P.i.C., XANDER COY & OLLIE SYLVESTER - CAMDEMONIUM

EXHIBITION DATES: 17/09/21 - 17/10/21

ABOUT

P.i.C.

The native Camdenite/Camdonian, born 1970, started scribbling various pseudonyms on public furniture around Camden circa 1981. By 1986 he became the first London graffiti writer to go ’all city’* with his iconic and ubiquitous P.i.C. tag embellished with a heart-shaped graphic. He was also the first to tag the set of TV soap Eastenders which gave him nationwide notoriety. Graffiti writing has been a constant theme throughout his life. Other interests include custom bike building, Classic VW car restorations and metal sculptures.

OLLIE SYLVESTER

Artist, Camden oldskool, born in 1972. Scribbling since he could hold a Bic Biro. Inspired by hip-hop culture Ollie started dabbling in graffiti in the Early 80's writing 'Merser' - 'TKS' then 'Saker' "MGM-DDS-PFB'. Amongst other projects. He designed and sprayed characters for 'De La Soul's' 'Three is a magic number' The English version of the video filmed in the 'Electric Ballroom' Camden Town 1987 & angel and devil characters in iconic "Elk' piece, Fulham '92. 1988 saw the beginning of 'acid house/rave' movement. Sylvester certainly found inspiration in Persians rugs. At this point he was becoming prolific with acrylics on canvas. Then in 1994 he had an accident in which he almost severed his right arm, forcing him to learn how to paint with his left hand. This evolved into his straight lined cross-hatch style. Throughout the earlv 90's Ollie self-taught computer graphic and animation programs. Laying the groundwork for his future digital works In 2007 Ollie was commissioned by the Chinese government to do mural artwork for the 'Shenzhen Biennale of Urbanism and Architecture'. Sylvester's non-conformist, progressive and uniquely stylized faces and characters evolve on canvas with layers of paint illustrating the darker side of urban life, Pub culture, hangovers and come downs

XANDER COY

Camden born and bred contemporary artist Xander Coy a.k.a Zandism employs a range of techniques using acrylic, oil, ink, enamel and spray paint. Heavily influenced by the imagery of Pop Art, Collage and Surrealism he draws on a variety of imagery for his own work ranging from vintage 1950’s posters to modern day cartoons. Coy began painting collages attracted to the boundless creative possibilities of the process. Hands are a recurring motif that appear within his latest works. Coy says, “Much like designing a collage the expressive possibilities of the hand are endless. Any depiction of a hand can represent so many things: emotions, identities, conflict and collaboration. When Aristotle said that hands were the ‘tool of tools’ and the ‘instrument of creation’ he wasn’t talking shit!” Juxtaposing seemingly unrelated images that incidentally create a narrative are at the forefront of his compositions. Narratives or notions of escapism, yearning, vulnerability and transience are often the result. Regularly using a hot or cold palette (or occasionally both), surprising harmonies are generated through vibrant chromatic extremes. Colour is king - a realm of constant pleasure.