NEW YORK, NY.- GR gallery is presenting “Surface Fetish” a collaborative exhibition of new artworks by Dalek (James Marshall) and Buff Monster. These artists developed a most distinctive and iconic style in contemporary painting, and their works in various ways complement and contrast each other. They combine their works and visions is a captivating and goofy way, giving birth to a unique exhibition design that immerses the visitors in a kaleidoscopic world, populated by funky characters and bright uncommon shapes. Referentially titled after the glossy-pop “LA look” style of the sixties, this show pushes beyond the boundaries their passion and care for details, a bright and trendy layout, and dreamy imagery. Both of these artists present us with cheerful, weird figures that open a dialogue on contemporary society and culture.
“Surface Fetish” puts together 30 pieces, including paintings, works on paper, site-specific installations, appositely conceived for this exhibition. This exhibition is a sequel to Dalek and Buff Monster’s collaborative show “Spaced Out” held in early 2018.
“SURFACE FETISH” aims to exhibit the unique artistic wit of these two internationally known legends, that have brought to the next level the idea of merging Pop art, animation and Japanese culture with urban art, inventing the now super-iconic characters of “Space Monkey” and “The Melty Misfits”. Marshall’s alter ego, the “Space Monkey”, is a character through which he expresses his emotions and ideas, interpreting his concept of a human being lost in a growing sea of technology and convenience. While Buff Monster’s “Melty Misfits” deliver his vision of the world through captivating, happy characters living in bubbly landscapes, masking a subtle darker truth underneath.
Heavy Metal and Punk music vibes, bright colors, bold lines, rigorous geometric shapes and dreamy cartoons-like figures, spread their energy into an upbeat and decisive form that cannot be constrained in the pictorial surface and expand all over the environment, able to catapult the viewer into an intense animated experience.
Spotless disturbed monkey-mouse figures, immaculate unstable ice cream-like guys, sharply oversized hammers and swords, definite hallucinating geometric forms, maniacally precise melting patterns, shining surfaces and meticulously inducted crackle all come together in a unique iconography to define not only the theme of the exhibition but a proper style for the artists, that determine their approach to art.
Buff Monster is a New York City street artist who uses bright colors, bold lines and funny characters to make the world a better place. He names heavy metal music, ice cream, pop art, Japanese culture and graffiti as major influences. For over 15 years, he’s painted murals and exhibited in art galleries and museums all over the world, and is included in Banksy’s Oscar-nominated documentary Exit Through the Gift Shop. He’s worked with some of the most recognizable brands such as Disney, Converse, Hello Kitty, Samsung, Nike and Coca- Cola.
James Marshall aka Dalek
merging animation, Japanese pop art, and an urban aesthetic, is best known for his Space Monkey character -which became Dalek’s alter ego, a medium through which he expressed his emotions, ideas and concerns- until 2007, when he began working in a purely abstract style. Marshall has always been engaged in skateboard and graffiti subcultures and cites his assistantship in the studio of artist Takashi Murakami as a major influence. He has participated in numerous shows throughout the world and has worked for companies including Nike, Hurley, American Express, Microsoft, and Instagram.
