In our continuing series highlighting the works of a diverse group of international artists, Addicted Art Gallery are at it again with this super presentation of some of the current works available for our readers consideration.
“Most of our work juxtaposes images. But we’re also interested in the contrasting of ideas and words, pop culture and fine art, attraction and fear, universality and ambiguity. Each piece entails multiple kinds of tension.” - FAILE
Image: Black Dog, FAILE
Lovers of urban art, this one's for you! Welcome to our Artist Spotlight on street art duo, FAILE.
Patrick McNeil (born 1975, Edmonton, Alberta) plus Patrick Miller (born 1976, Minneapolis, Minnesota) equals FAILE (pronounced, "fail") a Brooklyn-based collaboration born in 1999.
FAILE, is an anagram for, "A Life", the name of their first project. FAILE began life as a trio, (originally including Aiko Nakagawa, born in 1975, in Tokyo), and they focused on dispersing their art on city streets around the world. Their style of wheat-pasted and stencilled work evoked the pulp-cultural and comic book characteristics of sixties pop artists such as Andy Warhol and Richard Hamilton.
The "Painted Rip" Effect
Image: Savage Dreams (F-Head) by FAILE
"By 2006, we had found our stride in the studio. We expanded our visual language and storytelling through the lure of untold narratives. Elements of comic book covers, advertisements, phonebooks and pages of magazines were added to our vocabulary.
"Applying the effects of our street art to our studio work led to the 'painted rip', a major development in our aesthetic. We began evolving the 'painted rip' in our canvases and then in printmaking. The process was appealingly organic. Before our eyes, the images we layered took on fresh meanings. Words and visuals were juxtaposed in unexpected ways, intricately weaving together to suggest new narratives
"The process emphasised serendipity. Icons we'd employed for years took on entirely different dynamics alongside new images. We felt like we were recapturing the spontaneity of our earliest work. The language of FAILE was reinvented." ~ FAILE (source: "FAILE: Prints and Originals 1999 - 2009", Published by Gestalten, Berlin, 2010)
"Savage Dreams (F-Head)" (above) and "Real Life and Yellow Pages" (below) are great examples of the aesthetic achieved using the 'painted rip'.
Image: Real Life and Yellow Pages by FAILE
In 2006 FAILE's work featured alongside other noted street artists of the day such as Banksy and Shepard Fairey, in an exhibition famously titled, "Spank the Monkey". This exhibition marked the start of a gradual institutional acceptance of street art. Following that, London's Tate Modern Museum curated a show called simply "Street Art" which featured FAILE's work amongst other famous street artists of the time.
Following the global acceptance of street art, FAILE's work has also been seen at many international galleries and their installations have been commissioned by the likes of the New York City Ballet.
Love what you see? We also have "This Is Faile In Yellow" available:
Want to learn more about FAILE? Click here.
Get in touch with us at blair@addictedgallery.com or elena@addictedgallery.com if you'd like to arrange a viewing, or require additional information about any of our FAILE pieces.
Until the next one ExpatChoicers, “People say graffiti is ugly, irresponsible and childish... but that's only if it's done properly.” – Banksy
Blair & El xoxo
A little about Addicted...
Our aim at Addicted Art Gallery is to connect you to art in a friendly, posh-less, non-highbrow kind of way.
Over the years we have developed a love for all different types of art and that is what we want Addicted Art Gallery to reflect. As a result, we have divided our art into three broad categories.
Our diverse portfolio includes; Contemporary Art, with a melting pot of pieces from all over the globe; Urban and Pop Art, featuring well known and highly respected artists whose works will make you think, laugh and question; and lastly, there are our beautiful Vintage Posters and Art Deco inspired works which will transport you to a different time.
We hope you enjoy what our Gallery has to offer and encourage everyone to get Addicted too.
