Dirty Paradise

About

The launch will exhibit original artwork by contributors of the limited edition zine, including front cover artwork by Monica Canilao, and a print launch with Sam Bassett. Other artist works also to be featured will include Ath1281, BillyBoris Hoppek, Christina Lina, David Shillinglaw, Dunja Jankovic, Ekta, Eric Jones, Erkut Terliksis, Twoone, Jaybo Monk, Lily Mixe, Marc Bell, Patrick Schmidt, Remi Rough, Sam Bassett, Sickboy, Simon Landrein and Stanley Donwood, some of who were featured in issue 1 of the zine.

The Dirty Paradise project, and in particular the zine, was born out of a burning desire to establish a collective endeavour with other like-minded people - artists. The medium changes from person to person, from painting to photography, sculpture to film editing, writing to performance, cooking to dancing - the list goes on. The aim, energy and attitude of all these people however is generally the same; make something, or make something happen.

“The phrase 'Dirty Paradise' comes from a conversation I had on a beach in Mexico. Sitting in remote luxury, surrounded by palm trees and a scene of typical picture-postcard paradise, I was amazed and disgusted by the sight of so much trash washing up on the beach. Bottles, flip flops and toothbrushes for as far as the eye could see. I felt embarrassed and disgusted at the amount of mindless waste that humans produce. Emphasised and framed by sun-kissed nature, the contrast was shockingly clear. This phrase became a way of describing a problem I see central to the contemporary human landscape and the planet as a whole.” – David Shillinglaw

The Dirty Paradise project is a subtle protest, a reminder that making art is a form of political statement. In the words of Ai Weiwei, "Everything is art. Everything is politics.”

ABOUT DIRTY PARADISE COLLECTIVE

The publication ‘Dirty Paradise’, founded by internationally exhibited artist David Shillinglaw, is a visual mixtape of artists from around the world who are invited to contribute to this A5 sized, full colour zine.

“Mixing the dirty and the pristine, Dirty Paradise celebrates the importance of looking sideways. Through a collision of artistic styles and approaches, it explores the marriage of contrasts, a meeting place between abstraction and design. Dirty Paradise is visual radio show, mixing and remixing, switching channels, tuning in and out of frequencies; a shuffle through the playlist of contemporary modes of expression and communication.”

Powered by people making things, and making things happen, Dirty Paradise extend the ethos of their zine through print releases, podcasts and events. Find out more at www.dirtyparadise.co.uk