Urban Art Association

A little bit of info about Mr Toof...

"Of all the parts of our body, teeth, crammed into the mouth cave, are a constant reminder that we are merely flesh hanging out to dry on an elaborate chain of bone linkages. The pulpy ripped swollen scarlet and pink flesh that we call the gums, barely tolerate their border-line function as a visual testament to life and death. The mouth itself is in constant crisis. It is the place where stuttering words come forth, where words are taken back, where ‘sweet’ foods begin their rot. Francis Bacon understood that the mouth is at once entrance and exodus. When we scream we also breathe. In order to exhale we must inhale. For Sweet Toof this sway between horror and acceptance is an important part of his work.

Sweet Toof’s painting starts with and evolves out of his street art; whether as a solo graffiti artist or in collaboration. Typical tags, throw-ups, and more elaborate pieces become a whole language which informs his studio works as it does his colleagues. Like the streets of 1980’s New York, London’s streets today are being reclaimed by an ever increasing army of street artists of which Sweet Toof is one of the most prolific and artful. Out there, under the swirl of lamplights, billboards and urban detritus, ‘bubble-Gums’ and pearly-Teeth’ push themselves up through the pavement cracks and concrete facades like anarchic plants refusing the flimsy, rootless, cheap order of modern life.

If the sixteenth century Northern European tradition of painting Vanitas was there to remind us of the transience and the hopeless vanity of life, then Sweet Toof’s skulls and teeth continue that tradition but add in a more Mexican viewpoint where if one accepts death then one can also honour and celebrate it and use it as part of the life blood trip. Or in Sweet Toof’s words: ‘To get ones teeth into things, before it’s too late.'"

-Olly Beck

Looking forward to this,who's going to pop along for some gummy goodness ?

whoopee! in NY in April - can't wait for the gums to drop in....

Some more info posted today on Arrested Motion!

arrestedmotion.com/2011/01/preview-sweet-toof-having-a-dig-arch-402-gallery-london/

RJ is in on the action too....

blog.vandalog.com/2011/01/sweet-toof-and-shan-hur-show-in-london-next-week/

Its going to be bloody ACE!!!

looking forward to this!

Anyone know if there is going to be a print release.

News on print release coming very soon!

FRESH OF THE PRESS...

TOOFOMATIC

3 colour screenprint with hand sprayed background.

Very exclusive edition of just 10!

Available at the show!







Printed by master screen printer Aida, this print will look great juxtaposed against the slightly gloomy nature of the canvas originals!

Funnily enough my neighbour popped in last night to give me an invitation for that show..

That print looks fantastic..
Does anyone know how much they gonna sale for??

Hey Shower, any idea how one gets an invite to the private view tonight ?

I know I left it to the last minute to find out, so need to work quickly now to make sure myself and the GF can get in, seen as Arch402 is only open weekdays, so tonight will be the only chance we get to see this show

can't wait for this tonight! any other forum members going? would be cool to put faces to (forum) names.

ha, sounds good...i'll be there with my lithuanian flatmate who will undoubtedly draw more attention than me. if you see a good looking blonde with a dude that doesn't look like he should be with her come say hello!

Such an underestimated artist, both on and off the streets.