#Art

The Yield Gallery in Soho has just announced a highly anticipated private viewing press night, titled “Urban Impressions”. It features an exceptional lineup of renowned artists including Fern, Richard Hambleton, Mathew Marquis, Basquiat, Banksy, and Mr Controversial. "Urban Impressions" brings together some of the most influential and innovative artists in the genre. The event aims to celebrate the diversity and vibrancy of street art while paying homage to the visionary works of these iconic artists. Highlighted Artists: 1. Fern: A British Painter Fern’s style displays the influence of a variety of contemporary painters and draws upon imagery from mid century posters. As a female artist Fern often demonstrates a joy in self assured femininity and female sexuality and expresses overt or implicit of the "man's world" in which she lives. Her rebellious art, combined with her free- spirited lifestyle, has made Fern a herald of today’s feminist culture that appeals to many contemporary collectors. 2. Richard Hambleton: Widely regarded as the godfather of street art a title he rejected began in 1976 with his mass murder series. Selling in cities across the world Richard Hambleton became an established artist.As Rochard became more established he began to paint on canvas, but fame didn’t satisfy Hambleton and by the nineties with a ever worsening drug habit he had fallen out of view. In 2011an exhibition touring milan, Moscow, cannes, paris then back to New York had catapulted Hambleton to high esteem and twice he appeared on the cover of Life magazine.in 2017 Oren Jacoby produced an award winning documentary shadowman which premiered at the TriBeca film festival. 3. Mathew Marquis: Matthew Marquis 42 is an American contemporary artist that inspires his oil paintings on canvas with a wide range of grotesque figures with bulging eyes, bulbous cheeks, proliferating limbs, and fractured faces evoke the allure and abjection of a carnival. Marquis has been painting for over 20 years in his hometown of Telford, Pennsylvania of the United States. The talented Marquis takes inspiration from artists including Pablo Picasso and George Condo integrating tenets of abstraction into a practice that ranges from macabre portraiture to more geometrical, less representational compositions. 4. Banksy: Arguably the most controversial street artist in the world, Banksy has developed an entire art subculture devoted to his works. Banksy’s art can impact any location at any given moment. His identity remains unknown, even after over 20 years of being involved with the graffiti scene. He has worked with many different types of street art media and street art types. His work not only includes many powerful, often controversial images, but they may also be found throughout the Internet as viral images. Banksy’s artwork has been seen across the world. His travels have included Australia, England, the United States, Israel, Jamaica, and even Canada. Most recently, he spent an entire month glamorising New York City with his street art, which grabbed the attention of thousands every day. The media and his supporters have always questioned Banksy’s identity due to a variety of identity claims. Most recently, many popular theories, including an entire newspaper publication, pointed his identity at being a Bristol native by the name of Robin Gunninham. If this is theory holds true, it will allow even greater insight into the artistic world Banksy inhibits. What is even more interesting is that he has managed to completely conceal his identity from his family. To this date, no Banksy identity claim has ever been definitive. Banksy’s artwork has been seen across the world, His travels have included Australia, England, the United States, Israel, Jamaica, and even Canada. Most recently, he spent an entire month glamorizing New York City with his street art, which grabbed the attention of thousands every day 5. Mr Controversial: Mr Controversial has been mentioned as the “one to watch” when it comes to rising artistic talent in the UK. He is hot off the back of multiple sell-out exhibitions and collections and has amassed a solid collector base that includes established collectors and a few well-known celebrities. Early on in his artistic career he raised eyebrows and quickly became known for his twist of vintage pulp imagery with funny, relatable captions. Most recently, the artist has been working on his new typographical oil paintings which are equally as bold, witty and riddled with truisms that we can all relate to. Due to the sharable nature of his work, it often goes viral and he aims to hit the sweet spot between social media viral content and contemporary fine art. From his new collection, you can expect oil paintings with deep textures, vibrant colours satirical messages which the artist will be releasing through a handful of entrusted selected galleries globally. "Urban Impressions" promises to be an evening filled with creativity, inspiration, and artistic exploration. The Yield Gallery in Soho is known for its commitment to showcasing groundbreaking contemporary art. With its chic and modern setting, it provides the perfect backdrop for this extraordinary event, where art enthusiasts, collectors, and the press can come together to celebrate the world of urban art.

Mr Controversial has been mentioned as the " one to watch " when it comes to emerging artistic talent in the UK. His recent track record includes multiple sell-out exhibitions and collections, attracting a dedicated collector base that includes both established collectors and a few well-known celebrities. Early in his artistic journey, he made waves by combining vintage pulp imagery with humorous and relatable captions. Most recently, the artist has been focusing on creating new bold and witty typographical oil paintings, infused with universal truths that resonate with a wide audience.Thanks to the shareable nature of his work, it often goes viral, and his aim is to hit the sweet spot between social media viral content and contemporary art. His new collection promises oil paintings characterized by rich textures, vibrant colors, and satirical messages, which the artist will be releasing through a handful of entrusted galleries globally. Drawing from his professional experience in the advertising industry working on campaigns for a variety of brands, his creative work stems from a passion for crafting captivating visuals, communication through design, behavioural science and marketing psychology. He humorously tackles the challenges arising from the digital age and the personal frustrations associated with our social media-centric world. When describing his work Mr Controversial says: Each piece should be instantly relatable to the viewer, as if you have stumbled upon something that hits the nail on the head of your own everyday life, making the ordinary extraordinary & hilariously absurd. I want to create art that speaks to people on a personal level (the inner you) as if I know something about them that nobody else does. Behind the beautiful imagery is a dark story about yourself, just waiting to be discovered. When asked about his artistic process: When I’m not creating in my London studio, I spend many hours in my favourite coffee shops sketching out ideas and wrestling with concepts that have been rattling around in my head. Many people come in and out throughout the day and I like to earwig in on conversations, deconstruct them, and almost psychoanalyse them. I then put them back together with a funny twist and use that as a basis for a piece of art, I then set about creating the imagery around the caption. A lot of my work is based on conversations I’ve personally listened in on or things I’ve seen on social media posts or comments. I always try to find a funny angle, especially with stuff that’s often quite dark. I have a fearless approach to my work, whether that’s taking the piss out of oat milk drinkers, social media influencers, online dating or our own insecurities that rattle around in our minds fuelled by advertising, consumerism and capitalism.​ In a world where nothing is truly original, I can only create art that is authentic to me. I guess that’s what makes your art truly valuable. My work, my ideas, my worldview, my commentary on the world we live in. I believe great artists are commentators and a voice of the times in which they create, their work serves as a snapshot and a window into that specific time in history for future generations to make sense of when they look back. ... In the year 2123 when someone comes across a piece from my 2023 collection entitled; ‘Oat Milk Drinking Twat’ (in either a museum or a skip depending on how successful my art career was), they’ll hold it up as a turning point in milk consumption, shifting consumer attitudes towards mass industrial farming and realise that this beautifully branded crushed oat juice was the trojan horse in the rise of veganism, putting it in nearly every fridge in the UK... well, hopefully.

Gone Rogue, founded by Kim Shaylor in 2018, is an international art curation and consultancy collective that supports emerging and established artists. Their mission is to champion artists, encourage growth and experimentation, and promote diversity in the art world. With over 50 artists and a track record of successful exhibitions and projects worldwide, Gone Rogue has established itself as a respected art partner, collaborating with renowned brands like McLaren, Sushi Samba, and The Prodigy. They provide comprehensive advisory services, from concept development to artwork commissioning and installation. One of the standout artists associated with Gone Rogue is Emma Gibbons, whose exceptional success in 2022 with a sell-out solo show in Piccadilly has led to a larger and brighter exhibition at the Gone Rogue Gallery. Her latest exhibition, titled "Barbiecore," celebrates the extravagant legacy of Barbie, inspired by the iconic doll's hues. The exhibition opens three days before London Pride and coincides with the premiere of the Barbie Movie in London, creating a vibrant celebration of all things pink, sparkly, and delightfully camp. Interestingly, Margot Robbie, the lead actress in the Barbie Movie, is not only a collector but also a fan of Emma Gibbons. Robbie purchased one of Gibbons' earlier Barbie-inspired artworks, which now hangs on the wall of her production company's office. With Robbie's endorsement and Gibbons' iconic art pieces like the Parfum bottles and popsicles on display, the exhibition is highly anticipated. Gibbons' recognizable signature technique involves using hundreds of pill capsules filled with glitter and coloured powder set in resin, arranged into slogans, and poured into perfume bottles. In this exhibition, Gibbons adds dollhouse miniatures and various Barbie doll paraphernalia to the mix. Additionally, limited edition Barbie Parfum artworks, featuring polymer clay hearts and confetti, will be released in May 2023. ME London Hotel, known for its reputation as a hub for both emerging and established artists, has formed an exceptional partnership with Gone Rogue, resulting in a series of remarkable exhibitions that further enhance the hotel's acclaim. Visitors should not miss the opportunity to experience the camp and captivating "Barbiecore" art exhibition at ME London. The hotel offers more than just accommodation; it is an architectural masterpiece bursting with art, music, design, and fine cuisine. Located in the vibrant Covent Garden district, ME London immerses guests in a lively atmosphere with theaters, pubs, boutiques, cafes, restaurants, and live music. It is undoubtedly one of the most energetic and lively places in the world.

Bold and colourful artist Tiffany Anna, who has already captured the attention from the likes of Randi Zuckerberg – sister of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg – is presenting her first exhibition in London this September. TA X LDN (10-28th September 2022) is Tiffany’s first physical and virtual display of her much-anticipated NFT collections. Although Tiffany was drawn to the NFT space, she was sceptical of the male dominated industry at first. With just 16% of women in the NFT art market space, ArtTactic’s 2021 report is telling. So how can we help diversify the crypto space? Guernsey born Tiffany Anna might have the answer. After seeing @sarabaumann create @womenandweapons and how the community is embracing #WomenInNFTs Tiffany’s eyes were opened to a new world and the endless possibilities with Web3. “I am going to start by releasing four collections of four physical-backed NFTs over the next 18 months, with the aim to reinvest in myself and build up towards my very own fully digital NFT collection.” A female pioneer, the TA X LDN collection features 125 NFT works, curated in the form of a virtual reality metaverse, alongside 40 large-scale physical paintings and prints. Through her bright and ballsy artworks, Tiffany’s work presents a mixture of quirky animal paintings alongside an ultraviolet glow-in-the-dark experience. Visitors can immerse themselves in the real exhibition space, while virtual reality goggles will allow visitors to view – and buy – the new NFT artworks. Tiffany’s aim? To cross the bridge from physical into digital art and be part of the amazing community of creators and collectors. With 125 virtual mini cosmoses, and 125 physical mini cosmoses, it is an interactive experience like no other. The art changes with one flick of the light switch. With the light on, the cosmoses are breath-taking. With UV light on, however? It is ethereal, plunged into swirling blue and purple lights. Nebula A to I, are part of the Mini Cosmos collection, and are available to purchase now. Each of the 125 NFTs come with the original piece too! With a 35% growth in NFT sales expected in the next five years, Tiffany is part of a digital revolution. She is not just reshaping art, but she is also exploring the socio-techno constructs of gender and sexuality through liberating art. Tiffany’s previous collection ‘All of Me’ in collaboration with Guernsey Mind’ focused on ‘human nude bodies’ to present body positivity. 100% of the exhibition’s proceeds were donated to Guernsey Mind, a nod to Tiffany’s charitable endeavours. Although the subject of ‘mental health, body image, and feminism’ isn’t necessarily explored at TA X LDN, she is helping to diversify the NFT space. In a conversation with National World’ she said, “There are a lot of women in the NFT space, and I think one day they could take it over.” She expands and mentions how NFT’s aren’t as niche as people might think. “One of the first contacts I made was a mum from New Jersey”. Despite NFT’s growing appeal, critics see NFT’s as a ‘purely financial endeavour’. To counteract this claim, animal lover Tiffany Anna is giving 10% of proceeds from the exhibition to the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. It makes sense given that she worked with animals in Italy for 6 years after studying at art school. Her love for animals is clear at TA X LDN. With 40 paintings and limited-edition prints of brightly coloured animals including The Moon Queen, Pink Panther, and David Bowie Monkey, her passion shines brightly. Displaying her signature graffiti style, these are predominantly created using acrylic mixed with gold leaf, gems, gutta fabric pens, spray paint and super-lit powder. Each piece is made completely differently as Tiffany says, “there is no method to my madness, just creative, messy fun”. Speaking of creativity, up-and-coming artist Tiffany has it in spades. Although she went to art school, she developed her artistry during lockdown. Inspired by bold colours including duck egg blues, fuchsia pinks and cobalt, her art takes the ordinary, and turns it into something extraordinary. She finds inspiration through looking at wallpaper trends, taking note of their often wild and wacky colour combinations. After all, she loves anything slightly crazy and is always up for trying something new that glows or shines. Tiffany adds: “I am super excited about popping up in Chelsea. I am very lucky that my artwork has been so well received in Guernsey and am looking forward to seeing what people in London think as well. I absolutely love colour and my dream is to create artwork that makes people smile both inside and out. I also love making artwork that has other dimensions. I use the glowiest glow pigment to create my cosmos pieces, and also the blackest black too. I use gems and also the best gold leaf to finish off my pieces.’’ We can’t wait to see what she does next! Address: Tiffany Anna: TA X LDN exhibition takes place 10th-28th September 2022 at 340 King’s Road, Chelsea, London, SW3 5UR. For more information, please visit https://tiffany.gg/

Today, Ai-Da Robot, the world’s first ultra-realistic humanoid robot artist, has revealed her new portrait of Her Royale Highness Queen Elizabeth II. Titled ‘Algorithm Queen’, the portrait was created to mark the celebrations of the Platinum Jubilee this June Bank Holiday. It is the first time in history a humanoid robot has painted a member of the Royal Family. At the time of the Queen’s coronation the first circuit board computers had only just been invented, a design which remained mainstream until the 1960s. Over her seventy-year reign, the Queen has witnessed an unprecedented burst of innovation in computer technology in the UK, including the birth of machine learning and artificial intelligence, forces shaping the modern world as we know it today. Ai-Da uses cameras in her eyes and her computer memory to start her portrait of the Queen. She uses a variety of her unique AI algorithms to paint, draw and abstract, and her artistic Bees algorithm (Evolutionary AI). She then uses her robotic arm to bring her digital formations into the physical world, through drawing and painting on to canvas. Her work is layered and scaled to give the final multi-dimensional portrait of Her Majesty – Ai-Da’s artistic process itself reflecting the many aspects of technological change that have taken place during the Queen’s 70-year reign. Ai-Da robot, who is also able to converse using a specially designed AI language model, said: "I'd like to thank Her Majesty the Queen for her dedication, and for the service she gives to so many people. She is an outstanding, courageous woman who is utterly committed to public service. I think she's an amazing human being, and I wish The Queen a very happy Platinum Jubilee." Creator and Project Director of Ai-Da Robot Aidan Meller comments: “Thank you to the Queen for her 70 years of service. We are excited Ai-Da Robot has made history just in time for the Queen’s Jubilee. The Queen has been a stable and strong leader is a period of extraordinary change and development in history. We are in unprecedented technological times, and so we are pleased we can take a moment to think about all that has changed during the Queen’s life. ‘Algorithm Queen’ by Ai-Da Robot gives us a marker of how far things have come in her life, and a great way to acknowledge her faithful service.” Algorithm Queen will be exhibited publicly in London later this year.

One of the world’s most successful NFT artists invites you to interact with his new installation titled AB Infinite 1. Andrea Bonaceto, an Italian contemporary artist and blockchain pioneer, takes over Flannels’ flagship store on Oxford Street. As an interactive digital installation AB Infinite 1 invites members of the public to become artists themselves, encouraging viewers to alter the digital artwork through a specially designed AI (Artificial Intelligence) mechanism. Andrea’s purpose-built AI collects viewer interactions online through social media channels and turns these reactions or suggestions into visual responses which then appear as part of AB Infinite 1. This represents a new user-friendly form of AI, which does not require the user to be a software specialist or coder in order to manipulate it. Those viewing the installation on Oxford Street, will be able to watch as AB Infinite 1 morphs in appearance as people interact with the piece on social media. Andrea Bonaceto has previously collaborated with Sophia the Robot – the most advanced AI humanoid robot in the world. The NFT artworks that Andrea made with Sophia the Robot represented one of the most successful NFT debuts on Nifty Gateway grossing around $3m between primary and secondary sales. Andrea Bonaceto is inspired by the interaction of technology and art in the today’s word. In 2021 he received the Fellowship of the Royal Society of Arts. To make this even more accessible, people can view AB Infinite 1 on the artwork’s website www.abinfinite1.com that will go live on Monday 16th May. There are 2 steps to follow to become part of this piece: Firstly, visit www.abinfinite1.com and share your Twitter and/or Instagram account in the appropriate section of the website. Secondly, use the exhibition’s hashtag #abinfinite1 on Twitter and/or Instagram while sharing content. This will then become part of the piece forever in an abstract fashion following the AI processing. AB Infinite 1 represents a step forward in the field of programmable NFT art. This innovative approach is possible thanks to the efficiency of the Algorand blockchain, which is used as the technological backbone for this project. Algorand is widely considered as the world's most decentralized, environmentally friendly, scalable, and secure blockchain infrastructure. Bonaceto’s digital installation uses state-of-the-art technology – including an 8K resolution system – to create London’s most optically powerful screen that is entirely wrapped around the outside of the Flannels building. This enables 50,000+ people to see the artwork daily and is part of the longest running permanent art installation in Europe, offering the public new ways of accessing art. The piece will also go on tour on major museums worldwide from the end of May until the end of August, visiting countries like Italy, China and the UAE. Following the end of the tour, AB Infinite 1 will be auctioned by a major auction house. A selection of Bonaceto’s portraits will also be incorporated into the digital installation, which honour people part of Andrea’s life and as well as people of influence such as Valentina Tereshkova the first woman in space, the late George Floyd, environmental activist Greta Thunberg, astronaut Neil Armstrong and The Queen amongst others.

Swansea, 13 May 2022: American poet, novelist and essayist Patricia Lockwood has been awarded one of the world’s largest literary prizes for young writers – the Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize – for her debut novel, No One Is Talking About This (Bloomsbury Publishing). Also shortlisted for the 2021 Booker Prize and the Women’s prize for fiction 2021, Lockwood’s novel unpacks modern day internet culture and its impact on the individual psyche with immense sensitivity and surreptitious humour. Lockwood was awarded the prestigious £20,000 Prize for No one is talking about this (Bloomsbury Publishing) at a ceremony in Swansea University’s Great Hall on Thursday 12th May, just two days before International Dylan Thomas Day. Chair of Judges, Namita Gokhale, said: “No One Is Talking About This is a vital reflection on online culture today. A deeply timely winner, Patricia Lockwood is the voice of a generation of new writers who grew up under the constant pressures of real-time news and social media. “No One Is Talking About This is a searingly witty and innovative take on modern day internet culture, and the experience of family trauma in the modern world. The book’s flow of consciousness, almost diary-like in quality, is remarkably deft at capturing the psychological impact which simultaneous alienation and ‘group think’ life online has on us as individuals. Lockwood is an astonishing and wholly original new voice. We are delighted that the jury of the Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize decided on her debut novel as its choice for the 2022 prize. We cannot wait to see what comes next from this uncompromising talent.” The book was unanimously well received by the wider panel of judges. Author and former winner of the Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize, Rachel Trezise, describes Lockwood’s debut novel as “a poignant, witty and genre-defying portrayal of the absurdity of being 'extremely online' as well as an urgent rumination on the necessity of human connection”. Novelist Alan Bilton felt the book was “inventive, smart, and hyper-self aware” describing Lockwood as “the patron saint of digital natives, an explorer who has navigated the Twittersphere and knows: Here There Be Monsters.” Short story writer Irenosen Okojie described Nobody is Talking About This as “a timely, absurdist wonder of a book. Sharp, intellectually dexterous and full of wisdom”, while British poet Luke Kennard, also comments: “Nobody is Talking About This feels to me like a timeless book about a specific moment. It dramatises and analyses our irony and distance before becoming so stricken and moving I was left reeling.” The other titles shortlisted for the 2021 Prize were: A Passage North by Anuk Arudpragasam (Granta Books), Auguries of a Minor God by Nidhi Zak/Aria Eipe (Faber), The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris (Tinder Press / Headline Publishing Group), Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson (Viking Press / Penguin General) and Filthy Animals by Brandon Taylor (Daunt Books Publishing). Patricia Lockwood joins an illustrious list of writers to have been awarded this prestigious Prize, including Raven Leilani, Bryan Washington, Guy Gunaratne, Kayo Chingonyi, Fiona McFarlane and Max Porter. Press release: Midas PR

The exhibition titled ‘Revelations - A Portrait of Magic’ explores the lives of some of our favourite characters of the Harry Potter universe. Created over a period of six years, the fine artworks depict some of the Wizarding World’s most popular characters, including Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Albus Dumbledore, Draco Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange. Image courtesy of Crispian Blaize Stuart McAlpine Miller’s multi-layered portraits fuse Pop Art with classical influences from Caravaggion and Hieronymus Bosch in a spectral style previously described as a ‘’supernatural realism’’ by the BBC and Radio 2 art critic Estelle Lovatt, who also applauded its 4D aesthetic. The artist comments: ‘’This collection is something that I have been working on for some time, and I am so pleased that it is now ready for all to see. The subject matter is as iconic as any I’ve interpreted or conceptualised to date. It’s been a true labour of love, six years in the making.’’ Stuart has also explored the literary themes in J.K. Rowling’s work: the ‘good versus evil’ motif that has shaped religious scripture, fables and fairy tales for millennia can be seen in the almost transparent layers of paint. Chiaroscuro - a contrast of light and dark used by the Old Masters - adds an uncanny dimension to his work, exploring facets of humanity and commenting on the choices we must make in our everyday lives. In his work: the layers of text, logos and symbols unfurl around the figures like smoke with the abstracted imagery suggesting fragmented memories. These allegorical portraits hint at an evil force and impending disaster, as symbolised by the negative imagery, which uses an inverted colour palette to create a ghostly sense of unease. The dark forces seen in classical works by artists like Albrecht Drurer, Gustav Dore and Eugene Delacroix are given a contemporary update, with past and present hovering spectrally in apocalyptic unison. The exhibition takes place in the S&P Gallery, which is a London-based gallery specialising in supplying high quality framed art prints from a diverse catalogue of limited edition artworks. Together in collaboration with Zeno Fine Art, a percentage of each artwork’s sale price will be donated to the Lumos Foundation - a charity that fights for every child’s right to a family by transforming care systems around the world. Lumos strives for a future where every child is raised in a safe, loving home, supported by family to help them thrive. Many celebrities and online personalities attended the event to further prove the success of the event organised by WeAreFEP.

On Monday the 4th of April, Ai-Da showcased a new robotics arm which allows her to paint using a palette and a brush like artists have for centuries, marking a pivot point in history becoming the first humanoid robot to do so. This comes ahead of her first major art exhibition in Venice’s famous Giardini area. It will take place during the 59th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia. In 2019 Ai-Da robot made history as the world’s first ultra-realistic humanoid robot capable of drawing people from life using the cameras in her eyes, her AI algorithms, and a pencil in her robotic hand. On the 4th of April she left her mark again, when she previewed a new cutting-edge painting arm that uses ground-breaking AI algorithms and robotics, allowing Ai-Da to paint from life using a colour palette as human artists have for centuries - something never achieved before by a humanoid robot. This poses questions that many have been too afraid to ask in the past few years especially seeing how quickly technology has been able to disrupt large sections of society. And this is the same reason why Aidan Meller - the creator of the project decided to go on this venture in the first place. He wanted to not just showcase the artworks of a robot but start the conversations about data harvesting, the future of creativity, and the direction in which humanity has been pointing in general. I attended the presentation at the British Library in a room full of journalists and photographers. There was an uneasy feeling of the unexpected. A group of eyes were dividing their attention between the people walking in and staring back - Ai-Da would look at you as you walk in, look at someone else and then stare at you a bit longer sending you a smile. As an artist one could feel the threat for the first time and question whether robots could become creative and if so, how would the trajectory of evolution of robotics look like. Just imagine a robot like Ai-Da becoming creative enough (as they already possess an abundance of information) that they are able to start producing more robots in the future. Aidan Meller shares with us the famous words of Alan Turing: “Human characteristics could never be imitated by a machine…such attempts and their results would have something like the unpleasant quality of artificial flowers.” On 23rd April 2022, Ai-Da Robot, the world’s first ultra-realistic humanoid robot artist, will open a major contemporary art exhibition in Venice’s famous Giardini during the 59th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia. While robot artworks have been exhibited during La Biennale di Venezia in previous years, 2022 will mark the first time an ultra-realistic humanoid robot artist presents a solo exhibition of artworks during La Biennale di Venezia as a human artist would. Titled Leaping into the Metaverse, Ai-Da Robot’s exhibition will take place at the Concilio Europeo Dell'Arte venue, InParadiso Gallery in the Giardini. Presented over five connected spaces, the exhibition will explore the interface between human experience and AI technology, from Alan Turing to the Metaverse, and will draw on Dante’s concepts of Purgatory and Hell to explore the future of humanity in a world where AI technology continues to encroach on everyday human life.

Luis Hidalgo is a fine art and illustration artist living in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. With a strong background in Fashion design, his body of work ( using both digital and traditional media ) deals mostly with humor and his own very caricaturesque point of view. Hi Luis. Thank you for agreeing to do this interview, I am really excited to get to know your practice as an artist. Thank you so much for your interest in my work, this is such an honour. How are you today? Fine thanks, a bit tired after catching up on all Drawing Cabaret Couture´s sessions for London Fashion Week, but overall very happy with all the wonderful results. Tell us a little about yourself I’m an illustrator living in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, right in the middle of the Caribbean. I´m a teacher at my Alma Mater ( Chavón/ La Escuela de Diseño ), where I’ve been teaching Fashion Illustration/ Drawing for the last 20 years. I have worked for many local brands/ designers and also for a few international blogs. Did you study art or are you self-taught? I have an AD in Fashion design, and prior to that, I went to College for Advertising/ Graphic Design. I have always enjoyed drawing and loved fashion. Growing up in the 80s with all the hype about music and fashion made me fall in love with fashion design, and made it possible to attend Fashion school later on. I have always been intrigued by why people wear the clothes they wear and why do they buy them. How the clothes one wears can be a way of self expression. Your style is very distinct and whenever I see photos of your art I can instantly recognise it. What are your biggest influences and how did you develop your style? Thank you. I remember watching a story about Antonio on TV and falling in love with his work, and also realizing that Fashion Illustration, as a career, existed so one could say he is quite an influence. I also look at the work of many contemporary illustrators like Melanie Reim, Carlos Aponte, Helen Bullock, Bill Donovan just to name a few. Instagram has also introduced me to the work of many fascinating artists. As for my style, I draw every day. I´m a Taurus so I´m pretty routine oriented, but I’m also quite stubborn. I like to challenge myself by not doing things the same way all the time, especially when it comes to techniques and materials. I approach fashion drawing with a story in my head, about the clothes or the character wearing them, and try to convey that storytelling through my drawing. It can be as subtle as the direction the figure´s eyes look back at you or as complicated as a really intricate texture rendering. It´s all about creating a story and communicating a feeling. Could you walk me through your art making process? I always draw with music. Most of the time I look for music that relates (at least in my head) to what I want to draw. Also, lighting incense is a plus. For DCC´s classes, I use an iPad, which is relatively new to me but has given me the benefit of saving/ sharing the result in high definition, skipping the hassle of taking photographs or scanning. And since I am in the middle of moving to another apartment, most of my art materials are still stored in a box… somewhere. So the iPad has been a real blessing. Took some time to get the hang of it, but then again, I´m quite stubborn. What is your favourite piece of art you have made? Well, there have been many. I find that I really enjoy when the drawing takes a life of its own, and just flows. Drawing digitally I challenge myself not to erase, and that really has injected energy into my drawings. I really enjoyed the last pieces I did from Drawing Cabaret Couture´s London Fashion Week 5 day classes, mostly because the variety of designers allowed me to experiment with different solutions and graphic approaches to the figure. I also attend a few online figure drawing groups and really love what I have been able to make. Do you have a muse and how do you find inspiration? Many muses, not just one. Quite often I get obsessed with a style, a person, or an era, and begin researching and collecting images. Currently obsessed with German expressionism and the Weimar Era. I read a lot of literature which helps unleash my imagination. Would you share with us some of your artworks from the Drawing Cabaret Couture London Fashion Week classes? Glad to. I think Drawing Cabaret Couture´s classes really encompass what I mention previously - the sets, the playlists, the clothes and the models are always so inspiring. Week after week they have managed to wow me, even though for work/ time zone differences I often have to watch the catchup videos.

Yesterday the line up for the much-loved Henley Festival was announced and I was one of the lucky ones to attend their evening launch party. While some big artist names were dropped - The Script, Tom Jones and Craig David to name a few, the festival has one more reason to celebrate - its 40th anniversary. Henley Festival is a truly unique event, embracing a vibrant programme from pop to world music, classical to jazz, where art and gastronomy share equal billing with music. Across four decades, the Festival’s iconic Floating Stage has hosted a raft of global superstars including Elton John, Grace Jones, Dame Shirley Bassey, Nile Rodgers & Chic, Elvis Costello, Bryn Terferl, Jess Glynne, Will Young, BLAKE, Madness, Burt Bacharach, James Blunt, Rita Ora, Curtis Stigers & Rob Brydon, Lionel Richie, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, The Beach Boys, Tom Jones, The Jacksons, Pet Shop Boys, Jessie J, Tom Odell, Chaka Khan, Goldie, All Saints, Melanie C, Jamie Cullum, and the English National Opera. The 40th anniversary celebrations will take place from Wednesday 6th – Sunday 10th July 2022 and the headline acts, in what is expected to be the best year for the not-for-profit festival yet, will be: Wednesday July 6th – The Script & in the Nightclub Boney M Thursday July 7th – Craig David Friday July 8th – Tom Jones Saturday July 9th – Pete Tong’s Ibiza Classics with The Heritage Orchestra and Jules Buckley Sunday July 10th – 40th Anniversary Celebratory Evening And if that isn’t enough to make you book your tickets as soon as they are released to the public, every evening is topped off with a jaw-dropping firework display. For all ticket information visit the festival website here: www.henley-festival.co.uk