I’ve never been convinced by the claim that grafitti is an artform, until I discovered Xenz. Marrying fine art and urban art forms, his new solo show Cloud Cuckoo Land is a beautiful and inspiring collection of fantastical imagery. The dissipating spray can reflects fragments of memory and the childhood dreams Xenz cites as one influence, and the detailed drawings a compelling demonstration of the beauty of nature.
“Cloud Cuckoo Land is a kind of childhood fantasy of setting sail to discover a lost world, but ending up in an opium den in Singapore. It’s a celebration of creativity; something happy and joyful, but with a slight twist. I suppose living as an artist is seen as living in cloud cuckoo land by many people and I want to celebrate this by showing people what my dreams look like. Scientists estimate that there are more than 7 million undiscovered species on the planet — that’s inspiration right there!”
The exhibition runs from December 1 -4 2011 at Blackall Studios, 3 Leonard Street, Shoreditch, London, EC2A 4QS
