Urban Art Association

Stolenspace Gallery, by Daniel Silk on Apr 2, 2010 22:18:33 GMT 1, www.stolenspace.com/section.php?xSec=3

'Hasadhu, In The Night Before A Storm'
By Usugrow
A skull, a flower, a macabre character drawn in a delicate line with black ink on white paper in a perfectionist style with complete commitment to detail. Whether its content is negative or positive, dark or light, what you will feel consistently with Usugrow’s work is the dignified beauty.

Usugrow started drawing in 1993 by creating punk rock flyers. Now, as well as still being hugely successful as a commercial designer for album covers, fashion brands & skate companies, the Japanese-born artist has been exhibiting his fine art in galleries all over the world and his black and white illustrations have become instantly recognizable. Heavily influenced by Los Angeles ‘Cholo’ style graffiti fused with the spiritual skills of Asian calligraphy. In his work he very often beautifully portrays opposing elements such as delicate lines and unique lettering style, skulls and flowers, yin and yang and of course his palette of black and white. He believes that this is everyday life and living proof that these opposing elements can exist together.

This exhibition will be Usugrow’s premier solo show in London.The new collection of work takes the viewer inside the mind of Hasadhu. Hasadhu is the fictional character created by Usugrow to reflect his own thoughts, almost an alter ego the artist becomes whilst drawing. When Usugrow produces his artwork, Hasadhu always travels inside his mind and this spiritual journey conducts the process of the work. Usugrow describes the art work itself as a big storm which will engulf everybody around him and the process of making artwork as the calm night before the storm. Those nights are a quiet and personal moment that he enjoys with happiness, clarity and peace. Through this work the artist wants to share that feeling with the audience, seen through the eyes of Hasadhu.