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London has really been spoiled lately for the shows that galleries are putting on. Roa at Pure Evil Gallery, Escif at Pictures on Walls, Black Rat Projects’ group show Now’s The Time and now Burning Candy are at High Roller Society. Candy Shop is a group show with work from every member of Burning Candy. Crazy stuff. For me, Burning Candy ARE street art in London.
Burning Candy is a crew of nine street artists and graffiti writers of varied ages, genders, styles and histories. Kid Acne probably describes them best:
“Burning Candy are probably the only male/female graffiti crew around where some members are old enough to be other members’ parents, have strange misspelled names, wear homemade disguises and enjoy playing Picture Consequences together. In many ways, they’re more like a sex cult than a spray gang.”
Candy Shop is only the third time that all nine members of Burning Candy have shown their artwork together (the first being at The Thousands). It’s a solid show, but most of all, it’s fun. The assemblage installation in particular is just full of interesting bits and pieces. In fact, the entire show is sort of an extension of that installation. It’s a hodge-podge of the crew’s best work, from Tek33’s massive oil painting to some Polaroid photos by Luc Price. Even the artworks clearly made by only one member of the crew who may not have even visited the gallery space feel like they’re part of one big considered collaboration.
This is definitely a show to check out. High Roller Society is a relatively new gallery, but this is their best show yet. Is the show perfect, definitely not, but there’s a spark there and a hint of greatness. I think that both Burning Candy and High Roller Society have a sort of Beautiful Loser feel to them. In 10 years time, people may look back at this show and say, “Damn. I wish I’d seen that one in person. That was THE SHOW that set things off.”