MODE 2 (MUS)01.06. – 30.07.2014

Mode 2 (Mauritius, 1967) ist eine zentrale Figur der Graffitigeschichte. Sein charismatischer Stil hat an der Ästhetik der Street Art seine Spuren hinterlassen und zahlreiche KünstlerInnen beeinflusst.

Die Karriere von Mode 2 begann 1984, als er in der Londoner Hip Hop Szene immer bekannter wurde. 1987 erschien eine von Mode 2’s Arbeiten auf dem Titel des Buches “Spraycan Art” (Thames & Hudson), und somit wurden sein Name und sein Stil in die ganze Welt exportiert. Mode 2’s künstlerischen Einflüsse und Inspirationen kommen sowohl aus seinen Kindheitserinnerungen und seiner Jugend in Mauritius und dem London der 70er Jahre, welches damals stark von der Punk- und Dubkultur geprägt war, als auch aus Comics und Science Fiction Filmen.

In den vergangenen 25 Jahren hat Mode 2 mehrere Einzelausstellungen in London (The Lazarides Gallery), Paris (Gallerie Issue) und anderen europäischen Städten gehalten und an zahlreichen Gruppenausstellungen und anderen Projekten weltweit teilgenommen. Mode 2’s Arbeiten haben mittlerweile Kultstatus erreicht und werden in den Ausstellungen wichtiger Kunstinstitutionen gezeigt, wie erst kürzlich in der Ausstellung „Art in the Streets“ im MOCA, The Museum of Contemporary Art, L.A.

Ein Projekt im Rahmen der Kooperation
Street Art Passage Vienna &
BLK (RIVER)

Kuratiert von
Sydney Ogidan / BLK (RIVER)

www.mode2.org

Mode 2 is considered to be one of the forerunners of the British graffiti and street art movement. He started dabbling in graffiti in the 80s when street art was still an underground word of mouth movement. Working alongside some of the integral founders of Central London’s hip-hop scene manifesting itself in Covent Garden, Mode2 joined graffiti group The Chrome Angelz.

He was of the first British graffiti writers to bring street art to the masses and make a real impact on public consciousness. Mode 2’s work is free of pretension and the want of approval, instead speaking out honestly about personal issues, ranging from love, lust, pregnancy and relationships to hip-hop culture and the environment. Whether his work is making a political statement or expressing his views on religion, all Mode 2s work is supported by his idiosyncratic style and draughtsmanship.

Mode 2 (Mauritius, 1967) is a central figure in the history of graffiti. His charismatic style has left its mark on street art aesthetics and influenced many other artists.

Mode 2’s career began in 1984 in London, when he came to the fore on the Hip Hop scene. In 1987 he was rejected from London’s St. Martins College of Art and Design. However, he went off to Paris that same Spring '87 to work in computer graphics alongside Pierre Buffin; and also the same year one of Mode 2's works appeared on the front cover of the book “Spraycan Art” published by Thames & Hudson, which exported his name and style to every corner of the planet.

Mode 2’s work is immediately refreshing due to its lack of posturing and antagonism, concentrating instead on very different themes. Mode’s early artistic influences and inspirations come from his memories of his childhood and youth in Mauritius and London in the 70s which were highly influenced by the Punk and Dub Culture, as well as from comics and science fiction movies.

Curated by Sydney Ogidan / BLK (RIVER)