Category: News

Hassan Rahim – Distillations

 

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Hassan Rahim
Distillations
May 29th – June 22nd, 2014

Opening Thursday, May 29th, 7 – 10pm

Please RSVP at rsvp@hvw8.com

In his second solo exhibition Distillations, Hassan Rahim applies his visual dialogue to deeper negotiate iconicity and nostalgia as constructions of the personal and universal subconscious. Using episodes from his past as a conceptual framework, futuristic fighter planes and vignettes from Los Angeles’s seedy history are re-contextualized in a spectral grammar of poetry and violence.

With Rauschenberg’s collage semantics, Stella’s defiance of the canvas, and Ruscha’s typographical sensibilities, Rahim’s obsessions are lacquered under layers of worship, kink, machinery, and analog static.

Hassan Rahim, b. 1987, Los Angeles, is an artist and art director. His work, reminiscent of vague childhood memories and adolescent fantasies, utilizes photography, collage and mixed media to create strong contextual pieces which are both appealing and alarming to the audience. This is his second solo exhibition at HVW8 Art + Design Gallery; he has previously exhibited in Milan and Amsterdam.

Please email info@hvw8.com for inquiries.

Janette Beckman Pieces Available.

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Futura and Dondi, London 1981
by Janette Beckman

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Canson Platine Fibre Rag Paper
Edition of 20
20″ x 16″ (50.8 x 40.6cm)

Custom frame available (black)

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Lux Interior, LA 1982
by Janette Beckman

1981
Canson Platine Fibre Rag Paper
Edition of 20
20″ x 16″ (50.8 x 40.6cm)

Custom frame available (black)

More of Janette Beckman’s work available here.   Please email info@hvw8.com for further information.

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HVW8 Gallery photo from Purple Magazine.

Now on display, Tuesday through Sunday, 1- 6pm.

Janette Beckman Interview and Rebel Cultures Exhibition Press

Interview with Janette Beckman on her Rebel Cultures exhibition at HVW8 from LA Weekly  as well as recent press from Hayabusa (Japan), Complex (US), Purple Magazine (France), Jay Z’s Life + Times and more below.

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Dr. Dre, MC Ren, Eazy-E and DJ Yella of N.W.A. in 1990, near their studio in Torrance, California. Originally appeared in the book “Rap!” by Janette Beckman and Bill Adler.

Janette Beckman’s lens somehow always seems to always capture the intersection of gritty and cool. Born in London, England, Janette is a product of the ’70s punk movement. Like the music and lifestyle her art embodied, she soon crossed the ocean to New York, and has lived there since the top of the ’80s. Almost 35 years later, Janette has amassed portraits of rockers, rappers, painters, gangsters and more than a few would-be music moguls in the form of Rick Rubin, Dr. Dre and Russell Simmons. Regardless of who her subject is, Janette seems to find the honesty as well as the style in people. If the camera won’t show it, the jovial photographer’s anecdotes surely will. Beginning April 17th, select photos of Beckman’s are featured in HVW8 Art + Design Gallery (661 N. Spalding) in an exhibition called Rebel Cultures: Punks, Rap & Gangs, sponsored in part by Diamond Supply Co.

For the opening, Janette traveled back to L.A. 31 years after her first trip (prominently featured in the curation). Gallery goers included Curt Smith of Tears for Fears, Delicious Vinyl’s Rick Ross, and even three subjects that Beckman has bonded with since meeting them by chance a lifetime ago.

West Coast Sound: Much of your portrait work is often associated with New York. I’d like to talk about some of your L.A. photography. It’s in your book, The Breaks, and it’s prominently featured in this exhibit. This photo from 1983, “Gang Girls”; it’s such a moment in time. What prompted you to take that picture?

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The “Riviera Girls,” then known as LA Happy Loca, LA Smiler Loca and LA Chrissy Loca, standing beside an early 1960s Chevrolet Impala in East Los Angeles. They reportedly attended Janette’s opening at HVW8.

Janette Beckman: In 1983, I was visiting a friend who managed The Go-Go’s, a seminal L.A. punk band. I just happened to pick up what I think was the L.A. Weekly, and read about this East L.A. gang, the El Hoyo MaraVilla. I loved the story so much, and there were no pictures. I just kind of got fascinated, so I got in touch with the writer and asked if he would introduce me to the gang.

Continue reading “Janette Beckman Interview and Rebel Cultures Exhibition Press”

Thank-you

HVW8

Thank-you to everyone that attended Janette Beckman’s Rebel Cultures opening this past Friday.

Now on display until May 18th. Opening night and installation photos will be posted shortly. Email info@hvw8.com for artwork inquiries

 

 

New HVW8 Videos

Jean André ‘Gauloise’ interview at HVW8 Gallery, music by Pedro Winter.

adidas Originals and HVW8 presents ‘Bits and Pieces’ at Miami Art Basel featuring Kevin Lyons, Jean André, Erin Garcia and Dam-Funk.

Atiba Jefferson ‘Sorry For Not Showing Art’ at HVW8 Gallery

Kevin Lyons interview during his ‘Shits and Giggles’ exhibition.

Miami Art Basel photos

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Thanks you for everyone that come out to HVW8 Gallery and adidas Original’s ‘Bits and Pieces’ Art Basel event this year in Miami. Great artwork and a great time was had by all.

Thanks to the artists Jean André, Erin D. Garcia, Jay West and Kevin Lyons, along with musical invites Dam-Funk, Dj DZA and Them Jeans. Also thanks to Peas and Carrots for hosting and to the Garret in Miami for letting us cover their walls.

A video will be posted shortly, but there are more photos by David Cabrera on the HVW8 Facebook page.

Kevin Lyons opens tonight

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Kevin Lyons – SHITS & GIGGLES
Oct. 17th to Nov. 10th, 2013
A Collection of Art Stuff Loosely formulated to Make A Show
featuring Collaborations with Patrick Martinez, Baron Von Fancy, and Skip Class

Works on paper, cloth, and glass exploring the far reaching positive influences of St. Ides Premium Malt Liquor on Hip-Hop culture.

Opening Oct. 17th, 7 – 10pm
RSVP@hvw8.com
Beverages courtesy of Colt 45

Kevin Lyons is a creative director, designer, illustrator and typographer who lives and works in Brooklyn, New York. Most recently, Lyons was a Partner and the Design Director at the juggernaut, anti-ad-agency-turned-ad-agency, ANOMALY in New York City. In his previous lives Lyons has been a Creative at Nike, Design Director at Stussy, Art Director at Girl Skateboards, and Creative Director for Tokion Magazine. He often shows internationally and is published world-wide. His steady stream of clients include the Paris based, Colette as well as Nike, Converse, Google TV, Umbro, and Stacks. He is the founder and sole creative behind the veteran label, Natural Born.

HVW8 Art + Design Gallery
661 N. Spaulding Ave. L.A. Ca 90036
open: Tues to Sun, 1 – 6pm
ph. 323 655 4898

 

From the artist:

I have never even had a sip of beer let alone one of the malted variety.

No interest and therefore no real knowledge of how fucked up a forty can be.

But having grown up in Hip-Hop culture I am well aware of its existence. Old E, Colt 45, and of course, the almighty St. Ides. With its beautiful packaging and Crooked I logo, not to mention that it rhymes easily with a lot of other nouns and verbs, there is no questioning its pop culture reference dominance.

But if it was just another nice bottle, great logo, and frequent lyric that literally was solely made to simply fuck people up, then I  probably would not be writing this statement on its inevitable cultural significance.

St. Ides, like Hip-Hop itself, became much more complex and ultimately filled with contradiction and controversy. Like with women, drugs, homosexuals, fighting, guns, gangs, weed, and dealing….. malt liquor is a complicated little topic in Hip-Hop. While in and of itself, it really has no redeemable purpose other than being inexpensive and coming in a big bottle, it played a significant role in the culture that celebrates it. For better, or (most likely) for worse.

St. Ides however went from just another malt liquor to one of the biggest financial supporters and patrons of the musical form we call Hip-Hop. Whoever was running St. Ides or its marketing made a very well informed decision to bring aboard several of the rap industry’s youngest and brightest talent on both Coasts. Snoop Doggy Dogg, Warren G, The Dogg Pound, MC Eiht on the West Coast and Biggie Smalls and Wu-Tang on the East Coast. All young, all literally brand new, untested talents, at the very beginning of their careers. St. Ides put itself squarely in the center of the culture. Going with untested, but very talented individuals who would resonate even today, 20 years later. This was an extremely well-timed, very educated guess probably made on the ground by some very saavy marketing people. Like with the Vatican and Michaelangelo, rap had it’s own patron saint. Outside of the Sprite recordings, it would be 15 to 20 years later before we would see rappers used this significantly in a mass-marketed campaign.

My show at HVW8 is in no way meant to celebrate the liquid of malt liquor itself. It is also not made to make any moral judgement one way or the other on marketing to urban youth and in essence, urban blight. It will inevitably bring up those conversations and I am aware that that is a risk. But my intention is really to celebrate the era it represented – when weed and a little alchohol was the worst of the shit out there. PRE – Biggie – Tupac beef. When the two coasts were at their very best. I simply am using the phenonenom of the St. Ides moment to house and package that celebration. As a good Art Director might…..

I am no artist. I do like making stuff, but as an art director, I need a client – a subject matter to react to and research. I collaborate and find things to make. And that is really what I have done here with the St. Ides mid-90s era of Hip Hop. I have made stuff that is just pure fun. Adlibs, puns, fill-in-the-punchline-type stuff. SHITS & GIGGLES.

Erin D. Garcia Prints and Pieces available

 

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Color Plane Stacks Mural Study 3
Fluid Acrylic
Bristol Board
9” x 12” (22.86 x 30.48)
White custom frame

Available here.

Color Plane Stacks Mural Study 2

Color Plane Stacks Mural Study 2 – Print
Edition of 25
18″ x 24″ (45.72 x 60.96 cm)
Printed on MOAB Somerset enhanced velvet 255 gram 100% cotton.
Archival limited edition inkjet print by Mighty Printing using vantage™ process.
Custom handmade frame available (white).

Available here.

New Pieces by Erin D. Garcia are now online. Please email shop@hvw8.com for questions or information.

Outside the Lines at MOCA

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HVW8’s Tyler Gibney will take part in today’s book launch at the MOCA and will be on hand to sign copies of his contribution to Outside the Lines.

Info below from from the MOCA website :

Join us for the book launch of OUTSIDE THE LINES: AN ARTISTS’ COLORING BOOK FOR GIANT IMAGINATIONS, a striking collection of illustrations from more than 100 creative masterminds, including animators, cartoonists, fine artists, graphic artists, illustrators, musicians, outsider artists, photographers, street artists, and video game artists, curated by Souris Hong-Porretta. Enjoy DJ sets by Shepard Fairey and Dylan Nathan aka JEGA as well as activity stations for drawing and coloring. Over 50 artists will be on site to sign copies of the book.

FREE INFO 213 621 1710 or STOREONLINE@MOCA.ORG

Alessandro with Giorgio Moroder on Doug Aitken’s Station to Station

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Alessandro Moroder will be joining his father Giorgio on Doug Aitken’s traveling art project ‘Station to Station’ from Sept 18th until the 21st.

‘The Plan is There is No Plan: A Conversation with Giorgio Moroder’ Interview about the project from the Station to Station website:

Giorgio Moroder will join Station to Station at Santa Fe and make a recording on the train before performing in Winslow. Henrietta Tiefenthaler, who has helped curate the music for Station to Station and member of the band Thrillionaire, spoke with Moroder about what he is packing and planning for Station to Station.

Henrietta Tiefenthaler: What’s the plan for your journey from Lamy to Winslow?

Giorgio Moroder: The plan is there is no plan. I’m going on the train with Bruce Sudano, the husband of Donna Summer. There’s going to be a microphone, there’s going to be a recording studio in one of the wagons. We’re probably going to start to compose something, listening to the sounds of the train. I guess we’re going to stick out a microphone, maybe the train stops somewhere, recording the sounds and emotions, and then see how we can turn them into a song. I’m going to play the bass and Bruce is going to play guitar and by the end of the day we’re going to have a rough idea of the song, and then we’ll have one more day to finish it. Once we have it, the idea is we’ll rehearse it and play it live in Winslow, where I play bass, Bruce guitar, and I’m sure we’ll find a drummer. I think we’ll have one of the other performers singing background vocals with Bruce. I’m not going to sing though, maybe some background but that’s all.

HT: I’d love to hear you sing!

GM: No, you wouldn’t.

HT: Your son will be coming on board…

GM: For that part of the journey he’ll be the official photographer. Well, not official. I call him “official.”

HT: Ha!

GM: He’s into Polaroid. He’s going to document the trip, take pictures of the landscape through an artist’s eyes, which Doug will post on the Station to Station website.

HT: Had you heard about Doug before we approached you?

GM: No. Actually that’s not true. I saw the museum projection project, the 360˚ around the museum where he projected around the walls instead of inside. I didn’t realize it was Doug though until he showed me the pictures and I recognized it.

HT: In terms of equipment what will you be taking on the train?

GM: Nothing except a bass (if I have to). Otherwise, I think station to station are going to provide everything. A laptop, speakers, microphones, Pro Tools…

HT: Do you use Pro Tools? When did you start using Pro Tools?

GM: I guess 10 years ago, or whenever it first came out.

HT: What were you doing 10 years ago?

GM: Oh, 10 years ago I was playing a lot of golf, and playing with images on the computer, where I, you know, transform and add some stuff. That was quite a time-consuming hobby.

HT: What is that? Graphic design?

GM: Well, kind of. It’s where you take a picture of, say, Liz Taylor (she gave me a beautiful picture of herself) and I took the color out and put my own colors in, added some things to her head, changed the colors of her eyes, and I had it painted in oil and I have one copy and gave one to her. That was one of the things I did. I did one of Donna Summer, I did one of my wife Francisca.

HT: Are they public?

GM: No, I haven’t had a show yet. It’s a bit difficult to go public with them. I don’t know if Liz Taylor would allow it.

HT: Can I use it for this?

GM: I think we can. It’s not for sale and it’s a unique piece so I don’t see why not?

HT: So what are you packing in your suitcase?

GM: A toothbrush, a comb, a pair of jeans if I find them, as little as I can. And, of course, my computer.

HT: Wow, you’re a light packer. I’m going to be taking multiple suitcases. Haha.

GM: Yes, my wife is going to be heavy loaded too.

HT: What most excites you about coming on the train?

GM: It’s just the fun of it. It’s nice to be with people, it’s great to travel on a train, which I’ve done quite a lot of lately. We used to live in Paris so we would go to London on the eurostar and with the tgv to Zurich. It’s such a great way to travel. And this is even better because we don’t have to be at point b in an hour. It’s a great bunch of people and it’s almost like a little holiday trip so I’m going to enjoy it.

Parra in Cologne

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HVW8 Alumni Parra opens his new exhibition ‘And wait for something to happen’ at Ruttkowski 68, in Cologne, Germany, this 4th of October – 17th of November. More information here.

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Parra, whose real name is Piet Janssen, is a Dutch artist whose works are distinguished by their study in contrasts. They are at once figurative and abstract, colorful and plain, as illustrated in his solo exhibition, And wait for something to happen. The works on show feature females experiencing both the normal and abnormal in a metaphoric and literal sense.

Parra says he is inspired by “the everyday and the awkward,” whether it appears on the internet, in books, or in events he has observed. This allows him to address or even exaggerate issues using irony, humor
and sexuality. Parra’s dry, witty and frank interpretation of glamor, pop culture and mass consumption has made him a darling of the art world.