A.K.A. A solo show by Alex Young

About

Opening Reception: Thursday 1st April, 2010 at 6:00pm

Location: 47 Mowlem Street (off Vyner Street), London, E2 9DR, UK

London Miles Gallery is proud to present A.K.A, a solo exhibition of brand new work by London based artist, Alex Young.

Traversing the boundaries of Fine Art, Illustration, and Graffiti, Alex Young?s latest body of work investigates the social phenomena of ?alter-ego?s?, informed by the artist?s own experiences as both a graffiti writer and purveyor of Fine Art.

Alex Young?s finely detailed pointillist style portraits feature at the centre of A.K.A, deriving from a series of personal interviews with a range of pseudonymous characters, from burlesque dancers to heavy metal guitarists. His resultant monolithic portraits, whilst photorealistic from afar, on closer inspection offer a wealth of illustrative detail and subtle nuances, alluding to the subjects ?performed? identity. Adorning his portraits with multi-layered symbolism and imagery, Young elicits a multitude of narrative strands in these thought-provoking and complex paintings.

Rendered primarily in spray paint, Young?s medium of choice points to years of dedication as a graffiti writer ? an endeavour committed to alongside his time spent in formal art training. Compelled to highlight others who nurture such a dual-personality, and the social prejudices and stereotypes that necessitate this ?alter-ego? phenomena, A.K.A is an acutely sociological examination of the all too often bigoted and judgemental nature of collective social consciousness.

A.K.A will also feature installations of fine-detail painted animal skulls, inspired by Young?s love of tattoo imagery and the macabre allure of Mexican sugar skulls. From popular culture to Classical and Contemporary Art disciplines, A.K.A will once again exhibit Young?s inimitable ability to coalesce an unbounded range of influences.

Succeeding his hugely successful debut ?Exhibitionism? at the Grenade Gallery in 2008, Young?s new body of work looks to set to expand his artistic and conceptual horizons to even loftier new heights.

On Thursday 1st April, 2010 London Miles welcomes you to join us in east London for the opening reception of A.K.A and an evening with the artist, Alex Young.