COVERAGE: MBW: Life Is Beautiful
(click pics to see more of Mr. Brainwash’s brainwashing)
Last Sunday I was able to check out Mr. Brainwash’s (a.k.a. MBW) solo show Life Is Beautiful at the old CBS studios in Hollywood. I had seen MBW’s work on the street for some time now but aside from the pastings and stencils of the bug-eyed man with a film camera, I wasn’t sure what else this documentarian turned “street artist” was responsible for. Before entering the massive compound on Sunset blvd., you’re greeted by an equally massive Elvis cutout holding a toy machine gun. And as soon as you step in, you see more hugeness lining the courtyard; there’s an enormous pile of books with a laptop straddled on top which reads “Life Is Beautiful”, an over-sized paper bag with a Chinese food receipt stapled to it, and a cutout of an old-timey rendition of the Star Wars family. Very promising from the outside looking in.
The inside walls were lined with images of pop icons ranging from Hendrix to Run DMC to the Dalai Lama to of course, Elvis. Lots and lots of Elvis. The styles of Warhol, Banksy, and Shepard Fairey run rampant through MBW’s work, as is the case with many pop artists working today, but in addition to his emulation he has created an entire installation space that lives, breathes, and breeds pop culture and shaped it into his own thing. Even though that “thing” is derivative of what others have done before him, it’s still something to behold. The sheer volume of work is impressive, especially in putting together a 2 story art show, my only gripe is that it looks all too familiar and a tad redundant. Apparently, I’m still not sure what else Mr. Brainwash has done.
Exhibit hours and location:
June 27th-29th
1pm to 9pm
The show will be open Friday through Sunday for the months of June and July.
Show reopens mid-September with new art and installations.
6121 W. Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90028
Tags: art, coverage, graffiti, LA, stencil art
