Tit For Tat
8th August - 7th September 2014
In this show, artist Neil Roberts hosts a gathering of tattoo-oriented art in celebration of the “Tattoo Renaissance” and examines the metamorphosis of this art form. Grotesquely beautiful, extremely colourful; the show aims to persuade the viewer to see life through the eye of a needle.
The Tit for Tat exhibition provides an insight into how the art of tattooing has perfused all levels and classes of modern society. Just as the graffiti covering our buildings reflect the dreams, fears and frustrations of our cultures, so too do the tattoos covering our skin.
This phenomenon is apparent on the hand-crafted bodies of the Curious Boudoir Dolls by Zoe Thomas, beautifully adorned with tattooed decoration, and in paintings by Chris Guest of tattoo-clad rock chicks lit like paintings by the Dutch Masters. James Cooper reminds us of the ‘Old School’ style of tattooing with his flashy dapper signs providing humour under the needle. Neil Roberts paints a decaying Marilyn Monroe adorning the slender arm of an iconic lady, while the photography of Anthony John Byrne is in the spirit of ‘Sin City’. An LED-lit stencilled piece with luminous tribal by street artist Lemak renders a new level in this genre.
These are but a few of the featured artists who will be showing their highly collectable works in this exhibition.
Creation Custom Tattoo will be making an appearance to bedeck the gallery in tattoo tradition. Featured artist and tattooist Michael Piper will be covering the back of a brave soul with a marvellous full colour, realism piece while Matt Kaye, owner of Creation Custom, will be demonstrating his well-honed skills attained over many years, specialising in Oriental and Black and White works.
And last but not least… in the spirit of Mrs. M. Stevens Wagner, one of the earliest Tattooed Ladies who performed in the circus sideshows as a “freak” in 1907, join the vivacious Sophia Disgrace on the opening night for an abstract journey through sideshow and tasteful striptease revealing tattooed splendour and then watch her unleash a wanton hell of frenzied desire – not an act for the fainthearted! The live sound track to her show will be provided by the band Benign Plausibility.
Image (right) is “Cervena” by Chris Guest.
In this Exhibition
Julian Quaye ("Q")
Keith
Lemak
Neil Roberts
In the Press
Not surprisingly, we have a large number of photographs from this visually-stimulating show. We have a selection in the photo-gallery on this page, but here are links to a more extensive selection:
Exhibition Brochure prepared by Neil Roberts (ISSUU)
Photos by Keith (Facebook)
Photos by Andy Webb (Flickr)