecting his journey and personal experiences growing up in an ever-changing world.  His works often depict the vitality of modern youth culture and the anxieties associated with navigating a fast-paced environment. 

Ryol
B. 1993, Banyuwangi, Indonesia
Yogyakarta based Artist, Laksamana Ryo (a.k.a Ryol) has been focusing his skills in visual art, especially pop culture visual art. Originally a musician-wannabe, Ryol turned his passion into a pop culture visual artist with his childhood background as the biggest influence. Thanks to the parents and Sunday’s cartoon TV programs for being the ‘early stage’ that unconsciously had transformed him as an artist with freedom and responsibility during creating his works.
 
Ryol’s evolution into a pop culture visual artist lets him know the vision and the biggest dream he has. Painting is his lifetime’s job. He never wants to end it. And still has a big dream to become an artist who left a trace of history in his era. 

Stefano Phen
B. 1982, Brindisi, Italy
Stefano “Phen” enrolled in the Art School of his hometown and later at the “Academy of Arts” at the age of 14.  He started his involvement in the local Hip Hop movement and consecutively began his career as a graffiti writer in 1997.
 
Painting intensively all across Europe, Phen was constantly adding new styles and techniques to his portfolio.  The artist’s works have been published in numerous local and international magazines, and he has collaborated with famous TV channels and clothing brands such as ADIDAS and THE NORTH FACE.  Over the past 20 years of working as an artist Stefano Phen has been developing and constantly improving his own art style that unites painting, graffiti and tattoos. His contemporary, fresh and aesthetically pleasing art pieces feature numerous elements of Hip Hop and Funk culture: boomboxes, street basketball, buildings, classic cars and vans get in the mix with vector graphics, sketching lines, fat cap flares, dripping fonts and impressionist brush strokes.

The London Police, formed of Chaz Barrisson and Bob Gibson, is an art collective which started in 1998, when big English geezers headed to Amsterdam to help rejuvenate the streets of Holland’s capital. They were part of a small group of artists at the end of the last century that helped pioneer a new street art movement. After a few years of mixing traveling and making art in the street TLP began to receive worldwide recognition for their contribution to the graffiti/street art movement. They were included in many of the books documenting the scene and invited for shows and live drawing performances all over the globe. 25 years on TLP have amassed more than 125 shows and events in over 40 countries and their street work continues to pop up everywhere they go. Since 2009 TLP has concentrated on more intense canvas work, on bigger solo shows and large-scale mural projects. TLP are Chaz Barrisson who draws the iconic 'LADS' characters and Bob Gibson whose tight portrait and architectural illustrations help marry the two styles to create an endearing, exciting fantasy world. The current duo has managed to form a partnership more cohesive than Han Solo and Chewbacca in Star Wars and is continuing to produce slick artwork that is tighter than a butler’s cuff.