July 9th, 2009
Meggs is a prominent figure out of the vibrant Melbourne, Australia graffiti art scene. His artwork reflects engaged energetic depictions of comic book heroes and villains, and subverted collages of pop culture icons mashed together into a visual symphony that blends graffiti and character painting with pop-art and abstract expressionism. A heavy artistic influence in 1980’s cartoons, comics, and Sci-Fi films and his frequent use of bold colorful graphics has catapulted him into notoriety in the ever-growing world of art + commerce (Meggs’ recent collaboration with skateboarding giant Stussy was a marked success).
Meggs is recognized as being one of Australia’s pioneering street to gallery artists. His work can be seen on the streets of Paris, London, and Tokyo among others, and has also been exhibited in galleries internationally including the National Gallery of Australia’s permanent ‘works on paper’ collection.
LimitedHype caught up with Meggs as he prepares for his first solo show in the United States
‘Right to Remain Silent’
Mixed media on canvas, 48×48” (1200×1200mm), P. 05/2009
How would you describe your artwork?
Overall my work has become a hybrid of comic style illustrated characters and pop culture characters, icons and typography. All mashed together in an abstracted and expressive painting style. The images I like to create are like a middle ground of chaos and composition as I love the strength of graphic images and lines as well as the freedom and expression of raw paint textures, drips, sprays and splashes.
What can we expect to see at your LA Show “Crime & Charity”?
‘Crime & Charity’ is a show representing current frustrations I feel about the hypocritical way street art and artists are treated by both the community and Government here in Australia. The laws are very black and white making graffiti ‘wrong’ but it is my experience that it achieves a lot of positive things within society, and that laws can be questioned for this very reason.
The artworks depict hybrid characters of evil and innocence, depicting frustration, angst, excitement and censorship. Its anti-authoritarian but I want to go deeper than that and have people think about their own contributions to society in general and whether they might ‘take more than they give’.
You’ve been known to do some exciting street work in your hometown of Melbourne, Australia, do you have anything special lined up for the streets of LA? LA IS after all one of the graffiti capitals of the world (after Melbourne, of course!)
In an ironic twist, and something that added to my anger towards our beauracratic system is that I tried to follow the recommended channels, but a previous offence and a pending court appearance (for graffiti) prevented me from getting a visa in time for this show. Its frustrating that despite your broader situation you are judged on pure paperwork for this sort of thing. But hopefully I’ll make it over within the next 12 months and I’m not sure what I’ll do just yet, but I’m looking forward to absorbing LA’s world class graffiti culture first hand!
You’ve done a lot of work with some great streetwear brands; Stussy, Everfresh. Any plans for the future we should know about?
I have just done graphics for one well-known US company, but they wont be released until 2010, so I’m afraid I have to keep it under wraps for now! Otherwise I’m looking into producing some tees etc under my own label as well as a small label in Tokyo.
With print releases and shows its hard to say right now, but definitely more stuff in the UK next year.
I am just starting design work for the first ‘Everfresh Studio’ book. We now have a publisher onboard and its all going ahead for release in mid 2010, should be dope!
How do you stay consistently fresh and inspired?
Inspiration can come easily or sometimes its hard work, but overal I feel that as long as you keep pushing your work, new directions will unfold for you and they usually spark an interest to keep exploring better ways to express yourself. I do watch a lot of films and books/magazines to keep ides flowing. But lately its more social issues and the people around me that I find most inspiring.
I try to keep aware of local & global issues, which I think in turn manifests itself in ideas that are more relevant to me personally.
Meggs first US solo show in the opens Saturday July 11, 2009 at Cerasoli Gallery in Culver City, CA. If you’re in or around LA in the next month definitely make sure you check out the show! And if you plan on being there for the opening party, we’ll see you there!
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linds says: 
Pete 
