Les galeries Saint Martin sont heureuses de vous...
SEATY
Originally from the south of France, Seaty now lives in Dubai and has carved out a place for himself among the most emblematic artists of contemporary art in the 21st century. And for good reason, the artist has never ceased to reinvent himself, to evolve, trading the wild graffiti of the beginning of his career for works exposed in the four corners of the world now. A look back at the itinerary of a mysterious street-artist known for his unique signature.
From an early age, Seaty was rocked by the urban influence of the permissive 90’s, oscillating between hip-hop music and the advent of street graffiti. From his passion for this musical trend, his art stems, as the 2000’s current takes him to the streets to establish his creative playground through the urban works he creates throughout the city. Strong of this form of expression a bit vandal, it is in 2008 that the self-taught decides to give a new turn to his Art and devotes all his time to it, like a lone rider whose goal is to share his artistic prism to the eyes of all.
The hobby becomes his profession and his creations go from the rural walls to the painting canvases. It didn’t take long for Seaty to be inducted as a contemporary artist by aficionados of this coveted sphere. Over the past 20 years, the artist whose stage name “Seaty” is the homophone of “city”, a tribute to the genesis of his career, has forged a recognizable signature and a hybrid style split between realism and abstract. There is all its force! To brilliantly combine the genres and to give birth to a unique work at the same time melancholic and colored, such a clever mixture with pop-art accents.
BANKSY
Banksy, king of provoc
Although he is neither founder nor precursor of this movement, the king of provoc’ Banksy is today the essential star of street art. He is one of the best-known contemporary artists of our time. Since 1993, his work shines on every continent. Stencils, paintings, sculptures, diversions of urban objects or classic works, installations… Banksy is a versatile artist. He plays usurpers and provocateurs. Challenging citizens on the human condition, all with a good dose of humor and second degree. Finally, Banksy kicks into the contemporary artistic anthill, assuring his peers that there is no point in taking oneself too seriously…
A mysterious artist
In all likelihood, Banksy was born in Bristol, Great Britain in 1974. Difficult to get out of the conditional because the artist has spent his life escaping the media in order to remain anonymous. This line of conduct is the very essence of the underground scene he loves. This allows him to act night and day, without ever being discovered. Which earned him some exceptional blows, at the limit of legality. In 2004 he had counterfeit notes bearing the image of Lady Di printed, replacing the Bank of England with Banksy of England, and dispersed them during the Notting Hill carnival. On the walls, some of Banksy’s works denounce the deprivation of liberty, especially on the Gaza wall or that of Jerusalem, where he paints openings, views of the beach, on the clouds, this ladder that reaches the top of the wall or children digging a hole. He also denounces the consumer society by pointing the finger at flagship emblems of consumerist America, such as the drawing of this Vietnamese woman irradiated with napalm holding hands with Mickey Mouse and Ronald McDonald. Other walls encourage us to keep hope. The most famous being Petite fille au ballon. In Bristol, the city that appropriated Banksy, a major exhibition of his work – more than 100 pieces – welcomed more than 300,000 visitors in 2009. Illustrator of the cover of the album of Blur in 2003, Banksy is also director with the film “Faîtes le mur”, released in 2010.
M. CHAT
Mr. CHAT
Mr. CHAT ’s smile, which is reminiscent of Lewis Carroll’s enigmatic and fascinating grinning cat, probably partly explains the appeal to the public: Nora Monnet (Artistik Rezo) said: “A show of benevolence to the world, a poetic proposal open to the world.” With Mr. CHAT, Thoma Vuille (a.k.a. M. CHAT) aspires to remove the reluctance usually associated with the practice of street art and to share it through the prism of a local culture, even if it partially emancipates from the street.
In 2004, director Chris Marker dedicated a film to M. CHAT, produced by ARTE and screened at the Centre Pompidou that same year: Chats perchés. For the occasion, a huge painted M. CHAT came to decorate the facade of the Parisian public institution, and the newspaper Libération offered Thoma Vuille (a.k.a. M. CHAT) a carte blanche. Translated into many languages, the film was screened worldwide, notably in 2006 in England and the United States, leading to the expansion of the reputation of the Franco-Swiss street artist in its wake.
We now find the contagious smile of M. CHAT on the whole globe, from the streets of Rennes, Nantes and Paris to those of Germany, England, Italy, New York, Hong Kong, Seoul and Dakar. Recognized as a major figure of the European street art scene, Thoma Vuille (a.k.a. M. CHAT) is now assimilated both to the world of urban art and to less «marginalized» movements, like pop art.
In 2004, director Chris Marker dedicated a film to M. CHAT, produced by ARTE and screened at the Centre Pompidou that same year: Chats perchés. For the occasion, a huge painted M. CHAT came to decorate the facade of the Parisian public institution, and the newspaper Libération offered Thoma Vuille (a.k.a. M. CHAT) a carte blanche. Translated into many languages, the film was screened worldwide, notably in 2006 in England and the United States, leading to the expansion of the reputation of the Franco-Swiss street artist in its wake.
We now find the contagious smile of M. CHAT on the whole globe, from the streets of Rennes, Nantes and Paris to those of Germany, England, Italy, New York, Hong Kong, Seoul and Dakar. Recognized as a major figure of the European street art scene, Thoma Vuille (a.k.a. M. CHAT) is now assimilated both to the world of urban art and to less «marginalized» movements, like pop art.
ZOHAR
Zohar
Born in 1976 into a working class family, Zohar discovered his artistic talent while painting to escape from his harsh everyday reality. Due to the difficult economic situation, he worked in factories to help his family who were having financial problems. At night, he walked the streets and painted on the walls of the city of Tel Aviv. At first
1990s, his parents insisted that he take his life into his own hands and find a profession that would allow him to earn a decent living.
The dream of becoming an artist disappears and the rebellious little boy resigns himself to growing up and obtains an optical diploma to become an optician. This diploma allowed him to work with major designer eyewear brands.
After a serious health issue in 2016, Zohar realized he had to pursue his childhood dream of being an artist. He decides to open his own studio, in order to create his own vision of art: to create a new three-dimensional art never known before. A new kind of 3D kinetic art. Inspired by Pop Art pioneers like Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and Keith Haring.
Zohar creates colorful and fun artwork that includes iconic symbols and elements from the
popular art culture, cartoons and characters that influence our lives today. Using intricate materials and techniques, he creates a unique optical 3D effect of depth and movement, creating wonder and spectacle from every angle.
After a serious health issue in 2016, Zohar realized he had to pursue his childhood dream of being an artist. He decides to open his own studio, in order to create his own vision of art: to create a new three-dimensional art never known before. A new kind of 3D kinetic art. Inspired by Pop Art pioneers like Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and Keith Haring.
Zohar creates colorful and fun artwork that includes iconic symbols and elements from the
popular art culture, cartoons and characters that influence our lives today. Using intricate materials and techniques, he creates a unique optical 3D effect of depth and movement, creating wonder and spectacle from every angle.