David Bruce, Quiñones, Gris1, Speedy Graphito – Street Clash

Group show Zurich – 27.05.23 – 24.06.23

The cultural legacy of the 90s reflects a time of rapid change, experimentation and technological progress. Kolly Gallery is excited to dedicate this group exhibition entitled Street Clash to this trendy era and welcomes to the line up: Bruce David, Gris1, Juan Miguel Quiñones and Speedy Graphito. The exhibition runs from 27th May to 24th June 2023 at Kolly Gallery in Zurich.

DISCOVER ARTWORKS

Group Exhibition – Street Clash
Location – Zurich
Dates – 27.05.23 – 24.06.23

PROGRAM

Saturday, 27 May 2023

– 14:00 – 18.00 | Opening Reception

Saturday, 03 June 2023

– 13:00 – 15.00 | Roundtable the art of Collecting
with Sergio Muster, Shirzan, Tim Stingelin, Suneth Hewa

Saturday, 10 June 2023

– 14:00 – 17.00 | Workshop: Sneakers customizing with Snipes

The exhibition’s theme is accentuated by an outstanding supportive program that includes a Sneaker exhibition showcasing collections from Swiss enthusiasts. Additionally, there will be a round table discussion featuring young collectors from diverse fields, as well as a collaborative sneaker customizing workshop in partnership with Snipes Zurich.

In addition to the close connection of Kolly Gallery with the phenomenon of graffiti, the theme of Street Clashes is a perfect fit. The title of the exhibition speaks for itself, as it reflects urban encounters that result in innovative and creative clashes. The expression and outcomes of all the artists are greatly inspired by this era, and they continue to convey this influence in their body of work to this day. Therefore, the codes of the 90s can be found throughout the artworks in the exhibition.

Bruce David (BE):
His depictions of everyday motifs and the connection to basketball are a reflection of his youth. His paintings can be located somewhere between painting and illustration as well as pop art, minimalism and art brut. His paintings incorporate no outlines, minimal shadowing, which emphasizes the visual impact of the color fields and a rather two-dimensional and graphic spatial feeling.

Gris 1 (FR):
The ‚Game Boy posture‘ clearly depicted in his paintings began in 1989 with the Game Boy and can be found in every person nowadays, exclusively with smartphones. From old school graffiti to pop art and all the way to surrealism, expressionism and pure abstraction, Gris1 is a versatile artist. He brings together a harmonious symbiosis of multiple layers of styles.

Juan Miguel Quiñones (ES):
Quinones’ exact replica of the Game Boy is crafted in marble. The unforgettable ice popsicles will never melt either. Juan Miguel Quiñones is a self taught Spanish sculpture who began his career in the construction trade. This is where he discovered a great interest in materials and handcrafts.

Speedy Graphito (FR):
His pixeled artworks represents the video game aesthetics at its best incorporating highly relevant motifs. He mixes and blends iconic contents to create his unique creative world. Globalization, art marketing, art history, art market, omnipresence of images, imagery and codes of collective memory are the main concerns that Speedy Graphito wants to express and visualize in his works of art.

90s Nostalgia: Sampling, Remixing and Video Games
The cultural legacy of the 90s encompasses a range of influential movements, styles, and phenomena that have left a lasting impact on popular culture. Additionally, the 90s saw the emergence of new technologies and media that continue to shape the way we communicate, work, and interact with each other today.

The art of sampling and remixing created an intriguing tapestry of creativity. It allowed artists from music, fine arts, literature to weave together the threads of the past and present, breathing new life into familiar sounds, images, and cultural references.

Video games were a significant part of popular culture in the 1990s. Tetris, Super Mario and Packman helped to create a new generation of gamers. Game Boy paved the way for future handheld gaming devices and helped to establish video games as a mainstream entertainment medium.

A Short Introduction of Sneakers
Sneakers have a rich history that dates back to the early 20th century when rubber-soled athletic shoes were introduced. Over time, sneakers evolved from functional sports footwear to cultural icons and fashion statements. In the 1980s, sneaker collecting began to emerge as a subculture, driven by the limited-edition releases and collaborations between sneaker brands and athletes or celebrities. The Air Jordan line, introduced by Nike in collaboration with basketball legend Michael Jordan, played a significant role in shaping sneaker culture. The 1990s and early 2000s witnessed the expansion of sneaker collecting with the growth of streetwear and hip-hop culture. Sneakers became status symbols, and the demand for rare, exclusive, and limited-edition releases arose.

The value of a sneaker is often determined by the community, which includes young adults and millennials. Rarity and exclusivity, design and aesthetics as well as cultural significance contribute to the potential for skyrocket value.

Kolly Gallery is exhibiting a variety of rare sneakers, generously provided by Swiss sneaker collectors.

Tania Di Brita

More about David Bruce

More about Gris1

More about Speedy Graphito

Opening Reception