ham and eggs

Three Kings High

2012-01-18T15:50:00.000-08:00

Three Kings High....new group from the man CHATTERBOX.Chatterbox is a guy myself and London Spoken Word guru Curious have done a few cuts with...most notoriously 'Digital Data', which made it onto a few mix tapes a while back.been promising to get a blog done about these guys in a while. Until I get around to it proper, here is a taster.ENJOY!Ashwan

SWEET- Common

2011-11-15T14:30:00.001-08:00

sweet

REMINISCE

2011-11-08T15:17:00.000-08:00

wow, what a couple of days....lost Smokin Joe Frazier AND Heavy D. Both before they deserved to go. RIP guys....

Scribble Wall..Ashwan art, blast from the past

2011-09-09T06:53:00.000-07:00

BLAST FROM THE PAST:

I was diggin in the image crates recently with a mentor and friend and came across this photo. It is a shot of one of my early 'scribble' walls, worked on in the late 90's while at the Art Institute of Chicago. It is about 12ft wide.These things had a real physical presence. They literally were walls.This one originally had speakers inside that played back the sounds that had been made during the construction process. I eventually left these out though as it really didn't add anything. The sounds went on to become independent pieces in their own right, unfortunately captured on DAT tape...who has DAT these days????

peace.

Parisian battle of the Post-It's

2011-08-31T01:16:00.000-07:00

This is GREAT. I spotted this in The Guardian today, who got their images from http://www.postitwar.com/

Paris is in the midst of a Post It note battle! Not got a lot to say about it except that I think it has a little bit of the infectiousness of early NY graffiti. People seeing it and wanting to try their own versions, BUT I also think it's interesting that the medium AND the subject matter really reflect our times in a very interesting way. It is all very quick and disposable and the images used do not carry any great meaning, other than the fundamental act of creating them in the first place...which carries tonnes of meaning!
I also think it is funny that a lot of these are made while people are working and I think it genuinely reflects the nature of a lot of mundane jobs today. People cannot focus on them for any length of time as they seem so trivial and do not carry any voice of the people doing them, therefore you get a lot of coffee machine banter and this type of mischief where some kind of self as a social animal can come out. That's not a criticism I think it's great. I love these and now I feel like going and buying a bunch of post-it notes.
Other thing to state is: How creative are these Parisians!?! Props to that. What a great city.

Maybe I'll do a Post It note version of one of my paintings...
Ashwan

The Cypher pt.i

2011-08-28T12:31:00.000-07:00

Circles have been featuring in my studio recently. Not sure how far they are going, but I needed to try a few. Even with my square canvases I am always rotating them while I am painting. I guess something inside me feels like a record is inside each of the squares, like they're big sleeves or something.
So here is one I rolled out (literally)the other day.
Called The Cypher pt.i it is Acrylic and mixed media on canvas and measures 96cm in diameter x 10cm thick.
I didn't use any text on this as it is more of an instrumental idea. I wanted to capture some of the feel of the tunes we'd b-boy to back in the 80's, that futuristic cosmo-funk. NUNK, NUNK AIN'T NO PUNK, EVERBODY ROCK TO THE NEW WAVE FUNK.

Hopefully listening to those should give you an idea of where I was going with this one.

PEACE, UNITY, LUV and HAVING FUN!
ashwan

RIP Kase 2

2011-08-14T14:36:00.000-07:00

I just heard on Twitter that Kase2/Case2 has passed away. All old skool heads will remember him from the Style Wars documentary runnin his mouth at the writers bench and droppin lines from The Message. The crazy cat with just one arm, who somehow managed to produce beautiful art while hanging on the side of a subway car in the middle of the night.
RIP Kase 2...an inspiration.

POP LOCK- COLD BONE

2011-08-02T12:58:00.000-07:00

ILL!

ASHWAN

Cheshire Life Article, June 2011

2011-07-28T06:01:00.000-07:00

Spotted this recently in a journal from the UK.
Often when paintings go out into the world, I have no idea where they end up or who bought them. For me this is a really important part of the process and I never have any fear or regret about letting pieces go; it is a part of their life-cycle. It is good to see one of the pieces I regard as personal favourite end up in a good home.
Also got a few good lines on the following page. Check them out below:

Purple Pond, 5ftx5ft. Oil on canvas

I believe this collector also picked up these pieces.

Super Duper Star, 2ftx2ft. Oil and mixed media on canvas

Busiest Rhymes, 8ftx3.5ft. oil and mixed on canvas

Ashwan

VIZIE van graffiti

2011-07-27T17:00:00.000-07:00

Artist Driven - Vizie Night from LRG on Vimeo.

legal piece made to look more dramatic to sell LRG t shirts and Ironlak shtuff...nice piece though.
ashwan

RECORD (vinyl) ART

2011-07-23T07:59:00.000-07:00

It was sad news recently when I learned of the passing of a great artist...No, not Lucian Freud (who was a decent painter)or Amy Winehouse (who was a very young, decent singer)but the less recognised Alex Steinweiss who was art director for Colombia records from 1938.
The reason that the old LP record was called an album is that they literally used to be produced like a traditional photo album, with a leather effect cover, gold inlays and pages and pages of information. Alex went into Colombia with the idea that if you made records more visually appealing and dynamic, then you would attract more people and therefore sell more. His first album cover, and effectively the first illustrated record cover in history, is a stunner and way before it's time visually:

The influence of Walker Evans 'Broadway' photograph (below)is evident, but to apply it to the context of product packaging at this time was visionary. It is not surprising that this early Rodgers and Hart cover should prove to be so inspirational.

RIP Alex Steinweiss (March 24, 1917 – July 18, 2011)

Walker Evans 'Broadway', 1930

LAMBORGHINI AVENTADOR - A Fly Whip

2011-07-20T15:43:00.001-07:00

Pete Rock/Smiff n Wessun

2011-07-13T16:18:00.000-07:00

Delta in Switzerland.

2011-07-09T15:19:00.000-07:00

It's essential for graffiti and writers to evolve if the roots of the culture are going to continue to carry meaning in society today. Most writers have been inspired to do what they do by a dynamic that they saw in the work of artists in NYC in the 80's and early 90's. When I look at Dutch artist DELTA's (aka Boris Tellegen) work it takes me back to scouring the pages of Henry Chalfants 'Subway Art'. I see a kid staring at a piece by Kase 2, trying to understand the intricacy, the computer rock craziness that Kase brought to the world. I can see how the scale of images that Henry brought us in their intimacy would cause a then young and aspiring writer to desire to turn them into macro versions of themselves.
Graffiti art holds a difficult place in art history, even now with major shows cropping up internationally. It is still hard for historians to see, and many writers to articulate, exactly where the relevance is, how it all fits in.
One of the things graffiti did (because it was not 'hi' painting) is take the sculpture off the floor and put it on to the wall. Anthony Caro took it off the plinth and that was considered revolutionary. Graff writers made it two dimensional so you didn't need to fall over that shit while you were looking at the paintings.
Graffiti took graphic languages and experimented with 3 dimensions on a 2d plane on a scale that had never really been toyed with. Of course Trompe L'oil existed already for hundreds of years and even artists such as Richard Haas were dealing with it on an architectural scale, but much of early graffiti was 'sculpture'.
Look at the work of Zaha Hadid and that of Daim and see in a slightly different way, what I am talking about.

When I look at Delta's work in these images, I see things that I saw when I stared at that 'Subway Art' for hours on end in the mid 80's. The dynamic was incredible. COMPUTER ROCK!
Graffiti has done MANY things for the future art history books, this is just one of them.

The show is at the Kunstraum until September 10th, 2011.
for more info visit http://kunstraum.ch/
images stolen from ARRESTED MOTION

PEACE,
ASHWAN

DOZE GREEN

2011-07-01T12:21:00.001-07:00

old skool writer/b boy doing his thang...DOZE!

ashwan

KC and the Sunshine Band

2011-06-23T13:36:00.000-07:00

classic track, as sampled by Jazzie B from Soul II Soul back in the day...a real head nodder.

enjoy!

Pose, Risk, Ewok and Sever paint Soundset Festival in Minneapolis.

2011-06-21T06:10:00.000-07:00

The POSE piece in this clip is insane...also feelin the SEVER piece.

ASHWAN

dj MK: Jay Z v Nas mix

2011-05-24T06:02:00.000-07:00

Recorded on KISS100 last Sat night.1 hr of Jay & Nas. Hip Hop Heavyweights!! Look out for pt2!! by Dj Mk on Mixcloud

...in my lungs

2011-05-23T08:57:00.000-07:00

I don't do straight 'graffiti' much these days, but got opportunity to put my name on a wall for an upcoming collaborative art project recently. Any kind of paint is always fun to play with, but LIKE AN IDIOT, as we were painting outdoors, I didn't put my mask on.

MISTAKE.

as Billy (upski) Wimsatt tells us: 'Mario, ALWAYS wear your mask!'

My lungs still feel like shit.

anyways, here's my contribution.

on the pigeon tip, just got put onto this blog: PIGEONS AND PLANES
pretty dope. peep it n see.
ashwan

Gabriella's Culture Corner | NEWS AND VIEWS FROM OUR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDANT

2011-05-17T17:06:00.000-07:00

Gabriella's Culture Corner | NEWS AND VIEWS FROM OUR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDANT

Art is Music to the Soul | Gabriella's Culture Corner

2011-05-16T15:45:00.000-07:00

Art is Music to the Soul | Gabriella's Culture Corner

Ashwan interview with Gabriella White.

May 2011.

ALICE!!!!

2011-05-16T15:10:00.001-07:00

Alice Coltrane always blows my mind...ENJOY.

South Bronx footage

2011-05-10T16:07:00.000-07:00

a nice little montage/mashup of different movies and documentaries from back in the day, all based around the South Bronx.

Enjoy

B-Toy Barcelona

2011-05-04T16:21:00.001-07:00

If you are looking for some quality stencil/paste up work and are in Barcelona, keep an eye out for the city’s very own BToy.

The newest image I caught was all the way up on Ronda Guinardo, just near Hospital San Pau, but generally I would start in the El Borne area, around here:

View Larger Map

peace,

a$Hw@n

Mister Cee's Guru tribute mix...one year later.

2011-04-20T02:18:00.000-07:00

Guru was without question one of the most influential and significant emcees of all. He blessed planet rock with some of the finest tunes out there. Here is a mix by Mister Cee paying tribute to the legend:

Mr. Cee's Guru Tribute Mix by Hypetrak

RIP GURU!

ashwan

goin way back...and forward!

2011-04-20T00:56:00.000-07:00

DJ Form from Pseudo Slang (Fat Beats) had a link to this on his FB page recently. It is a tune I had never heard before and is FUNKY AS KCUFFFF!!!!

Form is knee deep in beats and one of the reasons Pseudo Slang make such funky ass music. Keep and eye out for them as it is likely they will be in a town near you very soon.

(note to promoters, they are available for bookings now...contact info below.)

So far they have gigs lined up with legends like Masta Ace, Marco Polo, Rah Digga and many more.

You can hear the knowledge and crate diggin experience clearly in their tunes.

Pseudo Slang- Slang

and a bit about Pseudo Slang:

Notables & Press:

“When I first heard Pseudo Slang ‘Yes Doubt’ I was floored, and it became my #1 Song of 2008. I’ve been doing radio for 18 years but few songs ever gave me chills, ‘Yes Doubt’ was one of them. I can’t wait for the album.”
- Dj 3rd Rail Chicago DJ and Radio Legend, 89.3FM WNUR, DJ3RDRAIL.COM

“Fat Beats have signed a great act here and we hope to hear more of their output if the standard of production and rhymes are like these.”
- Fat City Records

“Pseudo Slang is the thinking fan’s kind of hip-hop”
- Chicago Sun Times

Pseudo Slang “We’ll Keep Looking” features Vinia Mojica (A Tribe Called Quest, Black Star, De La Soul), Grap Luva (INI, Pete Rock & CL Smooth), A.L. Third and more.

Pseudo Slang “We’ll Keep Looking” - - Mos Def “The Ecstatic” - - MF Doom “Born Like This”
Summer 2009 seems to be a good time for hip hop music.

- - Pseudo Slang’s “We’ll Keep Looking” was just released worldwide June 16th, 2009 by Fat Beats Records in the US and abroad, and is being marketed by Audible Treats as well as heavy print and web advertising campaigns.
- - An exclusive Japanese version of “We’ll Keep Looking” was released in April 2009 and a forthcoming Spring 2010 Japanese tour is in the works.
- - We’ll Keep Looking features Vinia Mojica (of A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, and Black Star fame) and Grap Luva (INI, Pete Rock & CL Smooth).
- - During the past three years Pseudo Slang has completed three 30+ city US Tours, two Canadian Tours, and toured Europe leading up to the release of “We’ll Keep Looking.”
- - 12” Vinyl single “Broke & Copascetic” sold over 2500 units worldwide.

Brief Bio:

Pseudo Slang is Emcee Sick and touring compadre Dj Form as well as Tone Atlas, DJ Cutler, Gangsta D and contributing members DJ Tommee, Daringer, Mysterious L, A.L. Third + more. Based in Buffalo and Chicago Pseudo Slang have been closely followed for almost a decade garnering international praise for creating a fresh sound that steps outside of contemporary rap’s confines. PS released their debut “Catalogue” October 2004 under the umbrella of Baby Steps Hip Hop which was then operating as a record label. The Catalogue was compilation of tracks recorded between 1999-2004, and due to the excitement it generated the group subsequently signed with Brooklyn-based indie-major Fat Beats Records in August 2005. Fat Beats then released Pseudo Slang “Broke & Copascetic” (12” Vinyl single) which sold over 2500 units worldwide, and then to hold fans over the Slangers released “Thank God It’s Not Another Mixtape” (2006, EP on CD) which has created yet more buzz. Pseudo Slang have completed four 30+ City US Tours, and toured Canada and Europe. The new album “We’ll Keep Looking” is essentially a debut release for Pseudo Slang on the international heavyweight status which Fat Beats commands, and the buzz is already pinning the meters around the globe. An exclusive version of the album also was released in Japan in April 2009.

-- Pseudo Slang Information ...
Bookings: info@pseudo-slang.com
Web: brent@pseudo-slang.com
http://www.pseudo-slang.com

ARTISTS I LIKE: SAGE VAUGHN

2011-04-13T00:35:00.000-07:00

check this awesome video from a few years back and if you like the visuals and are in the London area, go peep the show at the Lazarides Gallery.

I love the style of animation on this and the illustrations look pretty cool too.

One love Sage Vaughn...good sh1t!
WAN

Sabe and Bates

2011-04-09T16:41:00.000-07:00

This is how Bates and Sabe do...

ashwan

Inheritance Wax Mix Tape...OUT NOW

2011-03-27T03:29:00.000-07:00

Inheritance Wax started a few years ago, when Ashwan was working part time with the elderly in Liverpool, UK. As they passed on, families would come and clear their homes of all belongings which inevitably meant whole record collections being thrown out each time.

Being a dj and producer, as well as nostalgic for the days when you could walk into some ones place, glance at the record collection and book shelf and get a sense of what that person is about, Ashwan salvaged the records and set about making new record covers and sampling and remixing the original vinyl to create new art from the old.

The project is heavily hip hop influenced but instead of hours of crate digging, the sample base has come from this limited palate, with the hope that a different and unique sound will entail that also somehow pays tribute to the artists Liverpool roots.

The music is free to download, while the original vinyl covers will be sealed in air tight bubbles for preservation, turning the discarded object back into one of value and meaning. These will be exhibited together with the music over the coming months in the UK and across Europe. Please check www.ashwan.co.uk for up to date information on these.

You can download the mixtape here (it fits on one side of a C90):

http://ashwan.bandcamp.com/album/inheritance-wax

Inheritance Wax released TODAY, 27^th March, 2011

ENJOY!

www.ashwan.co.uk

OLD SKOOL

2011-03-15T15:18:00.000-07:00

(photo by Ivana Flores)

good to get out and about with your art every now and then...this was from the Walking Gallery in February.
wanted to spend some time with this piece as I love it and it is on its way to a charity auction.
Hopefully it will raise some cash and awareness for Kids In Danger.

(photo by Damian El Termita)

ashwan

more random barcelona graffiti

2011-03-12T02:15:00.000-08:00

more random barcelona street pieces...if you know any of the writers names, please feel free to credit them in the comments below.

the top image is 'astro' and the last image of the abstracted face is by an Irish guy called Fis.

One of the tightest writers in terms of style is a girl who works with Montana, but I cannot remember her name right now!!! haha...sorry! anyways, she did the green letters about 6 down from the top. old skool NYC style, reminds me of something by Skeme or Tkid from back in the day.

Felipe Smith....BIG in japan

2011-03-11T13:33:00.000-08:00

with all the craziness in Japan yesterday, my thoughts have been with the people there. I have some really good friends there and one of them is this guy: Felipe Smith.
Proud to know this dude. seriously hard working and serious skills.

Love to all my people in Japan...Hoping everyone is safe and well.

Ash

Dukes Oak Gallery, Sandbach, Cheshire UK

2011-03-09T17:16:00.000-08:00

One of the galleries I deal with has recently branched out into furniture and interiors. They have put up a show with my work and some funky bits and bobs. check it out and see what you think.

The space is in the middle of NOWHERE. It is called Dukes Oak Gallery and you can find it HERE:

Ver mapa más grande

the street address is:

Holmes Chapel Rd, Brereton, Sandbach, Cheshire East CW11 1SD

the owner is super cool and has become a good friend since my first show with her other space a few years ago.

Go pay a visit and pick up some super trendy furniture, a supafly painting and even a sculpture of a duck if you're interested!!! (still not sure about the red light though!)

BE EASY!

Ashwan - (barcelona-metropolitan.com)

2011-03-05T00:01:00.000-08:00

Ashwan - (barcelona-metropolitan.com)

Walking Gallery in Barcelona this Sunday. meeting up outside Cafe Zurich in Placa Catalunya...around 12.00.

I'm going to be presenting A version of my new Inheritance Wax mixtape along with some of the 'remixed' record covers.

this is the first official outing for this project...not the final thing, but an opportunity for me to see how I feel about some of the decisions I have made so far.

I've put a 'twist' on the record covers and had them sealed inside plastic 'bubbles'. means if you want to listen to the original samples you need to bust open the artwork. I like that dilemma.

anyways, come on down, listen to and look at where I am up to with this project...been a 2 year labour of love so far.
don't forget you can listen to some promo clips HERE and see more of the vinyl covers HERE.

PEACE.

random Barcelona street doodles February 2011

2011-02-08T13:38:00.000-08:00

That's it...more laters.

ashwan

Exhibition February 2011

2011-02-02T23:48:00.000-08:00

Just put up a really informal show at a funky little space near MACBA in Raval, Barcelona, called the Air Shop.
here is an image just after I had hung them. it is only from my phone so not great in that light...which they still needed to sort out.

the address in Carrer Del Angels, 20...go check it out if you're close by. literally 50 meters from MACBA.

also gonna be involved with the WALKING GALLERY this weekend. more info to follow.

Ashwan

Death of Days...By Ian Rees

2011-01-29T09:18:00.000-08:00

Couple of skate kids I know in Barcelona have just put this video together. It's got a real nice sense of pathos to it...very romantic.

check it and let me know what you think.

Peace.
Ashwan

Painters

2011-01-26T06:21:00.000-08:00

Recently I was involved in some filming for BBC2. I was asked which painters inspired my work.
My standard answers to this question are Picasso, Turner and the New York city graff writters of the 80's....Jose Parla ran through my mind, but I didn't mention him as he is not an inspiration at all, he is just someone whose work I quite like and has some similar stylistic concerns to myself. We are very different artists however, and our work come from and goes to different places.
When I mentioned Turner, the critics involved (Charlotte Mullins, David Lee and Roy Bolton) generally agreed they could see something in this...itself a huge compliment. They also said that the graffiti influence was apparent though were less convinced about Picasso. I confess that nowadays this is more due to his work ethic and self conviction than anything, though his early portrait of Ambroise Vollard is the single most significant image that took me from spraying graffiti on walls to actually buying a set of acrylic paints and making my first 'proper painting'!

Portrait of Ambroise Vollard, 1910, by Pablo Picasso

Charlotte Mullins then asked me about contemporary painters like Callum Innes.
This is really not a straightforward answer, though I said 'yes...and Mark Francis...'
Again they do not directly inspire me, BUT I really appreciate the quality and beauty in their work. They are definite 'markers' of what can be achieved through painting.

Two Identified forms, 2007 by Callum Innes

Untitled monotype, 2003, by Mark Francis

This got me to thinking about a couple of other names whose work I really love. One of the most significant is a good friend of mine from when I studied in Chicago. She is not so well known in the UK, but I really believe her work will be widely sought after in a few years time. Her name is Carrie Gundersdorf

south east trails, 2007 by Carrie Gundersdorf

To me, Carries work is sublime in it's beauty. Carrie takes as her start point the traces left by stars and other astral phenomena. This actually distracts me when I think about it too much, preferring to focus purely on the formal beauty....these paintings have their own soul. What more do you need?!?!

star trails, 52 minutes. 2007, by Carrie Gundersdorf.

One of Carries main influences is another Chicago based painter called Michelle Grabner. I have admired Michelle's paintings in the past, but it never really went beyond that. Recently however, I saw a new body of work that looks amazing...

(above 3 images all by Michelle Grabner. I do not have titles or dimensions for these pieces at this stage.)

The other painter of this ilk who I would say is an inspiration is Sean Sculley. The fundamental thing about Sean's work is it's physicality. It is big and it's tough...but it is beautiful in it's own right.

I find it a bit amusing that Michelle's work is made in the context of 'men and women painting'. To me it is so unimportant...a bit like the question raised recently by that fool Andy Gray about if female officials should be allowed to control male football games.

If a person can do the job well, let's just get on with it and appreciate it. End of!

Ashwan

news just in:

a guy who I regard as my 'mentor' (Geoff Pattison) used to know Sean Sculley from his time up in Newcastle and they were both friends with another painter called Steve Joy. I had not heard of Steve before, but his work looks pretty interesting too:

Interesting to see gold and silver leaf being used in these, I have done a few with gold leaf and have 4 new ones in my studio now. would be good to see one in the flesh sometime.

Below is one of my older gold leaf works:

Rock n Roll

2011-01-24T13:50:00.000-08:00

the discussions about exactly where Rock n Roll started will always go on...but MAYBE, just maybe, it was with Sister Rosetta Tharpe....peep this clip:

peace

graffiti wall, moll de Barcelona Jan 2011

2011-01-16T10:15:00.000-08:00

Here are MOST of the pieces from the wall just across from the Moll De Barcelona roundabout. immediately above and below are two of Barcelona's more prolific painters Noler and Sonar...

this wall constantly changes...will do another post from here in a couple of months and you'll see the difference.

PIECE!

ashwan

Works: Card and Mixed Media

2011-01-14T14:46:00.000-08:00

New work, on it's way to a gallery in Hale, UK. They are mixed media pieces, all framed and measure about 25cmx25cm.
I see them as sketches for ideas...but these ones are definitely inspired by Alice Coltrane.
Journeys...

http://www.ashwan.co.uk/

Chicago Night Clubs, 1970s

2011-01-13T23:49:00.000-08:00

Chicago Night Clubs, 1970s

supa-dupa-fly!

morning doodles

2011-01-09T00:33:00.000-08:00

a couple more ashwan doodles made in the iphone app 'brushes'...

more later....

streetlife

2011-01-05T14:52:00.000-08:00

Return of the Life pt.i. 3ftx3ft oil on canvas by Ashwan.

Painting from a series inspired by this tune:

also, every time I hear this, I just have to pull out the original sample. Minnie Ripperton is incredible.
check out how she hits and holds THAT note!

ashwan

more kix

2011-01-04T14:24:00.000-08:00

Bank underground tube stop as part of the Dopplarity show, also at Hiscox art gallery. circa 2001

above, the Ashwan contribution: Fat Laces 101.

Sure- R.I.P

2011-01-03T23:06:00.000-08:00

www.ashwan.co.uk

BRANDNUTOPIA- Ashwan and CalendarGirl

2011-01-02T01:08:00.000-08:00

here is a cut from a few years back. a collab effort between Ashwan and Calendargirl called BRANDNUTOPIA. it is a kicked back 'bristol style' trip hop effort. Additional dj cuts are provided by CURIOUS.
this tune never saw the light of day unfortunately, as the project it was due to come out on got scrapped at the last minute....so this is an underground trip hop gem. feel free to share it with your peeps, but please spread the word about all the artists involved.
Calendargirl currently has a new project called KARLA, and a new single has just hit the stores from her. you can pick it up HERE. go and show love by spending a few cents to download.
Curious is the multi talented emcee, poet and deejay that I have worked with many times since the last millennium! sounds like a long time when you put it like that...and it is!
His main thing right now is spitting wisdom at spoken word events such as WORDAMOUTH. keep an eye on his blog for more info.

MK on mixcloud

2011-01-02T00:19:00.000-08:00

Dj Mk -Vol 16 - Sweet Sixteen (2000) by Dj Mk on Mixcloud

for those who don't know, DJ MK is the man on the wheels of steel behind Dizee Rascal and Roots Manuva. I first met MK in the early 90's when he was coming up in the London scene at carnival there. He sold me one of his mixtapes...it was DOPE! I need to dig it out and upload that ish. MK has had skills for time and is one of the most respected hip hop dj's in the UK, but still seems to have kept it underground, despite hosting radio shows with KISS FM. To me this is because he is all about the music and none of the nonsense.
more recently MK has turned his kitchen into a venue for a live stream internet 'tv' show called 'funhouse'. filled with big name guests, this is purely for the love of the beats. it is the closest thing to pirate radio I have heard (or seen) in a long while.
keep an eye on MK's blog for updates and info.

peace.

Graffiti throw up doodles/Happy New Year animation

2010-12-30T23:18:00.000-08:00

I have been working on these little graffiti doodles the past couple of months, just while I was travelling or even chatting on the phone...eventually they started to turn into something approaching an animation. figured it would be good to share them and wish everybody all the best for 2011.
The doodles are celebrating my last 6 months or so, since my kids were born.
Hope you like it.

If you've been following this blog, you will recognise the beat...it will be featuring on my mixtape, out early 2011.
called 'Inheritance Wax'.

AIGHT...
Have a happy, healthy and funky 2011 people.
lot of lovin!

Ashwan

Parc Ciudadella

2010-12-26T16:13:00.000-08:00

mayne, Barcelona is cool for the fact that you are always passing by something interesting going on.
cycling through Parc Ciutadella on Boxing Day, 2010 and I passed these cats warming up.
had a real nice vibe to what they wee doing...I just filmed a bit of it as I only had my phone with me and the quality is not that great....does not do these guys justice at all.

anyways, cool people too...so shouts to Hector 'Hope' (B Boy), Ludovico Hombravella and Ivan Bouchain (Tap) and the man 'Coco' from Paris rockin tha box!

HOT ISH on a cool December day in Barcelona.

Peace.
ASHWAN

Featured Artwork...

2010-12-20T10:39:00.000-08:00

Digging in the crates these days with work from back in the dizzle...
okay okay player, this one is not so far back...it came out of a body of work made about 3 or 4 years ago now.
This one never even saw the gallery walls. It was snapped up while still in the studio by an emcee from Chicago who also appreciated the influence that the common track i used to love H.E.R. which is the original influence for this particular piece.
IF you do not know the common track, it is probably too late for you. but so you don't feel left out, HERE IT IS:

INSANELY DOPE!
I also just peeped a cool live version and next time Comm passes thru your town, you NEED to go see this guy. One of my all time gigs was his album release party for his third album, at the House of Blues in Chicago. It was hosted by De La Soul and just about everyone on the album was there...Lauryn Hill blew the place apart, CanIbus, CeeLo...way too many to mention. It ended with a big hip hop karaoke of legendary emcees spittin other legendary artists tracks, just for the pure love of it.
Since then I have caught him 5 or 6 times at other places, sometimes with a full band, other times just a small get up...ALWAYS amazing tho. dude works HARD.
anyways back to the point.
Below is my homage to the track itself, but also to the sentiment, so to the good people of hip hop. those who do it for the love.

I used to love H.E.R. by Ashwan.
4ftx4ft oil and mixed media on canvas.
private collection Chicago, USA.

you can catch the others from this series on my web page:
www.ashwan.co.uk

custom kix- past work resurfaced!

2010-12-19T05:12:00.000-08:00

HAPPY TOGETHER (DWYCK)

2010-12-16T03:50:00.000-08:00

was just listening to Main Source this morning and it reminded me how similar the main vocal hook is to the hook from the Turtles 'Happy Together' track.
This Turtles tune is one of the ones I have 'inherited' from an old folks crib in Liverpool and am currently using as the palate for my new mix tape...INHERITANCE WAX.
here is the Turtles original version:

you can get a sneak preview of my version here:

the Inheritance Wax mixtape will be out early 2011.

visit my web page:

www.ashwan.co.uk for updates or to register on the mailing list.

the original vinyl will also be available with 'remixed' individually painted cover art, see examples below:

Random Painting of the day...

2010-12-15T16:33:00.000-08:00

ASHWAN: Hip Hop is Dead.
oil and mixed media on card board
2010

Q tip and Phife Dawg spitting to Boney M!

2010-12-14T15:15:00.000-08:00

OH SNAP!!! Q tip and Phife spit over Boney M on this version of 1nce Again that is gonna feature of the January 2011 release 'Inheritance Wax'...get on it!
check the web page nearer the time for updates.
www.ashwan.co.uk

Warhol Foundation's message to the Smithsonian...

2010-12-14T04:03:00.000-08:00

December 13, 2010
WARHOL FOUNDATION DEMANDS REINSTATEMENT OF CENSORED ART WORK OR WILL CEASE FUNDING ALL SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION EXHIBITIONS

The following letter was sent today by The Andy Warhol Foundation to Wayne Clough, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution:

December 13, 2010
Mr. Wayne Clough
Smithsonian Institution
SIB Office of the Secretary
MRC 016
PO Box 37012
Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
Dear Mr. Clough,
The Warhol Foundation is proud to have been a lead supporter of Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture, but we strongly condemn the decision to remove David Wojnarowicz’s video A Fire in My Belly from the exhibition. Such blatant censorship is unconscionable. It is inimical to everything the Smithsonian Institution should stand for, and everything the Andy Warhol Foundation does stand for.
Although we have enjoyed our growing relationship during the past three years, and have given more than $375,000 to fund several exhibitions at various Smithsonian institutions, we cannot stand by and watch the Smithsonian bow to the demands of bigots who have attacked the exhibition out of ignorance, hatred and fear.
Last week the Foundation published a statement on its website www.warholfoundation.org, condemning the National Portrait Gallery’s removal of the work and on Friday our Board of Directors met to discuss the long-term implications of the Museum’s behavior on the Foundation’s relationship with the Smithsonian Institution. After careful consideration, the Board voted unanimously to demand that you restore the censored work immediately, or the Warhol Foundation will cease funding future exhibitions at all Smithsonian institutions.
I regret that you have put us in this position, but there is no other course we can take. For the arts to flourish the arts must be free, and the decision to censor this important work is in stark opposition to our mission to defend freedom of expression wherever and whenever it is under attack.
Sincerely yours,
Joel Wachs
President
cc: Ms. Patricia Stonesifer, Smithsonian Chairwoman of the Board
Directors of Smithsonian Institution museums
Board Chairs of Smithsonian Institution museums

Oh Erykah...

2010-12-13T15:43:00.000-08:00

B Girl, you rock my world.

FAT LACES

2010-12-13T15:00:00.000-08:00

after digging out the old FAT CAPS images recently, it got me to thinking I should post some of my other old work.
some of the photo's of this stuff are awful...done with my phone or whatever...no tripod or lights.

Most people who know me, know I like my adi dassler kicks... this series were started around 1997. I would go back to painting a pair every so often though...so maybe as recently as 95 was the last time I painted a pair. I love abstraction, but every now and then it's good to go back to doing something a bit more 'traditional'. don't most painters feel a drive to do this at times? seriously, it's a question...I dunno!

OH, btw...some of the new work I am making right now, is DAMN HOT! ...and small (framed, 25x25cm)!!!! IF you feel like you got a knot in your pocket and short of Christmas ideas, hit me up and I'll get some photo's made of them. otherwise it will be the new year now before I get my photographer to document the new pieces.as for the adidas kicks series, bad news, they ALL GONE!

AIIGHT!

peace.
ashwan

electro street sounds stylee

2010-12-12T15:15:00.001-08:00

some newish work...based on the classic 80's ELECTRO series.
MAYNE, I LOVED that ish! ROXANNE v's UTFO...HERBIE HANCOCK and DST on Rock It!!!!
DAYUM.
blew my mind back then.

HOLIDAY SALE- BOPZINK

2010-12-11T01:00:00.000-08:00

YO!!!!!
the Holiday sale is ON over at BOPZINK...
these prices are insane for some seriously dope t's. great gift ideas or just to stock up for the coming spring, which aint so far off now, tho it probably feels closer to here in Barcelona than it does for most of you cats.

anyways, go jump all over this one...the T above is on sale for just 10 bucks! seriously, tell me something better that you could buy for 10 bucks????

you know it makes sense!
these t's will not be around at this price forever, so go do it!
(yeah, i know I am pushing this HARD, but these guys are mates of mine, they have just gotten this business off the ground and are looking to do a new run of T's soon, so get out there and show some love...PLUS, you cannot deny the T's are super fly! 10 bucks peeps! you couldn't buy a pint of guiness on Las Ramblas for that!)

FAT CAPS

2010-12-07T14:15:00.000-08:00

Here are some images from work that I made back in 1999.
4 of them were used in a two person show at a tiny space called Dogmatic down in Chicago's South Side. a few months later I had a solo show, also in Chicago at a place called Beacon Street Gallery, which I called FAT CAPS...all six of these featured there.
They measure 4ftx4ft (122cm) and are oil on canvas.
I had been working mainly on installation work previous to this and I think the curators who had asked me to show at Dogmatic were shocked when I turned up with paintings.
4 of them went to private collections and I kept 2 of them for myself...I still have them both, though just in storage in the UK at the moment. I need to dig them out soon.
This was the last work I made in Chicago.

Happy days...I miss that city sometimes...and definitely the people.
I need to get back there soon.

AIIIIGHT!

ashwan

STENCIL EXCLUSIVE

2010-12-06T12:24:00.000-08:00

recently made a couple of versions of this stencil just for sale through the internet. This is the same stencil as the 'street' version that has appeared in a few different web pages and blogs, including the 'All City' app page. They are framed behind glass and measure 42x52cm in total.
If you are interested in picking one of these up, they are available for 250 Euro's + postage and packing. Hit me up:
ashwan@ashwan.co.uk

American Art during the Cold War

2010-11-04T23:56:00.000-07:00

AMERICAN Abstract Expressionism, supported by the CIA.

Sorry Ms Jackson...

2010-11-03T01:41:00.000-07:00

PLAYER!!!!

I'm sorry Ms Jackson, but I had to do this remix with you and Billy Vaughn for my new Inheritance Wax mixtape. I have uploaded a couple of sneak previews here. They will NOT be staying up, so not always available, if you're feeling the individual tracks, download them now while you have chance.
If the player above does not load properly, click HERE to go to the link.

I just tried to find the sample on youtube....it is a cut called 'after hours', by Billy Vaughn, but NO WHERE to be found...i did find the b side cut called 'it's no sin' which I am using with Big L's Put It On accapella on top. I may post that later. if you want to hear the original it is here.
peace

ashwan

RUNaWAY KaNYE

2010-10-25T00:05:00.001-07:00

CROOKLYN

2010-10-10T14:31:00.000-07:00

<a href="http://ashwan.bandcamp.com/album/inheritance-wax">inheritance wax by ashwan</a>

(if the player above doesn't load properly, please click the link HERE)

this is one of the remixes/mashups that will be on the upcoming Inheritance Wax mixtape. it is the classic Crooklyn Dodgers accapella over a pretty awful cut by a group called 'The Springfields'. I am forcing myself to pull the samples from a record collection I 'inherited' from an old folks home in Liverpool.
you can hear the original sample around the 2.30 mark on this youtube playlist of their stuff.

The final mixtape will pull a bunch of the remixes together and I will also be working on visual elements to go with it...part of this is the re-packaging of the vinyl themselves. I want to try and put some kind of attention back on the physical presence of music that we have lost since everything has gone the way of the mp3 player. more on this later.
until then...
Enjoy.
ashwan

boom box collector

2010-10-05T14:13:00.000-07:00

you know I can't live, without my radio!

click the link to hear about Junichi Matsuzaki, Japans answer to Radio Raheem.

pocoyo

2010-10-03T06:34:00.000-07:00

since the kids came along, it has been a total change of pace in the crib. good thing is tho, we have discovered Pocoyo.
in the words of my man 'Curious', this kid is hipper than Hopper.

peace.
ash

astronomical phenomena

2010-09-09T23:36:00.000-07:00

some damn fine flix of astronomical phenomena on the Guardian's page today.
check out more here.
the image above is entitled 'Siberian Totality', capturing a total eclipse by Anthony Ayiomamitis.
such a simple, but beautiful image.

on a vaguely related note, here's Mr 'Ladies Love':

ash

James Lavelle exhibition

2010-08-28T09:50:00.000-07:00

ART N MUSIC TOGETHER????? WHAT A CONCEPT!

James Lavelle of Talking loud/Mo Wax fame has curated a show of art and music. looks interesting.
go peep more at the link above.
James, you need to be getting yourself an ashwan for your collection!

what about this one?

ashwan

seriously old school ny subway footage

2010-08-28T09:46:00.000-07:00

really nice old footage of a journey across the brooklyn bridge.
enjoy
ashwan

iphone dopeness

2010-08-21T05:43:00.001-07:00

PEZ

Os Gemenos

ASHWAN

OBEY

OBEY

MAYNE, I hate to admit it, but I love my iphone. it keeps giving me new things to amuse and inform me.
I just picked up this app for it called 'All City'. This is not the same 'All City' that used to be a dope hip hop store in Uptown Chicago (nod to Trust Love), but is an app that let's you upload photo's of graff that you spot, THEN, (check this) it also locates where the graff is with links to google maps to spot the exact location.
DOPE!
it even has an ASHWAN stencil on there.
you can search by artist, or by most recent uploads OR you can click on the 'find nearest' button and it will search any graff in your local area.
DAYUM!

you can peep a bit more about it HERE, but in reality, you need to use this thing to see how sweet it is.

you got an iphone? go get this app, for sure.

ashwan

old skool clip

2010-08-14T08:33:00.000-07:00

crazy dutch film from back in 1983...got some footage of Roxanne Shante in there. super fly!
enjoy.
ashwan

TECHNOLOGY...tables turned.

2010-08-13T16:08:00.000-07:00

Multi Touch Light Table: GERGWERK from GERG WERK on Vimeo.

peace,
ashwan

the world needs to see this...raw, uncut FUN(k)

2010-07-24T03:49:00.001-07:00

DJ FRESH...GOLD DUST

enjoy
ashwan

candy M's inside my tummy

2010-07-14T15:14:00.000-07:00

www.ashwan.co.uk

Stencils in BCN

2010-07-13T10:35:00.000-07:00

crazy busy with a whole heap of stuff right now, so not really getting chance to post much these days. so here are a bunch of stencils spotted around Barcelona over the last few months for your visual pleasure. I don't go graff hunting, so some of the images are really bad quality with light and stuff, just when I see something interesting...
I will try and get around to crediting these images when I have some time. a few I am not sure who did them...I know the nice three tone stencils, like the last one of Amelia Earhart are by BToy.
feel free to comment and add credits.
easy!
ashwan

Elephant Parade update....

2010-06-14T09:33:00.001-07:00

The elephant parade in London seems to be going really well so far. It is getting a lot of press and the feedback on all the elephants has been really positive.
The bidding process has started online already and they will be auctioned off finally by Sotherbys on July 3rd.
so far, 'In Your Trunk' has had a bid of 2,350 UKL, which is a really good amount towards an excellent cause, and hopefully will get more bids on the big day.

Obviously this is a chunk of cash that your man in the street could generally not justify spending on a sculpture of an elephant that they probably do not have enough space for anyways...so the good news is that there are other ways to contribute.
a book, poster, smaller versions of the elephants and now you can buy T shirts too.
If you wanna pick up an 'In Your Trunk (turn the bass up)' T, click on the appropriate link below:

MENS T SHIRT

WOMENS T SHIRT

KIDS T SHIRT

would be cool to see someone rockin' a dope T while supporting a good cause.

One love,
Ashwan

(UPDATE: 'In Your Trunk' sold for a final amount of £10,000, with the London Elephant Parade raising over £4 MILLION to help save the Indian Elephant!!! Amazing, and glad to have been a part of it.)

BRANDNUTOPIA- Ashwan and CalendarGirl

2010-06-13T11:22:00.000-07:00

came across this cut again today. it is something I worked on with CalendarGirl a while back for a project that never came off...disappointing as I liked the tune. CalendarGirl is a really interesting artist and has a great voice. check out her opensource project where she recorded a new song every month for one year for artists to remix however they liked by clicking HERE. at the end of the year she produced a cd of her favourite mixes.
It was a great idea and a good project...one I think she should have gotten more props for, but this is life with art these days!

anyways, hope you enjoy the cut.
ashwan

RAMSEY JUDSON

2010-06-09T11:45:00.000-07:00

homie Ramsey Judson, from Chitown rockin things on this new video.
Ramsey always sets the bar high for people around him to try and keep up. kid got skills in every department: sings, raps and produces.
in fact, check out his album from a coupla years back called 'A Day In The Life Of...'
He did EVERYTHING on it and it is DOPE.
you can pick it up at CD BABY here.

Ashwan

BARCELONA SKATEZ

2010-06-08T14:26:00.000-07:00

so if you been peeping any of these posts, you'll know I have painted some boards recently. I been chatting with my man Ollie Kingston about working with one of them to funk up my web page. I feel like it's a bit dry and doesn't fully represent the energy and flavour of the paintings, so wanted to introduce a bit more dynamic.
we were talkin about poppin some tricks on one of the boards, just really quick as an intro to the web page. this little video was our first attempt at the idea. this is a version that could never be used as it is way too long, and doesn't really feature the board so well, but I kinda like it anyways.
Filmed at Barcelona's Arc De Triomf...beautiful day in a beautiful city. full of pick pockets tho, so watch yo sh1t!

not the first rap in the world

2010-05-31T03:17:00.000-07:00

the first example of a white guy rapping?
the Italian legend Adriano Celentano showing he can be a funky mutherckuffer.

ashwan

LIFE Y SALUD!

2010-05-25T13:08:00.000-07:00

This is not the type of post I would normally roll with, but it is an acknowledgement to a group of people who have really helped me out over the last four months or so.
I have really been struggling with an injury to my lower back and been in a lot of pain. It has interfered with my normal day to day life and stopped me from playing football, which is a passion, and most other training.
The guys at Global Chiropractic have straightened me out, literally! It has taken a while and Garry Carless, the main man there, explained that I would need patience. They were not treating symptoms, they were treating the cause of the pain.
so this post basically is a testimonial to Garry and his team at Global.
If you are in the Barcelona area and having any issues, I can highly recommend these guys...I am feeling like my old (read young) self again.
Thanks Gaz!
GLOBAL CHIROPRACTIC
Pau Claris, 190 Pal 1ª
Tel: 93 215 89 07
E-mail: barcelona@globalchiropractic.es

Ash

RIP Lena Horne

2010-05-10T10:17:00.000-07:00

The beautiful singer, actress, and civil rights activist Lena Horne has sadly passed away today.
"I was unique in that I was a kind of black that white people could accept," she once said. "I was their daydream. I had the worst kind of acceptance because it was never for how great I was or what I contributed. It was because of the way I looked."
this is undoubtedly true, but it also meant she was able to pave the way for other black artists opening doors into Hollywood and other major venues of the time such as the Copacabana nightclub.
She was 92.

Elephant parade update, London 2010

2010-05-06T12:38:00.000-07:00

Here are some photo's of my elephant in situ at the Elephant Parade in London. It's in Green Park along with some other amazing designs from other artists.
It's called 'In Your Trunk (turn the bass up)', though better known as 'Harry' to my mates kids Amia and Zadie.
These two images were snapped by photographer Mark Dear.
you can check out more of his Elephant photo's here.

there is also a map of where the elephants are situated which you can download as a PDF here.

enjoy...
ashwan

www.ashwan.co.uk

big ups and congratulations...

2010-05-05T11:16:00.001-07:00

big ups to my man CURIOUS for making it to the final of this thing and then WINNING!
Keep up to date with when and where he'll he spitting HERE

ash

Check out this submission in the Skullcandy | Snoop Dogg Remix Contest on Indaba Music

2010-04-29T11:38:00.000-07:00

Check out this submission in the Skullcandy | Snoop Dogg Remix Contest on Indaba Music

stations of the elevated

2010-04-19T14:41:00.000-07:00

met a dude in Germany last year, Daniel Tagno, he put me on to this old graff video from the early eighties...
it has been re-posted as part of a fab five freddy interview from the guys at wooster collective.
figured it was worth a re-post here:

ashwan

Random walls...Barcelona and Liverpool

2010-04-11T04:22:00.000-07:00

Toys Crew

2010-04-08T11:29:00.000-07:00

I've always been a fan of the flying eyeball and I really liked this one...nice green/yellow fade.

ashwan

funhouse!

2010-04-02T08:35:00.000-07:00

ok, so I finally felt some excitement again by a new music show. it has been thrown together by some of London's biggest Hip Hop names including my amigo DJ MK (pictured above, hi rolling with Jay Z). it is just out of his kitchen with two turntables, a mic and a video camera. it is the closest thing to pirate radio that I have felt in a LONG TIME!
it has a real nice energy to it and nothin but DOPE music. it's really relaxed, full of f*ck ups, like the mixer bustin up halfway through a show. it's how it should be, low budget, quality, made by people who do what they do because they love it.
FINALLY some culture back in the mass media realm.

check it out here.
or here: http://www.spinetv.net/funhouse/

MO' ZAIC!!!

2010-04-02T08:23:00.000-07:00

at the moment, a whole heap of things keep coming up and pointing me in the direction of mosaic work. I am gonna get working on some things as soon as I can source some decent materials.
I figured I'd have a quick look online and see what was out there in terms of this kind of work and I came across these awesome animal skulls by Crystal Thomas.
Everyone knows about Damian Hirst's diamond skull, but I am feeling these way more. this one especially has a bit of funk to it...mad props for that.

go peep her web site for more info: crystalthomasmosaics.com

be easy...ashwan

REEEWIIIIIIIIIIND!!!!

2010-03-30T06:55:00.000-07:00

compact cassette tape makes a comeback....REEEEWWWIIINDDD!!!!!!
ashwan

M.I.A

2010-03-25T16:03:00.000-07:00

not been doing too much painting the last 2 weeks. felt like i needed to get away from the studio for a while...this has given me a chance to sketch more on the ipod (see above) and also work on some new music.
found these samples on Indaba of a new tune by Raheen DeVaughn. they had a cool soulful vibe, so wanted to use them...just a quick project to put my head in a different space.
check my version HERE.

Iphone sketches

2010-03-14T07:19:00.000-07:00

here are some first attempts with sketches in my Ipod...i really like this application. just really quick, disposable stuff, which I think will give me a lot of new ideas for new work. Plus I like the quality of these in their own right.

hope you like 'em.
ashwan

London Elephant Parade

2010-03-12T23:40:00.000-08:00

the London Elephant Parade, 2010

the ashwan contribution:

will let you know where it will be sited as soon as I find out....
ashwan

barcelona graffiti...march 2010

2010-03-10T14:22:00.000-08:00

just some snaps of things I have seen on the streets here recently...if you wanna know more about any of them, hit me up.
ash

7Sins

2010-03-06T11:45:00.000-08:00

Come on down to 7Sins tonight.
I will be playing funk, soul and hip hop until around 5am.
get yo swerve on!

ashwan

small works...mixed media

2010-03-06T10:57:00.000-08:00

Here is some new work...
mixed media and much smaller than the usual stuff (mostly). i see these more as ideas/sketches than finished things.

Nuthin Wrong 38x40m

nas 122x122cm

chicago fire 80cmx80cm

corrugated sketch 30x30cm

when she sings pt.iv 34x34cm

to the beat y'all. 46x46cm

B Girl. 28x30cm

when she sings pt.ii. 21x21cm

untitled sketch. 20x22cm

when she sings. 46x46cm

ashwan

IN YO TRUNK!!!...turn the BASS up

2010-03-04T23:52:00.000-08:00

my elephant for the London Elephant parade 2010.

ashwan