PRESS RELEASE:
For immediate Release: 3rd May 2018.
To celebrate National Star Wars Day Celebrated chef, restaurateur Mark Hix and Artist / Curator Ben Moore are holding a special event on Friday May 4th, 6-9pm at Hix Art, Shoreditch.
At the event there will be a series of performances by artists including London based beat boxer Reeps One and a drum set by the Pink Stormtrooper. Guests are being encouraged to dress up 'star wars style'.
The 'May the 4th Be With You' event is part of the 'Art Wars East' exhibiton that opened at Hix Art on March 29th and runs to 18th May 2018.
The exhibition features a selection of new works by artists including Ben Eine, Joana Vasconcelos, Philip Colbert, Joe Rush, Lauren Baker, Carne Griffiths, Reeps One and RYCA. Each artist has been provided with a Star Wars Stormtrooper helmet, with the brief of transforming it into a piece of art: ‘Turning the Dark Side into the Art Side'
Ben Moore has created a new artwork to be unveiled at the event called ‘Black Storm’ which features a nude black female in a series of photographs wearing a stormtrooper helmet.
Talking about his new work 'Black Storm' Ben Moore says:
'In making this work I borrowed from the iconic visual style of Helmut Newton and Alison Jackson’s portrait that she did for Art Wars in 2013 featuring a white nude female wearing a stormtrooper helmet. I wanted to make an updated version in line with Star Wars A New Hope 2015 where we see a stormtrooper played by black actor John Boyega escape from the death star. In some scenes we see John Boyega in stormtrooper armour without helmet on. I wanted to remove the armour and put the helmet back on. This work is also about identity and anonymity. By wearing the helmet the person is given anonymity. This phenomenon of anonymity on the internet enfranchises all genders to vocalise themselves in a world, which is increasingly voracious for physical extravagance.'
In one of the photographs Moore collaborated with artist Katya Kan who painted the model in French and English text by feminist writers including Helene Cixous and Julie Kristeva’
Katya Kan says: I am creating a new artistic language for the black female body, which was silenced and oppressed for previous chapters in world history. By wearing a helmet to protect her identity and re-inscribing these powerful quotes, the model is thus taking back control over the female body.
Selected works in the show will go on online auction opening on May 4th on paddle8.com to raise funds for the Missing Tom Fund. The auction closes on 25th May to coincide with the release of the next Star Wars film ‘Han Solo’
ENDS:
For further information, interviews or images please contact Tani Burns:
T: 0207 377 5665
M: 07888 731 419
Art Wars East runs to 18th May, Monday to Sunday, 11am – 6pm.
Hix Art, Tramshed, 32 Rivington St, London, EC2A 3LX.
Art Wars
Art Wars is curated by Ben Moore and raises funds to benefit two charities, Missing People and the Missing Tom Fund. Since launching Art Wars at Saatchi Gallery in 2013, the initiative has garnered support from major artists worldwide including Damien Hirst, Anish Kapoor, J&D Chapman, Alison Jackson, Yinka Shonibare, Antony Micallef, D*Face, Mr. Brainwash and Retna. Since then Art Wars has travelled to Sweden, Dubai, Miami and Los Angeles and featured in numerous art fairs including The Other Art Fair, Moniker Art Fair, and Red Dot Art Fair. www.artwars.net
The Missing Tom Fund
The Missing Tom Fund was set up by Ben Moore, Founder of Art Below (founded in 2006), to help raise money to find his brother Thomas Moore, who disappeared in 2003 aged 31 years old. His family have not heard from him since then. Now, 15 years on, with the support of the Missing People Charity his family continue to search for Tom. www.missingtom.com
Hix Art
HIX ART was established by the restaurateur and author Mark Hix in 2012. It is located in the basement of Tramshed on Rivington Street in Shoreditch, London, and is run by Director Sophie Harriott. It stages up to eight exhibitions annually, and its curatorial programme embraces a wide range of artists, from the established to the undiscovered. www.hixart.co.uk
Hix Art
HIX ART was established by the restaurateur and author Mark Hix in 2012. It is located in the basement of Tramshed on Rivington Street in Shoreditch, London, and is run by Director Sophie Harriott. It stages up to eight exhibitions annually, and its curatorial programme embraces a wide range of artists, from the established to the undiscovered. www.hixart.co.uk
Ben Moore, Founder of Art Below, has had over 12 years experience working with artists, museums, charities and arts organisations, initiating and managing partnerships to deliver new public arts projects. In 2006 he founded public arts organisation Art Below. He has produced and curated public exhibitions in London, Tokyo, Berlin, and Los Angeles working with high profile international and British artists including Turner Prize Winners and Royal Academicians. Recent projects and exhibitions curated by Moore include Art Wars, Stations of the Cross, and 'Queen Themed'. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Moore_(curator)
Star Wars Day
Star Wars Day, May 4, celebrates George Lucas' Star Wars. It is observed by fans of the media franchise. Observance of the commemorative day spread quickly through media and grassroots celebrations.
The date was chosen for the pun on the catchphrase "May the Force be with you" as "May the Fourth be with you". Even though the holiday was not actually created or declared by Lucasfilm, many Star Wars fans across the world have chosen to celebrate the holiday. It has since been embraced by Lucasfilm as an annual celebration of Star Wars.
Star Wars Day, May 4, celebrates George Lucas' Star Wars. It is observed by fans of the media franchise. Observance of the commemorative day spread quickly through media and grassroots celebrations.
The date was chosen for the pun on the catchphrase "May the Force be with you" as "May the Fourth be with you". Even though the holiday was not actually created or declared by Lucasfilm, many Star Wars fans across the world have chosen to celebrate the holiday. It has since been embraced by Lucasfilm as an annual celebration of Star Wars.
