Visual Arts : May 2013

ASKEW ONE

THUNDERCLAP HEADACHE

Acrylic, spray paint, enamel, vinyl paint and waterborne glaze.
2500 mm x 1900 mm
['Smoke Signals' Solo Exhibition, Australis House, Auckland (NZ).] 2012
$18,000

DISPLACED PAKEHA BASTARD

Pumice gel, acrylic and cel vinyl on canvas.
1200 mm x 900 mm
2011
NFS

DIAMONDISM

Limited edition digital print.
18" x 24"
2011

End of print run.

BETTER NEVER STOPS Poster

Auckland Blues Rugby mural commission.
Auckland (NZ)
2013

TMD's " Miami Dream " Art Exhibition

LOST ISLAND LOST ANGELS

LA Freewalls Project
Los Angeles (USA)
2011

HELP STUCK ON THIS CRAZY ISLAND

Auckland (NZ)
2011

Askew One (Elliot O’Donnell) is a multi-disciplinary artist mostly renowned for his graffiti art paintings. Widely regarded as one of the New Zealand graffiti scene’s driving forces he has managed to remain at the forefront of the movement (both in New Zealand and throughout the world) whilst working tirelessly behind the scenes in a diverse array of projects.

With an abundance of achievements and experiences over 21 years in the graffiti scene which include a guest artist invite to Primary Flight - Art Basel Miami and taking out two consecutive ‘Write 4 Gold’ world titles as part of TMD crew (who remain undefeated), Askew is also versed in graphic design, illustration, photography, publishing, music and moving image. A self-taught, self-sufficient one-man army with no formal art qualifications behind him, Askew is an artist schooled by life itself.

Showing in March 2012, Smoke Signals is Askew’s biggest solo exhibition yet. A comeback after 5 years of struggling to identify a true style of canvas painting that best represents himself and his experiences as an outdoor artist, but within a confined indoor space. Said to be triggered by a ‘stroke-like’ event he experienced in 2011 called Call Fleming Syndrome, this newly found style was discovered five months later out of frustration whilst painting on a particular canvas at an art residency program (Fountainhead Residency, Miami), the moment captured on video.

A perfect blend of bold illustrative line work influenced by comic-books, the graphic power of the letter and his cynical yet patriotic slogans, with a mature taste of abstraction and finishing, these new paintings deal with his identity in New Zealand context but more specifically from the perspective of someone that grew up through the 80s and 90s. He cites the Americanisation of local culture during that era and growing up inner city as informing his aesthetic and creative direction. Four generations Kiwi but a mixed bag of European descent, Askew's Smoke Signals show discusses the cultural displacement of all the people living on this isolated island at the bottom of the Pacific ocean.

Askew One (Elliot O’Donnell)

What I love about Askew One is that he's so creative. I really look up to Askew One how he self-taught him self one-man army with no formal art qualifications behind him and he is an artist schooled by life itself. I was so happy that he invited my family and I to his SMOKE SIGNALS & THE MIAMI DREAM exhibitions i found it really interesting watching people looking at his artwork and talking about his artworks that how amazing talented he was. THE MIAMI DREAM EXHIBITION was my first time being at a exhibition i didn't know what i will expect to be like it was on Thursday 21st October 2010 at shed 6 Upper Deck 90 Wellesley st. It was so interesting seeing famous Kiwi Bands and Musicians there also. That's the other reason why i look up to Askew One (Elliot O'Donnell) because how he work so hard and having his own exhibition. I also love how he painted my grandma's shop in Samoa it really means a lot to my family I.

SAMOA

2013