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Sorry All Out Of Fucks To Give Right Now

I am delighted to announce that my limited edition artist book, Sorry All Out Of Fucks To Give Right Now is finally ready to be unleashed in a launch event the on Friday 22nd March, 6.30-8.30 pm in Hackney Wick, London with support from Felstead Art.

The Gallery at The Trampery Fish Island Village
13 Rookwood Way London E3 2XT 

BUY NOW

This book has been a real labour of love project for over the last two years and I am so grateful to have been able to collaborate with esteemed designer Claire Mason (Book design includes, See Red Womens Workshop: Feminist Posters 1974-1990  &  Caroline Coon: The Great Offender, amongst many) and Jordan Taylor from PageMasters the specialist Risograph printers in Lewisham in bringing these notes alive. 

Sorry All Out of Fucks to Give (Notes 2016-2022)
by Aida Wilde

A compilation of notes, aphorisms and assertions written between 2016-2022. These ‘bites’ of texts both surge and rush and form the foundation upon which Aida’s larger text-based works are created.

Join us for the launch of Aida Wilde’s new book Sorry All Out of Fucks to Give. The book launch will be taking place at The Trampery in Fish Island in partnership with Felstead Art. Take the opportunity to also see Felstead Art’s current exhibition The Fashioned Body, also on display at The Trampery.


Sorry All Out of Fucks to Give (Notes 2016-2022) by Aida Wilde
Published by Print is Power 2024
Edition 100
88 pages
20cm x 28cm
Riso printed
Hand Foil cover with Serigraphed end papers
Exposed binding
Limited edition serigraph poster on Purple Metallic Card
Designed by Claire Mason
Printed by Pagemasters
ISBN: 978-1-7394888-8-8

A note is a message to be passed on, if only to yourself. As close to pure thought as you can get, it lives in the moment. It comes from a political space; an action, an expulsion from inside a body full of experience culminating to this. It’s a temporal gesture, a fuck it thrown down on paper, a something full of potential. The page is the scarred body of its author; while a lifetime of kickbacks, knock downs, strife, energy, rage, determination and never backing down ceases to leave its visible mark on the author, her notes tell a different story.

– Mandi Goodier

Liberated from the burden of manifesto, this work is a testament to the fact that sheer documentation of the everyday is in itself a creative and political act. It is a rare treat and joy to see an artist’s work not limited to the final product but the many iterations, the process, the journey. In the midst of commenting on perfection and curation, this book archives inklings and ideas in their rawest forms, warts and all, sometimes funny, sometimes seething but always deeply personal. It is littered with blank pages and scant musings, unafraid to occupy and claim the space – as it should.

 Peta-Megan Dunn, Writer

Aida Wilde is an Iranian born London-based contemporary serigraph artist, educator, and social commentator. Aida is also the founder of ‘Print is Power’ and ‘Sisters in Print’ Projects.
www.aidawilde.com
@aida_wilde
Claire Mason is a London based graphic designer.
www.flushleft.co.uk
@shapethepage
PageMasters are a specialist Risograph printing service based in South East London, they also host print workshops, organise zine fairs and offer design consultancy.
@pagemasters.co
Jordan Taylor is a textile designer and co director of PageMasters.
@jordam.taylor._._
Felstead Art is a gallery and advisory based in East London, supporting artists in Hackney Wick and surrounding areas
www.felsteadart.com
@felsteadart
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Art Wrapping Paper

Aida Wide Big Issue Q+A

What’s the story behind your Big Issue Christmas art wrapping paper? How did you settle on the artwork you’ve chosen?

The concept for Love Is Contagious came about very intuitively like most of the works in my practice. A small whisper which kept on getting louder as I was watching many more new heart breaks unfold across the world. 

I was reflecting on us just emerging out of the worse end of the pandemic and trying to connect the simple, happier and joyful things in life that could be considered as being contagious.

With the Cost of Living crisis knocking on the doors of many UK households, the focus of the work is about simple shared commonalities and the “free” things in life…. Love [Unconditional], doing your best to being kind- Laughter, and the joys and euphoria dance can have on our mood, body and wellbeing, all came to play under the theme. 

After a little research into the idea, it turned out that even science and historical reinforced the concept.

Neuroscientific studies show how the brain responds to the sound of laughter, making it spreadable from person to person. And the practice of ‘Laughter Yoga” is becoming more and more popular as a group exercise that combines deep breath work, promoting wellness and happiness. 

Then there is the famous case of the Dancing Plague of 1518, which hundreds of citizens of Strasbourg danced uncontrollably and unwillingly for days, which ended mysteriously after two months. 

But above all…. LOVE is really the big player in this. We need to practice it more within our daily life and routines. 

I wanted to design something new and specific for the Big Issue wrapping paper project. 

After initially making a list of words that could be deemed contagious, I settled for the fab four… Love, Kindness, Laughter and Dancing. The designs also went through many stages and colour combinations and scales before I settled on the two designs which I felt work best for their given function. 

The wrapping paper is light, fun and playful, whilst the bold stand-alone poster would work really well framed and hung on a wall. 

Why did you get involved with The Big Issue for this project?

Firstly, when you receive and email that says, ‘Contact from on behalf of Lord John Bird’ in your inbox, you’re automatically going to take the correspondence quite seriously.

I honestly thought it was spam at first, until I read further on- 

I remember The Big Issue launching when I was at school in 1991. It was such a huge turning point and everyone was talking about it at the time. Since then, it has become such an important stable and empowering institution, setting many precedents with its work, in the UK and its ethos spreading worldwide. 

In light of the recent absurd comments made by our home secretary, with one of them being about “Homelessness being a life style choice” it is now more important than ever to support and raise awareness to the rising unfortunate circumstances of individuals and families who are faced and forced in to this situation whilst still trying to retain some control and dignity within their lives. 

I am so honoured to think something that I have created can contribute to help in some small ways towards supporting the bigger issues and matters that we/world is facing right now. 

What does Christmas mean to you?

To be honest, it is a very challenging time of the year for me. 

Growing up, Christmas time was never in our heritage and it was only when we came to the UK that I was exposed to it- even then, not understanding much as I couldn’t speak English, all I deciphered was that there was a man, dressed in a red suit, with a big white beard that gave out presents.

I usually try and organise some sort of a fundraiser around that time of the year- This year I have launched a collaborative project with BAD Coffee to raise funds for local youth & mental health services as well as contributing to another project with Orlando Frames, that supports female domestic violence survivors who are setting up new homes. 

As I got older, and being the kind of person I am, the over indulgence, consumerism and the fuss of it all, affects me very deeply. 

I try and spend very modestly around that time of the year, lay low and just be with my family when I can.

If you could buy everyone in the UK a Christmas present, what would it be?

Continuing with the ethos of ‘The Simple Things In Life’ and not to sound too condescending…. 

I would make up a ‘Care Hamper’ that includes jars and bottles of all sorts of potions like, Hope, Love, Friendship, Compassion, Tolerance, Joys, Security, Good Health and Peace- But I’d also sneak in a big bar of the best tasting chocolate in the world, because who doesn’t like chocolate! 

It is supposed to be the time of year for magic & miracles after all and it doesn’t cost a thing to dream. 

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BAD COFFEE X AIDA WILDE = LOUSY COFFEE

A limited-edition collaboration in support of Hackney Quest & Mind In
The City, Hackney and Waltham Forest, Bad Coffee and Aida Wilde have combined forces to produce a limited-edition coffee with all profits going to charity. The coffee —roasted at female-led coffee roastery Bad Coffee— is a washed process Colombian bean, it’s sweet and clean with notes of apple, hazelnut, and milk chocolate. Once roasted beans are then packed into limited edition bags, individually hand screen-printed by visual artist Aida Wilde — known for her work surrounding displacement, education, and equality — and is a nod to her “LOUSY” social commentary series that has been subverting advertisements, walls, and merchandise for almost a decade.
Bad and Aida are firm believers in the power of collaboration and positive engagement within their local community, the vibrant and creative Hackney Wick, East London. This project hopes to facilitate encounters that enhance and enrich their locality by supporting two East London charities, Hackney Quest and Mind in the City, Hackney, and Waltham Forest. Hackney Quest is a grassroots charity that strives to give young people, families
, and members of the community the support they need to pursue their aspirations and deal positively with life’s challenges. They offer mentoring programs and workshops to help young people find their strengths and gain skills and opportunities. Mind in the City, Hackney, and Waltham Forest, believe nobody should have to face a
mental health problem alone. Now more than ever we need charities like Mind, they provide mental health support when it is hard to find elsewhere. The coffee too will help enrich the communities of its origin. Produced by Giovanny Lizcano in the Inza region of Colombia, is a member of the Asorcafe Association, which not only helps producers maintain specialty standards but provides a framework to further their education and progression to improve the economic and social conditions for themselves, their families, and the community. 

The smallholder farm produces only 6000kg of coffee per year. Bad Coffee x Aida
has 22kg as part of this super limited edition roast.
Individual bags are £15 each
Bundles including a tote bag, coffee beans, and a sticker pack are £30
Available to preorder from 3rd November from drinkbadcoffee.com
The first orders dispatched 14th November

Bad Coffee

Bad Coffee was founded on a love of coffee culture, the enjoyment of the cup, and the ritual surrounding it. We encourage people to take time out of their day to visit knowing that a positive engagement between us and our customers makes a positive impact on the day. Our beans facilitate encounters that enhance our community and form tighter bonds between people. That’s the power a cup of coffee can have.
Bad Coffee chooses to work with smallholder farms in order to contribute to sustainable
agriculture and socio-economic change within origin countries. The Coffee Producer Giovany Lizcano owns a small farm in Inza, Colombia. There he has around 12000 trees of tabi, pink bourbon, caturra and castillo – varieties that are renowned in the specialty coffee industry. He produces 6000kg per year, and we have 30kg to roast as part of our limited edition collaboration. Roasted to a medium level, the coffee is sweet and clean with
notes of apple, hazelnut and milk chocolate. Lizcano is part of an association called Asorcafe, set up to help producers not only sell their coffee, but to provide a framework to further their education and progression to improve the economic and social conditions for themselves, their families, and the community. 

Aida Wilde

AIDA [Wilde] is an Iranian-born, London-based printmaker/visual artist and Educator and is the founder of Print Is Power (2013) and Sisters in Print (2016) Projects. Wilde’s predominantly, screen printed installations and social commentary posters have been featured on city streets around the world and are responsive commentary works on displacement, education & equality. Her Fine Art studio-based serigraphs are well-collected throughout the world and push the boundaries in contemporary printmaking today. Aida has supported and collaborated with “Choose Love” Help Refugees UK] on a number of projects, which included exhibiting in Somerset House and Saatchi Gallery (2019) this also led to her recent commission & acquisition by the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge into creating one of her Iconic CHOOSE LOVE boat pieces of works for the Museum’s major exhibition, Defaced! Money, Conflict, Protest. Through the years Aida continues to support and raise awareness of many causes through the sales of her work including The Terrence Higgins Trust, Women’s Aid, and The Big Issue.
An active artist within the Hackney Wick community, Aida has been living and working there for the last 15 years, where she continues to create responsive/subversive works to the dramatic changes that have been taking place in the area, which included the monumental curation of the 2016, 48-hour artist take-over of the Lord Napier pub during Hackney Wicked Festival as well as the coinciding urban community exhibition ‘Save Yourselves’ in October of the same year.

The Charities


Hackney Quest 
“Hackney Quest aims to give young people, families, and members of the community the practical and emotional support they need to develop and pursue their aspirations and deal positively with life’s challenges.”

We chose to donate to Hackney Quest as their value of building communities through positive action. It’s a grass routes charity built in Hackney and is committed to this location. We especially admire how Quest works with young people to provide opportunities and find their inner strengths through mentoring programs and workshops. 


https://www.hackneyquest.org.uk

Mind in the City, Hackney, and Waltham Forest
“For the last 40 years, we have provided advice and support to anyone experiencing poor mental health in our community. Since then, not much has changed. Every year we help around 5,000 people with things like accessing their benefits, finding and keeping a job, and improving their mental health. We believe that nobody should
have to face a mental health problem alone”
We chose to work with Mind as mental health is something close to our hearts. We know that some of the biggest battles in life are personal, inner struggles. Mind is a wonderful charity that helps those in a time when mental health support is difficult to come by.
https://www.mindchwf.org.uk

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TURNTHEXXXXXXOUT + THE ANTICLIMAXXXXXX 

ECSTACY – EUPHORIA- RAPTURE

Three new tantalising and sensual serigraphs in two sizes [Petit & XL] are
encapsulated in these editions, co-released with Nelly Duff Gallery this autumn.
A serendipitous moment when thoughts of what to do with a bunch of artificial
cherries knocking about in the studio and the song “Blow“ by Beyonce plays in the
background was the initial inception for this print. There was a light-bulb moment and
I decided to Turn That Cherry Out!
So, it began my experiments in dipping the very life-like artificial cherries in various
viscosities of ink and letting the drips do their magic.
The bottom half of this serigraph is made up of a culmination of the sumptuous
drips, splashes, and blobs made during the process, lending the print its organic yet
graphic feature.
The names Ecstasy, Euphoria, and Rapture, I feel, best describe each print process,
that includes a nine-colour mono-print technique [making each one a unique
experience] and a custom mixed Red or Black high-grade glitter finish, that
encompass a given pleasurable feeling…. I hope. But I guess all pleasures and
personal right?

Available: HERE
Variations available at NELLY DUFF

TURNTHEXXXXXXOUT 

TURNTHEXXXXXXOUT is one of the largest works I have printed in a long while
and it came with its own challenges like every other fine art edition does- these types
of prints can never be rushed, so with patience and a lot of care I feel that I
excecated them to the best of my abilities at the time.

THE ANTICLIMAXXXXXX 

THE ANTICLIMAXXXXXX was pure joy to print. Given that I had been racking large
sheets of paper (140cm long at a time, on my own) these petite versions were a
welcome break for my arms. They are the perfect edition for those who like the
artwork but are not able to or have the wall space to commit to the larger-than-life
sibling.

Huge thanks to Alice Lindley for brining my vision alive with content production/still &
the moving images campaign for this release- It was a pleasure working with her.
And of course, Nelly Duff Gallery whom I released my first ever paper editions with
back in 2009. I always remember signing my first ever prints with them when I give
and I still use and have the pencil that they gave me to sign those first prints. It’s tiny
now and I sharpen with dread each time but I make sure to sign at least one new
print in the edition with it.

Call me superstitious 😉

TURNTHEXXXXXXOUT
ECSTACY – EUPHORIA- RAPTURE

11 layer Serigraph
Paper: Bockingford NOT 300gsm
Size: Approx.: 137cm x 77cm
Edition size: 30 [Ecstasy Varied Edition- colour combinations used are constant]
Signed from 1-30
2023

THE ANTICLIMAXXXXXX
ECSTACY- EUPHORIA- RAPTURE

10 Layer Serigraph
Paper: Bockingford NOT 300gsm
Size: Approx.: 29.8cm x 52cm
Edition size: 50 [ Ecstasy is a Varied Edition- colour combinations used are constant]
Signed
2023

Out now in Aida Wilde Print SHOP & Nelly Duff Gallery
*Please note: The Ecstasy edition is varied from each outlet
Hand Printed With Love & Passion
Aida
xoxo

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NUART 2023

Nuart Festival Aberdeen 2023
@nuartfestival | @nuartaberdeen
Line Up Announcement | 20.04.2023
NUART ABERDEEN. JUNE 8-11TH 2023

“As anyone who knows me will profess, getting quotes from me is like getting blood from a stone – not because I have anything particular against quotes, and I’m aware it’s possibly some deep-seated insecurity about the value of my ideas – but looking at this year’s program I couldn’t be happier, so here it is. I guess it’s testament to the hard work from all involved and the welcome that Aberdeen’s citizens have given to Nuart these past years, that without exception, everyone we reach out to says, yes, they’d love to come to the city. Word has spread, and continues to do so, about just what an incredibly unique and authentic city and project we’ve created together. And in spite of greater societal issues and the challenges faced by the high street, we hope to continue contributing to shifting things, however incrementally, towards a richer, fairer and more inclusive relationship to art and culture.
Maybe there is some value in this after all, so maybe there’ll be more quotes going forwards.
On behalf of the team, I’d like to take the opportunity to thank each and every one of those that continue to support this initiative – we can’t wait to get started on 2023.”

– Martyn Reed, Nuart Director

Nuart Festival: @nuartfestival @nuartaberdeen | 2023.nuartaberdeen.co.uk
Festival Partners: Aberdeen Inspired | @abdninspired

#nuartaberdeen #nuartfestival2023

NUART 2023 ARTISTS:

AIDA WILDE (IR/UK) @aida_wilde
ELOISE GILLOW (UK/ES) @eloisegillow
ESCIF (ES) @escif
JAMIE REID (UK) @jamie_reid_archive
KMG (SC) @kmgyeah
MANOLO MESA (ES) @manolo_mesa
MURMURE (FR) @murmurestreet
NESPOON (PL) @nes.nespoon
SNIK (UK) @snikarts
STANLEY DONWOOD (UK) @stanleydonwood
SWOON (US) @swoonhq
TAMARA ALVES (PT) @tamara_aalves
THIAGO MAZZA (BR) @mazzolandia

NUART 2023 SPEAKERS & GUESTS:

BJØRN VAN POUKE (BE) @bjornvanpoucke
CARLO MCCORMICK (US) @carlomccormickick
CHARLOTTE PYATT (UK) https://www.instagram.com/charlotte_pyatt/
ERIK HANNERZ (SE) @erikhannerz | @research.and.destroy
EVAN PRICCO (US) @epricco | @juxtapozmag
GIULIA BLOCAL (IT) @street_art_city_guides
HANNAH JUDAH (UK) @hannah_judah
HARRIET RICHARDSON (UK) @hatsrichardson
JOHN MARCHANT (UK) @johnmarchantgallery
LUCY FINCHETT-MADDOCK (UK) @yeoldefinch
STEPHEN ELLCOCK (UK) @stephenellcock
STUART HOLDSWORTH (UK) @inspiringcity
T.K. MILLS (US) @t.k.m85 | @up__mag
TIM MARSCHANG (BE) @streetartcities

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AIDA WILDE X UNCLE IWD 2023 #WomanLifeFreedom

WomanLifeFreedom

“Power Rarely Falls Within The Right Hands.”
In this powerful large-scale work to mark International Women’s Day, artist Aida Wilde
references her own experiences of displacement, loss and trauma – having fled Iran during
the war with Iraq with her mother and sisters in the 80’s- while connecting this with the
experiences of countless others.
“From our arms that have loved, lost and silenced, this is for ALL the mothers, sisters,
brothers and fathers around the world, who have suffered oppression, violence, injustices
and bloodshed. May our tears and suffering not be in vain. May we be united by peace in the
fight for justice.”

  • Aida Wilde.
    Wilde’s street-based triptych for IWD may be found on the walls of London, Bristol and
    Manchester, courtesy of UNCLE.
    Press Release:
    AIDA WILDE X UNCLE FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
    2023
    “Power rarely falls within the right hands.”

The Silence From The Veil, Aida Wilde 2023
Last week – in just the latest threat to the safety and human rights of Iranian girls and
women – hundreds of teenage girls were gassed in their classrooms in an apparent attempt
to obstruct their access to education. In this powerful large-scale work to mark International
Women’s Day, visual artist and printmaker Aida Wilde references her own experiences of
displacement, loss and trauma – having fled Iran during the war with Iraq with her mother
and sisters – whilst connecting this with the experiences of countless others.
In the foreground of Wilde’s wildposted triptych, the hands of her mother and younger
sister are raised in iconic gestures of resistance atop marble pedestals – on a monumental
magnitude often reserved for celebrating men’s histories. The bold text etched on the
plinths arrest the viewer by invoking a direct call to reflection and action – via slogans
reminiscent of Jenny Holzer’s iconic street-based work: “Power rarely falls within the right
hands”; “If you only knew how exhausting it is to be powered by rage”; “There can be no
Gods walking among us.”

Wilde’s older sister is the eminent Iranian poet Ziba Karbassi. Here, Wilde arms her sister’s
hand with a quill, connecting her own street-based public visual intervention to Karbassi’s
quiet – but no less powerful – poetic acts of resistance: “From everyone/ more than
everything/ From all/ More than everyone ever/ I believe in my own chest/ In the moment of
the bullet.” 1
The background to the work is densely woven with the names of just some of the thousands
of women and girls who have been murdered in the struggle against Iran’s oppressive
theocratic regime. 2 In acknowledgement of the uprising sparked in 2022 by the unlawful
death of Mahsa Amini, the names of Iran’s manifold victims of gender violence rain down
softly on Wilde’s plinths, and rise in a ghostly stream from the poppy fields at their base –
honouring and humanising the countless women and girls lost to this ongoing state-
sanctioned femicide.
The artist says, “This is the first time that I have incorporated all of my family in one piece of
artwork. From our arms that have loved, lost and silenced, this is for ALL the mothers, sisters,
brothers and fathers around the world, who have suffered oppression, violence, injustices
and bloodshed. May our tears and suffering not be in vain. May we be united by peace in the
fight for justice.”
Wilde’s street-based triptych can be found on the walls of the cities of London, Bristol and
Manchester for International Women’s Day, in collaboration with the original wildposting
company UNCLE and OllyStudio, with creative direction from Olly Walker and Susan Hansen.
Aida Wilde is an Iranian born, London-based printmaker/visual artist, and educator. Wilde’s
diverse screen-printed indoor/outdoor installations and social commentary artworks have
been featured on city streets and galleries around the world and are responsive works on
gentrification, education, and equality. Wilde’s academic career includes, associate lecturer,
course director and alumni, on the Surface Design and Foundation of Applied Arts at the
London College of Communication, University of the Arts (2004-2015). Aida’s serigraphs have
been exhibited nationally and internationally at institutions including, the Victoria & Albert
Museum, Women’s Art Library, Goldsmiths, Vienna’s Fine Art Academy, Somerset House, the
Fitzwilliam Museum, and Saatchi Gallery.

Relevant Socials and Hashtags
Aida Wilde:
@aida_wilde | aidawilde.com | info@aidaprints.com
UNCLE:
@uncle_insta | https://manfromuncle.info
OLLYSTUDIO:
@ollystudio| http://ollystudio.co.uk
1 Sigh. 15. Revolutionary by Ziba Karbassi. Translated by Ziba Karbassi and Nazlee Radboy
2 List courtesy of NCRI Women’s Committee.

EmbraceEquity #WomenLifeFreedom #MahsaAmini #womenshistorymonth2023

#iranrevolution #womenncri #aidawilde #zibakarbassi #printispower #uncle_insta

@aida_wilde @uncle_insta @ollystudio @suse.hansen #IWD2023 #WomanLifeFreedom

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Defaced! Money, Conflict, Protest

This new exhibition is the first of its kind to examine the interplay between money, power and dissent over the last 200 years – with a key strand of the show exploring the role of the individual in protesting for rights and representation.

From the radicals of the nineteenth and early twentieth century, like Thomas Spence and the Suffragettes, to current artists and activists, such as Aida Wilde and Hilary Powell, the works on display show how money has been used to promote social and economic equality or satirise those in power.

A range of striking objects in the exhibition reveal the multiple roles money played during conflict, whether it be in occupation or resistance, as tokens of memory and remembrance, created during siege or emergency, made for or by prisoners of war, or made in support of sectarian or political ideologies.

Contemporary artworks by Kennard, Phillipps, Banksy and JSG Boggs are contextualised against earlier works and reveal continuities in the targets of protest across time. More than a hundred visually striking objects, most of which have never been seen before, are juxtaposed with important loans from museums and private collections.

CHECK THE WEBSITE

Paper Dreams Workshop
12th November – Fitzwilliam Museum 

BOOK HERE

New Art, New Perspectives: Currencies

Fitzwilliam Museum Podcast: LISTEN

In this episode, artist Aida Wilde discusses Dreamboat II, a tiny origami boat made from repurposed Syrian Banknotes. Dreamboat II was commissioned by The Fitzwilliam as part of its Currencies of Conflict and Exchange exhibition. Wilde discusses her desire to raise money and awareness for refugees, as well as her own experience as a survivor of political violence from Iran.

This series is supported by the Charlotte Bonham-Carter Trust.

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Art Of Ping Pong X The Civic

View Aida artwork HERE

Art of Ping Pong’s Exhibition and Charity Auction
— In partnership with The Civic, Barnsley and Choose Love

Together with The Civic and Choose Love we’ve curated a selection of
contemporary and well-loved artists to create another brilliant collection
of hand crafted ping pong paddles.

The exhibition, held at The Civic, runs from 10th September until 10th
November.

Each unique artwork is available via this online auction.

The auction closes at midnight on the 10th October.

The money raised will be donated to The Civic and Choose Love.

The Civic, Barnsley
The Civic exists to provide Barnsley and the surrounding communities
with a culturally significant voice.

Our aim is to present a progressive programme of festivals, exhibitions
performance and events that relate to the area, social, economic and
political attitudes whilst also entertaining and encouraging debate.

We are passionate about people of all ages and backgrounds having
access to the best possible arts and cultural experiences on their own
doorstep.

barnsleycivic.co.uk / @civicbarnsley

Choose Love
Choose Love does whatever it takes to provide refugees and displaced
people with everything from lifesaving rescue boats to food and legal
advice.

Our work has reached over 3.5 million people
and supported over 380 fast-acting community organisations across
Europe, the Middle East and along the US-Mexico border.

Everything we do is powered by a vision of a world that chooses love
and justice every day, for everyone.

chooselove.org / @chooselove

Art of Ping Pong
Art of Ping Pong sits at the nexus of art and play. Fusing art with
functional design, we create vibrant objects of art to populate our living

spaces. These objects also have a real life, dual, purpose. To bring joy
and a connection to others through play.

We are also on a mission to become the most spirited art + play brand
on the planet. So we have a strong focus on supporting good causes.
Since our inception we have raised over £25k for charity.

theartofpingpong.co.uk / @artof_pingpong

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Less Homes 4 U

Croydon RISE Festival [CroydonsRising]
5-15th September 2018
Urban Art. Block Parties. Events. Tours. Talks

‘This September, Croydon hosted RISE festival, London’s newest and largest international urban art festival.
RISE festival is a celebration of the globally recognised movement that is urban art. In a short time, this increasingly popular art form has not only caught the imagination of people around the world but has grown its identity with visual diversity at an incredible rate. It is becoming harder to find a town or city in any part of the world that doesn’t feature some form of urban or street art.”
Rise Gallery [Website]

I was invited to participate in the 1st edition of Rise Festival this September, in a bid for Croydon in becoming the go to destination for the largest outdoor gallery in years to come.
Despite being in Zone 5 and London expanding at the rate that it has been in some years, it was surprising easy to reach from Hackney Wick.
At first impressions, it seemed to going through it’s 3rd faze of “regeneration” with somewhat confusing identity. A “Box Park” greets you as soon as you get out of East Croydon station, with craft beer & independent food stands.
5 minutes down the road, you see Croydon Art college with youths sprawled out wearing college ID’s with hope and aspirations, I just remember thinking, if you only knew that we are all fucked.
And 5 minutes further down, there is thriving high street, with your usual chain stores and coffee houses. And around the corner from this, was the abandoned, almost 29 days later style parade called St Georges Walk, where Rise gallery was situated and the epicentre for the festival.
I was initially very apprehensive about taking part in the festival, as from experience tells me, that  artificially injecting street art anywhere, is only going to propel the gentrification process. Croydon council seemed to have been somewhat the brainchild of this project with the aim for it to becoming an annual event. The funds seemed to have come from other resources including The Arts Council & some developers….hummmm

It was for this reason that at my own risk and putting my neck on the line, I agreed to create a piece of work which would reflect what was happening in Croydon and what was to become.
I had a choice of a few shop fronts to choose from at St Georges Walk as most of the tenants had been displaced, some even after 20 years of having a business there in the premise that all or “some” would be relocated.
As far as I am aware, the block and the surrounding offices is bought by a development company from Hong Kong, I’m only assuming this was due to the fact the Croydon has a large Asian community.
The sad feeling of abandonment swept over me, as I choose the Pretty In Pink Maureen’s, which use to sell sewing supplies. I thought it was quite apt with my background in fashion. It wasn’t that long ago that I had to give up my shop and business in Brick Lane due to gentrification and high rent rises, so this really hit a nerve.

I aimed for the work to present and argument, a voice to highlight the reality of what was really going on, and use my experience having been the victim of living and working in many ‘regenerated’ areas & to try and say something….for the people and myself.  The issue needed to be addressed and there was no point for the festival to sweep it under the carpet and pretend that they did not have a hand in trying to accelerate and elevate the area through street art.
Luckily for me, the two curators of the project, Jason [WhereTheresWalls] and Nelly Balaz [Monoprixx] were open and supportive of my idea and promised not to implement any censorship within the work.
Therefore I knew that I had to do this project.
So, it was Maureen’s destiny to turn into the worlds BEST/WORST Estate Agents….the best for the stomach churning 1% and the worst, the rest of us 99%ers who can’t afford anything in there.
You can read full coverage and process photos on Butterfly NewsStreet Art News  and Instagrafite Mag [includes more written about my past projects]
Many thanks to Sandra and Julie for the support and the documentation of the process which proved to me invaluable as three weeks after it’s completion, the art work was deliberately and meticulously attacked the installation, trying to erase the truth that once was said.
Many thanks to Tanya Nash [Notice What You Notice Blog] who discovered and notified me with the news and for supplying the “After” photo.

Finally, a festival like this isn’t easy and I would really like to thank Jason & Nelly for all their support and hard work, & treating me & the Art Mafia so well and for specially, not censoring my voice.

LESS HOMES 4U
IT’S OUT WITH THE HIPSTERS IN WITH THE YUPSTERS
LONG DRAMATIC         PAUSE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR %ONE [Affordable Housing For 0%/No One]
WHERE ONLY THE 1% C[O]UNT (Swing Sign)
LESS HOMES 4U CALL 0800WHOCARES

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Cash Is King

Turning Refugee Bank Notes Into Art For Charity:London-based artist Aida Wilde has created a powerful series of works on banknotes for charity Help Refugees that will be launched next week at theCash is King II show at the Saatchi Gallery in London. The show opens on the 21st of August and runs until the 8th of September.

Aida Wilde was born in Iran and arrived in the UK in the mid 1980s as a political refugee. In this striking body of work, she uses banknotes from Eritrea, Iraq, Somalia, Sudan and Syria as her canvas, and works in ‘money ink’ she painstakingly created from pulped banknotes. Sourced by curators Susan Hansen and Olly Walker, these banknotes represent some of the countries that have seen the highest numbers of people become refugees in recent years.

In an immediate and intuitive response to these banknotes, Wilde has used the iconic ‘Choose Love’ slogan, gifted to charity Help Refugees by the iconic activist-designer Katharine Hamnett. All proceeds from the sale of Aida’s work will go to supporting Help Refugees’ work around the world.

Curators Susan Hansen and Olly Walker said, “When we first gave Aida the banknotes from Help Refugees to work with, she could not even look at the Iraqi Dinars. She slid them out of sight under the other banknotes. Aida said she felt that Choose Love’s message of hope, love, dignity and humanity could not fit with the image of Saddam Hussain – whose image is branded on the notes. Aida’s family were directly impacted by Hussain’s tyrannical government, and fled Iran in the 1980s, when she was a child.”

“We assured Aida that of course it was not necessary to work with the Iraqi banknotes if this would prove traumatic, but a week later, she sent through some process shots of the notes she had been busy transforming, which to our surprise included the Iraqi Dinars.”

Aida Wilde said, “The whole process of working with these notes was so instinctive. At first, I couldn’t even touch them. But then, I started working. It felt very personal.”

Aida’s work will available for sale on the Saatchi website from 2pm on Tuesday the 20th of August. All proceeds will go to support Help Refugees’ work around the world.

Cash is King II: Money Talks features works of art executed on banknotes. This remarkable exhibition showcases a unique collection of defaced money art that has been sent in from all over the world for inclusion in the second Cash is King book. The book and exhibition were conceived by mixed-media artists Bob Osborne and Carrie Reichardt. The Cash is King II exhibition has been curated by Olly Walker of Ollystudio.

For more information, contact Dr Susan Hansen: s.hansen@mdx.ac.uk; 07454729393