"To be a Renegade in a rebellious culture that’s already divided by it’s own rules, traditions and internal politics is probably the biggest battle I’ll ever fight. it’s a war on all fronts because you’ve got the media & the masses that generally don’t know the real history of this art, never mind it’s fractions, derivatives and their internal aesthetics. People are fighting for acceptance on a huge number of levels from so many divisions just to produce art and then be labelled under one category that barely scratches the surface. Whatever it is that I create, it has to remain ambiguous to have any form of impact in this saturated world, that is quickly becoming desensitised to one of the most powerful art form’s of its time".
Keith Hopewell aka Part2ism, is one of the UK’s original, pioneering aerosol artists forever transforming the boundaries of contemporary street art. The formidable large scale wall series 'Tamara', a nude gas masked lady peering at life through 3d lenses and pitched on golden yellow emulsion turned heads in East London. These classical street productions are in fact hand painted with painstaking detail using regular car spray paint. Keith’s sober, tempered and impressionistic style shows a vision way beyond traditional street art and is a breath of fresh air to the contemporary art scene.
Keith’s work consistently challenges our perception and conception within a modern consumerist society often using religious and military imagery. The red and blue 3D lenses represent the need to see with a greater clarity and enhanced perspective. “My work is a critique of commodity as a religion and how religion and money are the principal conspirators of war”. The built up textures from the application of car spray paint are reminiscent of old black and white grained film, you can visually feel and smell it which enhances the sensual tones of his nude figures. His work in both form and content is bold, beautiful and jarring, reflecting the dissonance of the modern industrial world. The exhibition 'Artillery For Pleasure' featured large scale monochrome photo realist paintings that invade mind, body and spirit on many levels.
Keith’s work consistently challenges our perception and conception within a modern consumerist society often using religious and military imagery. The red and blue 3D lenses represent the need to see with a greater clarity and enhanced perspective. “My work is a critique of commodity as a religion and how religion and money are the principal conspirators of war”. The built up textures from the application of car spray paint are reminiscent of old black and white grained film, you can visually feel and smell it which enhances the sensual tones of his nude figures. His work in both form and content is bold, beautiful and jarring, reflecting the dissonance of the modern industrial world. The exhibition 'Artillery For Pleasure' featured large scale monochrome photo realist paintings that invade mind, body and spirit on many levels.
