Street art dates back to the time when our ancestors made drawings on the walls of their caves. Today, many artists create art on walls, pavements, railway carriages, bridges and other public spaces so that their work will be seen by more people. In most places, though, unauthorised art in public spaces is prohibited, forcing street artists to work clandestinely and quickly. But the increasing popularity of artists such as Banksy, Blek le Rat and Frank Shepard Fairey has brought street art into the mainstream. Fairey was recently commissioned by Time magazine to design their cover featuring "The Protestor" as the person of the year, and Banksy's graffiti is known to raise property prices.
Off the Wall: Street Art Legends is an exhibition that celebrates street art. It features an eclectic collection of works by well-known international names such as Thierry Guetta, aka Mr Brainwash, The London Police, Speedy Graphito, Mau Mau, Evil Dr Revolt, Seen Richard Mirando and Russian urban muralist Vitaly Rusakovaka Mizer, along with Banksy, Blek le Rat and Fairey. Highlights include limited-edition silkscreen prints of some of Banksy's most famous anti-war and anti-establishment creations; iconic Fairey pieces such as his Flag series, immigration reform posters, Andre the Giant - Obey symbols and posters created for the Obama presidential campaign; Blek le Rat's Running Man and Diana & Angel; lithographs of Mr Brainwash's Kate Moss poster and works featuring John Lennon and Charlie Chaplin; and Life Is So Beautiful by artists Chaz and Bob of The London Police, which shows their trademark character "the lad" in Dubai.
The show also features Gwenael Salaun and Saif Chilmiran, aka Safe — two urban artists whose work is influenced by street art. Safe is of Iraqi and Syrian origin and grew up in Abu Dhabi. "I respect the local laws, but I am a street artist at heart. Street art is inspired by the urban environment, and the artists use humour and irony to comment on important socio-political issues and encourage people to question what is happening around them. I try to do the same in my work," he says.
The 21-year-old won his first mural commission at a gaming lounge when he was still in his teens. Since then he has created graffiti art, murals and other street art at various promotional events for well-known brands. He is now experimenting with painting on canvas and installations.
Many of Safe's paintings have Mickey Mouse in unlikely situations, such as popping out of a cigarette lighter or as an arrested criminal. "Cartoons are considered to be entertainment for children, but they are not as innocent as we think. Mickey Mouse is part of a multibillion-dollar corporation that uses these characters to convey subliminal messages to further its commercial and political agenda," he says.
He is equally suspicious of the media, showing a man with his mouth zipped and eyes covered by TV screens in a painting titled Fabricated Freedom. In UN Fair, he plays with words and the logo of the United Nations to highlight the plight of the underprivileged using the best traditions of street art. And King Kong Proof, with King Kong atop the Burj Khalifa, is a humorous comment on changing realities.
Safe is also exhibiting a set of sculptural mixed-media works. He comments on our artificial lifestyle and disregard for nature with a sun made from light bulbs, shining over an industrial landscape. In another piece, a plaster model of his own hands holding a paintbrush is shown handcuffed. "I wish we could have designated graffiti walls here, or got permission from building owners to create street art on their premises," he says wistfully.
French artist Salaun's chaotic paintings also have a street-art vibe. "I used to be a disc jockey and mixed different kinds of music to create a certain rhythm. Now I blend different recordings of the urban environment. The mishmash of figures, ideas and words on my canvases represents the chaos of real life. And I try to find some order in this chaos," he says.
As expected, there are many musical references in his work. "Motown Good Sailor applauds the famous music label's initiative to promote coloured musicians in an era of discrimination. And the title, Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet, comes from the words of Tom Waits' song, created in collaboration with a homeless person. Salaun's paintings comment on issues such as American military intervention in foreign countries, the financial crisis and the plight of the homeless.
Jyoti Kalsi is an art enthusiast based in Dubai.
Off the Wall: Street Art Legends will run at Pro Art Gallery's space in Palm Strip Mall until February 15.