I met TEZ a few months ago when he submitted some work for the group show, Black Line Collection that we held at Kaleidoscope.  As luck would have it, we met again at the MCM House art show where we both exhibited our works.   Its safe to say then, I have been a fan of his work (and the man himself) ever since.  So, it was a pleasure to be invited along to the opening of his latest show, Spreading the Disease, a collaboration with the equally fabulous Bennett and Kalen.

All three artists subscribe, you could say, to the Street Art aesthetic, bold colour and line, juxtaposed imagery with a dash of tongue in cheek humour; a creation of clever imagery without the uusual accompanying ‘wank’ of the art world.

This is evident even in the use of pseudonyms in lieu of names, believe it or not, TEZ was not the name he was born with!  This street art anonymity is of course made famous by the ever illusive Bansky, and these fellas are true to the mantra that this type of art is all about the art and not about the ego.

TEZ in particular looks upon some members of the art community with the relative displeasure, his sculptural work ‘Blow up your ego’ is a perfect example.  Growing up in Suburban Sydney and now calling the Central Coast home, he is humble and easy going, allowing his work to do the talking. His works mix mediums choosing the appropriate material to communicate effectively his “observational reactions” and our current “ social and moral issues that we face”.  His pieces are colourful, playful and clever, simple imagery laden with the deep satire that we have come to expect from artists of this genre.

Kalen, a Sydney based artist who via a marriage of his street art roots to his slick illustrative skills creates works that are a beautiful fusion of grunge and glamour.  In contrast to the vivid colours found in the works of TEZ and Bennett, Kalen’s work generally sticks to a simple palette, where black and white images feature prominently.  His work is concerned with the inner working of the mind and as such there is a definitive ‘pensiveness’ to the figures that feature in the works; their stare silent and their stance static.

Bennett on the other hand creates complex geographical mash ups of the outside world; boldly coloured images influenced by the urban environment.  Combining canvas, board and stencil, his work creates a conflict between the disposable environment/mass production and the beauty that can be found behind the grey façade of the city.

The show is a kind of lovely mash up in itself.  Akin to the number of public street art walls that can be found in the urban fringe, this show perfectly encapsulates what you would expect from a collaboration of such artists. Sadly though, the show is only up till Friday (tomorrow). Check it out at Blank_Space, Crown Street, Surry Hills.

Sam x

Photos courtesy of www.gheesphotog.blogspot.com