‘Who Is Too Blame’ Spraypaint + acrylic paint + charcoal on canvas
German duo HERAKUT is back in the US with “Masters of Wrong” a new solo show at Corey Helford Gallery in downtown Los Angeles that will be featuring over 20 paintings including some installations that incorporate works created on site.
Self-proclaimed ‘storytellers’, the duo consisting of HERA (Jasmin Siddiqui) and AKUT (Falk Lehman), have been working and travelling the world together since they merged names and styles nearly 12 years ago. Their work – which can be today found in every continent – represents a dialogue, not only with the public, but also among themselves. They create imaginary worlds and inspiring characters that bring beauty and optimism where there is darkness. According to the artists it’s all a matter of contrasts, something that is also reflected in their very different but complementary styles. Their art is easy to approach and become engaged with, it touches a nerve in us in the most direct way, through our feelings. Combining HERA’s beautiful gestural strokes with AKUT’s photorealistic skills, each piece is enriched with text, allowing the viewer to easily absorb the narrative inviting us into an exercise in introspection.
One of the main motifs in HERAKUT’s art are social and political themes aiming – according to the artists – to “draw attention towards problematic social issues, personal ones or those of global scale”, always focusing on a positive outcome. This also becomes evident when we consider their involvement with a variety of charity organisations around the world and their work with children in schools and youth programs. It is this social commitment and extraordinary talent that has made them known and appreciated in almost every corner of the world, a commitment that is also present in every piece in the show.
‘I Could Sit With You Forever’ Spraypaint + acrylic paint + charcoal on canvas
‘I Know How, Just Don´t Know Why’ Spraypaint + acrylic paint + charcoal on canvas
‘It Must Really Suck…’ Spraypaint + acrylic paint + charcoal on canvas
‘Masters of Wrong’ Spraypaint + acrylic paint + charcoal on canvas
‘Who Is Too Blame’ Spraypaint + acrylic paint + charcoal on canvas
In addition to the preparations for their “Masters of Wrong” show, HERAKUT spent a few days painting a couple of murals, one in collaboration with the art program at Culver City High School and painted on campus, and the second, painted on the exterior wall of Corey Helford Gallery’ as part of the exhibition. Again, their social consciousness and existentialist approach to art becomes visible through their storytelling where contrasts between the good and the evil, beauty and ugliness teaches us a lesson of life.
Herakut at Culver City High School. Photo © Eric Minh Swenson
Herakut at Corey Helford Gallery in Downtown Los Angeles. Photo © Herakut
‘Masters of Wrong’ opens Saturday, March 26 from 7:00-11:00 PM at the gallery located at 571 South Anderson Street in downtown Los Angeles and will remain on display through Wednesday, April 20.
Many thanks to Corey Helford Gallery for the images and info.
(This post was first published on Streetartnews)
Author: Fran
Founder and editor of Urbanite. Street Art lover who after the finishing her MA thesis on the Mexican and Norwegian muralist movement in the 1920-50s, developed a fascination for street art and graffiti that eventually led to collaborations with different art blogs, including the creation of this one.
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