Urban Art Exhibition: NYC -> CD

On every city on earth, a colorful pest grows stronger. Without sun or water, it breeds within the dirt and dust of construction lots, thrives on unguarded walls, and waits for you in the darkest alleys of the city…far away from adult supervision.

Martha Cooper: Cops in the train, Bronx 1980

Charlie Ahearn: Bronx Ruins DECAY

But where does it come from?

What does it eat? 

What does it want?

Graffiti is born from the blood of youth and feeds off of unbridled passion. Fueled by attitude, it is an urban form of expression driven by a pure desire to be seen and heard through an explosion of colors, lines, and characters.

Martha Cooper: Dondi Painting in the New Lots Yard, Brooklyn 

It can be loud and vulgar, or sweet and simple.

It can be intricate and complex, or quick and crude

It can be vandalism, but it can also be art.

But above all else, it doesn’t need your approval. Graffiti is both a personal and public display of individuality, a cry in the face of authority, and a youthful drumbeat that echoes above the noise of the city to shout, “I am here! I exist!”

Martha Cooper: Memorial Train for Caine 1 passing through Queens, 1982 

And even if the adults can’t hear it, the youth of the world have heard the tune that urges them to create, be different, and dance to a different beat than that of their parents’ generation.

So have you heard the sound of drums yet?

For the first time in Chengdu history, starting on September 30 you will have the unique opportunity to follow the rhythms of the past and explore the history of urban art within the various halls of May Park Gallery and Park Image Space. From its roots in 1970s New York City to the present, And The Beat Goes On: Urban Art from East Village NY to SW China is an exploration of the sights and sounds of international youth culture as well as an exploration of its interpretations on the walls of Chengdu. So take a trip back in time, get inspired, and catch the beat for yourself!

SKYLINE CANVAS

From Gaoxin to kehuabeilu, you’ve seen the writing on the walls. Love it or hate it, Chengdu is full of graffiti! But now you don’t have to look down abandoned alleys or walk through half-finished construction projects to find it. For the first time ever, every major local graffiti crew will be present in one place without fear of being chased by the police. As you explore their own unique styles on the walls of May Park Gallery, you will be able to decide for yourself whether graffiti is still vandalism, or art.

THE URBAN JUNGLE

Artist Rick Prol in NYC

Yet, Urban Art is far more than just graffiti. As China’s cities grow at a rate unrivaled in human history, the streets of Chengdu are a flood of different people, opinions, and objects waiting to be discovered and reinterpreted. Yet, does the unique tempo of progress harmonize with the past, or clash with it? As you walk through a room full of “found objects” and mixed-media installations, you will be presented with a colorful, and sometimes overwhelming, collage of city life that highlights the accelerated pace of destruction, construction, and reinvention that has come to define China, and decide for yourself.

EMERGING ARTISTS

In New York City in the 1970s and 1980s, there was no unified style. Driven by a desire to be unique, each artist strived to find their own voice and pushed themselves to create “something different.” Chengdu is no different. Stretching from floor to ceiling, Park Image Space will highlight over 10 local artists in their pursuit to “try something new,” presenting a towering monument of sights, styles, and opinions that mirror our own urban experience living in a city full of 15 million people.

BREAK THE RULES

Banksy in the London Tube, 2020

As you make your way through the various exhibition halls, it is important to remember that this isn’t a regular, boring-old art exhibition. This is an Urban Art exhibition. Therefore, you will be encouraged to step out of your role as a passive observer and actively participate in the mayhem. In certain select areas, markers will be provided so that you can write, tag, and scribble your own mark on the gallery walls. Have fun, go wild, but remember- tagging is still illegal in public spaces. So enjoy it while you can ;)

🚂

A TRIP BACK IN TIME

Style Wars: 1983

Yet, the exhibition doesn’t end here. Exploring the best urban art Chengdu has to offer is just the start of your journey. At May Park Gallery, you will be transported back in time via a real-life subway installation, which offers a physical bridge between the Chengdu of now and the New York of old.

Here, you will walk the streets of the East Village in the 1970s and 1980s, the birthplace of popular graffiti, hip-hop, punk rock, and more. In doing so, you will have the opportunity to come face-to-face with over 78 original paintings by some of the most iconic and influential artists of that era, including works by Jean-Michel Basquiat, Crash, Daze, Futura 2000, and more. Nearly 40 years later, the beat that began with these early pioneers of urban art continue to inspire entirely new generations of young creators around the world, including here in Chengdu. 

By presenting local artists alongside these early legends of youth culture, And the Beat Goes On: Urban Art from East Village NY to SW China explores a wide variety of key players within a new generation of urban artists in Chengdu, and examines their unique contributions to the ongoing rhythms of global youth culture.

CATCH THE BEAT!

Exhibition Duration:

2020.9.30-2020.12.30

Hours:

Tuesday- Sunday

 10:00-18:00

Exhibition Address：

四川省成都市金牛区金府巷13-27号

No.13-27, Jinfu Lane, Jinniu District, Chengdu, Sichuan

Ticket Information:

Please bring your ID card，

after puchasing tickets at the information desk,

you can enter.

￥60/person

EARLY BIRD ￥50/person

主办单位｜Organizers

帕克五月文化中心

Maypark Cultural Center

展览执行｜Curation Team

IPF

Wave-I

Wave-I is a Korean art content company committed to introducing new generations of young art appreciators in Asia and the world to the urban artists of New York City's East Village scene in the 1980s. 

In addition, Wave-I is also committed to urban renewal projects for abandoned neighborhoods thoughout cities in Korea, China, and the USA through close collaboration with local artists and graffiti writers in Asia as well as the East Villlage.