1. Bill Withers – Use Me Up

What a tune, this was a big hit on all the lads’ iPods when I was at home. So much funk you can’t help but snarl your lip and form some sort of funky air band.

2. Sub Focus – Into The Blue

Perfect song for the sun, even better if you’re on a long drive and this comes on shuffle. I have to keep an eye on the speed when a tune like this comes on though.

3. Maximo Park – Going Missing

I probably heard this for the first time in my dads back garden, as soon as the sun come out, the shirt comes off and the tunes go on. Maximo Park are one of his favourites and this is one of mine!

4. Dodgy – Good Enough

Brilliant tune, love these golden oldies. I seem to know all the words and I don’t know how, I blame the parents!

5. Gorillaz – Feel Good Inc

What a song, perfect for the sun and another big hit on my iPod… big fan!

6. Red Hot Chilli Peppers – Scar Tissue

The first album I ever bought was the Red Hot Chilli Peppers Greatest Hits, jumping around my bedroom to ‘Suck My Kiss’ as a little tubster. No doubt this will be getting tanked on my ipod over summer.

7. Alabama Shakes – Hold On

I saw this band at The Great Escape in Brighton, they were really good and the lead singer is phenomenal. This song in particular, I heard it on the radio and instantly started to air drum! Brilliant tune.

8. Nero – Guilt

Great song – perfect for the sun, it’s so aggressive and uplifting.

9. Young MC – Know How

Again, this reminds me of summer at home with my friends. I think it’s safe to say I know every word to this tune.

10. Mumford and Sons – The Cave

Brilliant tune, did this at a few little gigs over last summer and loved it. Big fan of the band, big fan of this song.

Words: Gavin Jewkes

The post SUMMER PLAYLIST – Aiden Grimshaw appeared first on Wonderland.

What was the inspiration behind Limbo?

Limbo is myself – the way I think and express. The inspiration for the show is the same as what inspired me to grow, personally. I learn from the people around me and the people I love. The exhibition is inspired by our pasts and hidden depths.

You said that you’ve battled with depression. How instrumental do you think art has been in helping you overcome it?

Art has always been a means to learn more about myself and the world around me. Through this, I have found painting a great way of easing my anxiety and depression.

Your work is very expressive. If you were told you could never paint again, how else would you express yourself?

If I couldn’t paint again, I don’t know what I would do! I know I wouldn’t use a spray can, though.

If you could choose an artist, living or dead, who would you love to come and see one of your exhibitions?

Francis Bacon. He knows how to encapsulate the atmosphere of an image, and as an artist that inspires me. I would be interested to know whether or not he think I have been successful in achieving a sense of atmosphere.

What’s next for Tim Silversides?

For now, I am just really happy with the reception I’ve had from my last two shows. I am looking forward to the next show, which I plan to have at Mother London where I work.

Words: Gavin Jewkes

The post EMERGING… Tim Silversides appeared first on Wonderland.

How did the Karpo project come about and who made up the collaborative team?

The project came to our attention when an art direction company called ‘The Narrative’ contacted us about painting a hotel in central London. We then started on a nine-month journey of ideas and dialogues, and began putting together the best possible team from our wonderful Agents Of Change resource. The four we chose were perfect for the end result, as we all work in abstraction. There was me (Remi/Rough from London), Augustine Kofie from LA, Steve More from Edinburgh and LX One from Paris. We bounced back the design of the mural between Paris, LA, Edinburgh and London for over three weeks before we had the design where we wanted it.

What is the inspiration behind the design?

We wanted to do something incredibly bold as it’s not everyday you get to paint, not only the biggest mural in central London, but paint it opposite the two busiest stations in London, too! So we worked with Megaro and The Narrative on the colour palette and worked all four of our various styles into one complete piece. There’s a lot of geometry in the design but due to the architecture there was a lot of thinking on our feet, so the initial design was only ever 60% of where it would end up.

Do you think public art serves to enhance the aesthetic appeal of our urban landscape, or to portray a social message?

Public art is an amazing way of getting people to not only notice but also question their environment – it can completely change an environment, too! London used to have this amazing history of public murals in the 70s and 80s, but for some reason that discipline has fizzled out. Considering how important Brits consider the British Art industry, I find that quite surprising! I think social commentary is there, regardless of what the design is. Painting on walls is an ancient pastime that still has a very important place in society. I recently went to Mexico and the history of mural art that they have is incredible – we need more of that in the UK!

What other works of public art have you been involved in? Are there any examples that you think have worked particularly well?

I’ve literally painted hundreds of public murals all over the world!! I have a huge one in Perth that I painted with some of the Agents Of Change way back in 2000, A six storey building I recently painted in Hamburg, and two sides of a five storey hotel I painted in Vancouver, Canada last year… Personally the work I did in Hamburg is one of my favourites! It works on many levels, it’s abstract and as such can be appreciated by anyone for it’s geometry and composition and also the colours are mainly primary so kids really gravitate towards it. I treat every wall I paint differently though and always strive to put original ideas onto walls.

Words: Gavin Jewkes

The post EMERGING… Remi/Rough appeared first on Wonderland.