L to R: Reflection Eternal, Love Her Hate Him, Going Nowhere Fast
7th – 23rd June 2013 StolenSpace Gallery The Old Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane, London E1 6QL
‘Not a lot of people can reach the Bourgeoisie and rock the boulevard” with their art, but D*Face does it with style and humanity’-
Shepard Fairey
D*Face, a.k.a the world-renowned urban artist Dean Stockton, presents New World Disorder at the iconic StolenSpace Gallery from 7th-23rd June. This exhibition, showing work from the last seven years, marks the end of an era before the gallery relocates and the adjoining artist studios are demolished.
The exhibition also includes a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the unique nerve centre of D*Face’s working environment by visiting his studio space, situated above the StolenSpace Gallery, within the maze of The Old Truman Brewery.
Stockton has been at the forefront of popular culture not only as an acclaimed urban artist, but also as a respected, internationally-recognised gallerist at StolenSpace. Since its humble beginnings in 2006, he has transformed the local area of Brick Lane in to a thriving hub for street art.
With galleries representing his work in London, New York, Los Angeles, Tokyo and Melbourne, D*Face re-works imagery appropriated from decades of materialistic consumption, including currency, advertising, and comic books, to comment on our conspicuous society.
The exhibition includes his latest body of work, which reflects upon times of chaos, disorder and loss, as informed by shifting circumstances in the social climate. Exploring topical and longstanding dystopian sentiments, New World Disorder confronts the effects of love and loss from a physical, mental and cultural standpoint, drawing upon the artist’s direct experiences.
Elements of the show are inspired by The Tillman Story, the 2010 documentary film about the 2004 death of U.S. Army Ranger Pat Tillman in the war in Afghanistan, the cover-up of the true circumstances of his death, and his family’s struggle to unearth the truth.
In the gallery space adapted WW2 helmets, some with original bullet holes, reference our conspicuous consumption, where we desire more, but get less. Other work includes enlarged baseball bats, skateboards created from graffiti-covered school desks, and cabinets of curiosities displaying relics from a place in time where there is no distinguishable line between religion and consumerism.
In the studio and upstairs area older works will be shown for the very first time, including street stencils, old prints and sketch books. Video monitors will display recent public, often illegal installations created by D*Face from around the world, such as in London, Los Angeles and Melbourne, along with a series of new paintings and sculptures.
D*Face explains the ideas behind his work; “My work reflects our popular culture encompassing the American dream and the ideal of good triumphing over evil, no longer relevant in today’s society where the ‘invade now and ask questions later’ philosophy isn’t tolerated or indeed wanted. Colliding cultures are no longer receptive to the American way, the Superhero’s triumph of good over evil as portrayed through the political circus is now decoded through the eyes of different cultures, weary and wary of the sub-plot played in today’s political climate where war equals brand invasion”.
Once the largest private gallery in London, StolenSpace Gallery has showcased many important exhibitions over the last seven years including US graffiti artist Shepherd Fairey (2007, 2012), acclaimed light artist Chris Levine (2008) and Pop artist Gerald Laing (2007). It has also provided an important platform for young, emerging artists, including Word To Mother, Joram Roukes and Japanese artist Usugrow amongst others.
To date all of D*Face’s solo shows have sold out, with collectors even camping overnight in order to purchase a newly-released print. Noted collectors of his work include Christina Aguilera, Sir Peter Blake, Robbie Williams, fashion designer John Richmond, jewellery designer Stephen Webster, and museums including the Victoria and Albert, which has acquired his work in their collection.
In September D*Face will be releasing his inaugural retrospective book, One Man and His Dog, through Lawrence King Publishing.
D*Face is one of Britain’s leading “newbrow” artists, and damn if he isn’t as sharp and clever – if not quite as surreptitious – as Banksy (and sharper and cleverer by half than Damien Hirst.) – Peter Frank.
