Roman Attitude..
A ghost is haunting Rome - a ghost who organizes exhibitions without artists. But not only without the presence of the artist, more often even without their permission. You can buy some work on the site, some other could be borrowed by friends, then you could realize a few limited edition numbered prints, always homemade, and we are ready for the inauguration. You can also say "the first solo artist in Rome" (really happened), although the artist has never even visited the city.
This "playful evolution" of the cultural system suggests that here in Rome the sic! (System Independent of Culture), because of the strange unwritten laws that govern the art’s bon ton, is a phenomenon seriously at risk.
Is well reknown that the majors are used to draw the lifeblood sic ideas, I am having repeated until exasperation this little knot of dark art market, the problem (if problem it can be called) is that perhaps the process of cannibalism has now gone too far.
In the wonderful setting of a post-fascist cultural policy / Berlusconi style, which has become the "model" in Rome’s "Desert of the Tartars", Rome has appropriated a bit of street art 'in its own way, putting in place an action plan in mid-between the Maphia Style of the new government & the postimperialistic flow that remind us the idolatry of Francesco Totti (the football player) character.
Here in Rome the most impenetrable and proud movement in the world was honored with two exhibitions. At the same time. But the artists involved, unfortunately or fortunately, are not present and, perhaps not even know it.world proudest of Rome was honored with two exhibitions. At the same time. But the artists involved, unfortunately or fortunately, are not present and, perhaps not even know it.
Mondo Bizzarro Gallery pays homage to the culture of the street with an exhibition of Shepard Fairey aka Obey and the catalog by Alberto Castelvecchi Publisher. But for now we fly over.
At the same time a new gallery, the 999Gallery, presents a group show with nothing short of high-sounding names like Banksy, Ben Eine, Space Invader (which if he had known he would be asked to write only Invader) JR, Ben Eine, and the ubiquitous Shepard. All accompanied by a beautiful invitation by an unknown English Group called Borderline that copies the key image of Nick Walker.
But the story is even more tasty...
When on my facebook page appeared the link at the 999Gallery's event, immediately Nick Walker, seeing his work exhibited as a poster contacted me to ask for explanations. So did the DragoLab team that, not knowing the exhibition and the gallery owner, has been moved to ask him for an interview. Therefore, the background is this: the image Vandalism is not from Nick Walker but from a young collective hired to design the gallery logo and "mission" of the exhibition. These guys, however, in pure Roman post-adolescent style, and not to squeeze too much their precious brains, have preferred to copy an image seen on the walls of London rather than invent one by themselves.
But, again, nomen omen: they are self proclaimed Two Many Curators (once again taking a cue from one of the most famous pairs of DJs at the moment). It does not end here. After hearing about the misappropriation (albeit unintended) the 999gallerist has tried to contact Nick Walker, who has not attained except in the guise of his agent (not too strange fact, as many established artists delegate professionals in these squabbles that have little to do with their actual work) However, the agent said ok about the poster, the thing that asked is to destroy the copy for the public and not sell it. But no! The reaction was unexpected: the gallery owner has written an open letter on the web where the message went nearly so: "who cares, you're a vandals? So do I. So I steal the picture and i'll do what I want with it." All right.
The inauguration went well, great public success but not a breath of criticism. About a week later, however, I became aware of a small but curious anecdote: screen printing has been so sold, but slightly modified. From "<3andalism" to "I <3andalize". And then we begin to vandalize!
So, Rome has become the gallery from e-bay on sale, and it sadly reminds us at the atmosphere of post-war black market. Here you can read the commentary of a shocked Nick Walker: “First this. Gallery employ plagiarists to make the poster and print release then I have to answer some last to catch on gallerist's email or he will write a bad story about me.What a joker! That's my statement”. The success of street art is becoming increasingly clear. Artists by terrorists have become king, as demonstrated by the last two publications of Banksy and Obey (made in Italy, of course). Major players on the world scene have begun to look to this movement, and not always (as always) in respect of the rules. Important galleries put under contract the most famous and quoted artists and the most innovative advertising companies, where employees are more creative than others (see the luxury car market and in general), are completely inside the world of Street. And not only (but also) because street means street.
The problem at this point is revealed at a qualitative level: the request does not meet the demand and the world of street art is populated by self-styled artists who are entered in this field just because they post their works on the walls. The media does not identify the style, once taught the old barons. For which events are multiplying all over the territory and the quality is lowered proportionally. These operations "quick fix" unfortunately are killing the only avant-garde of the moment. This movement is risksing to being reduced to a sideshow freak at the sound of sandwiches with sausage and stalls of Bolivian music. But I'll stop now. It will be the road itself to rebel. And the culprits will pay the consequences.
Bin Von