Armed with nothing more than a scalpel, sheet of acetate, a can of spray paint and a battalion of patience, notorious stencil artist E.L.K. spends his time in his dimly lit studio creating his latest piece – a monkey’s head topped with a crown thorns for his first ever solo exhibition. Layer after layer is meticulously cut with German engineering precision, then laid onto art board, sprayed, next layer cut, then sprayed, then cut again. This is the laborious process of stencil art. This is the work of E.L.K.
In 2005, as a remedy for boredom E.L.K. cut his first stencil, little did he realise this would thrust him into the world of stencil art and nary look back. In that short half decade, E.L.K. has had his work exhibited all over the world, had his work voted most popular piece at the 2008 Melbourne Stencil Festival, runner-up at the 2009 Australian Stencil Prize curated “Your Kid Can’t Do This…” a touring stencil exhibition, comprising of 24 national and international artists of renown.
E.L.K.’s work can be seen all over Canberra, via various government and private commissions – most notably, the faces through City Walk and the murals at the cocktail bar Knightsbridge Penthouse, Braddon.
Now, E.L.K. embarks on his first solo show at the Front Gallery.
How You Like Me Now, B!@CH will feature E.L.K alongside live music by Karton, Omar Musa and Kodak.
All work is for sale, including originals, prints and T-shirts.
Opens – Friday, July 9 6pm til late. Runs until the July 21 2010.
