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Arkham,

Batman: Arkham Knight Cape & Cowl Exhibition Review - EXHIBITION VISIT

Last Sunday I headed to East London, more specifically to the creative hub of Shoreditch, which constantly surprises me with its wealth of inventiveness. But I wasn't just there to enjoy freshly baked pastries and artisan coffee whilst perusing body modifications and 3D printed Objet d'art (and sometimes a mix of the two).

Rather I found myself under the Gotham'eske train bridges outside the Old Street entrance to Kachette, a contemporary event space which was hosting a Batman: Arkham Knight Cape & Cowl Exhibition. A similar envy inducing event that was held for San Diego Comic Con 2014. Sadly I only heard about the exhibition the Friday before and after a week long run it ended on Sunday, so I didn't get a chance to fire up the bat signal But I did manage to squeeze in a quick visit and was really stoked that I did. All photos from my visit can be viewed on our Flickr Channel.
To celebrate the console game release of Rocksteady Studios' Batman: Arkham Knight Warner Bros Games UK and Moniker Projects commissioned 20 artists and celebrities to turn a Batman Cape & Cowl as a blank canvas and create their own unique work of art, which was then exhibited for the public in a dark and moody Arkham Asylum like gallery.

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So an eclectic mix of talent from across the arts as well as local fanboys Jonathan Ross and Noel Clarke both who are intimately familiar with superheroes, thrown into the mix - you may think that some of the artist choices are a bit random but it all comes together and some of my favourite pieces came from the most unlikely artists. Perhaps they did not have a personal style or brand motif to adhere in the arts world and could be more free to express themselves using the Batman mythos.


I haven't had a proper look at Batman: Arkham Knight so I'm unsure if there are any direct game references hidden in the pieces but some of the Capes and Cowl designs do incorporate themes prevalent in the game.


Some of the exceptional pieces on display that caught my eye were:


I absolutely loved the strikingly visual "Hayden Cave" by Hayden Kays which may be influenced by both the comics and Christopher Nolan's Batman visual library.

Hayden Cave also had a great position, hidden in the corner next to the Gotham City Police Department Holding Cells which made it seem more cinematic and lifted right out of the Batman: Arkham Knight game.


On a related note if you are a long time reader you may remember I highlighted Hayden Kays' work way back when he created a piece, aptly titled "work in progress" live at the packed artichokeltd & Brahma - Banksy Auction & Art Exhibition in Soho whilst 100s of onlookers were viewing the exhibition.


That was the night I attempted to stay on my skateboard for the whole evening. I don't skate much anymore but Hayden Kays has gone on to much bigger and better things and was recently in the press having sold Harry Styles some art for somewhere in the £20,000s.

https://twitter.com/HaydenKays | https://instagram.com/haydenkays/ |http://haydenkays.co.uk/



I also quite liked “Batman Under Construction” by Zeus which had some chaotic postmodern Joker flair vandalising the memory of Batman.


https://twitter.com/zeusinc | https://www.facebook.com/dean.z.colman | http://deanzeuscolman.com/ 



I also really liked Eliza Doolittle's “What Made You Think I Need To Be Saved” which allowed me to finally see what a Batman outfit made of leather and bird feathers might look like - quite extraordinary - like her namesake Doolittle's piece exudes an animalistic strong birds of prey/sisters are doing it for themselves vibe.



Eliza Doolittle - What Made You Think I Need To Be Saved

https://twitter.com/elizadoolittle | http://www.elizadoolittle.com/



I appreciated Noel Clarke's nondescript piece “Eclater” [English: to burst, blow up, explode; to break out; to make noise; to shine, Boom]. Bear in mind Clarke has been trying to get superhero projects off the ground with DC he has expressed interest in Supergirl and Black Lightning as well as reportedly approaching Marvel to undertake Black Panther. Rumour is Ava DuVernay may have beaten him to the director's seat for Black Panther. Clarke has also said that he'll bring his own super powers tale to life.

At first glance his interpretation seemed to be the most comfortable to wear outfit - an insulated light blue leather throwback to vintage Batman - but hidden in the walled in mouth of the cowl was a message that conveyed a brilliant sentiment I assume is about hero worship, the line between fiction and self belief and touching on themes prevalent in Batman: Arkham Knight which like Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises is the end of the Batman Arkham series.


https://twitter.com/noelclarke | https://www.facebook.com/NoelClarkeOfficial



These themes are more explicitly explored in the shock value of the “Becoming Yourself” bust by The Connor Brothers which stood out as it took a look under the mask as well as addressing the inevitabile.




https://twitter.com/ConnorBrothers | http://www.theconnorbrothers.com/



The intricate “One for All, All for One” by Nancy Fouts stood out as it cleverly played on the theme of what is the Batman made of? Similar in theme that the Batman is a symbol and could be anyone as conveyed by Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises


Nancy Fouts – One for All, All for One

For Batman: Arkham Knight Cape & Cowl Nancy Fouts has reconstructed Batman’s Cowl out of a collection of all people and all things.

He is made of many pieces.

http://www.nancyfouts.com/



Another stand out piece was “The City Corrodes Us All” from the incredibly talented Matt Small. I am a huge fan of Small and his take was both visually striking and straight out of the Batman mythos as we know very few escape Gotham untainted in some way.


http://www.matt-small.com/



I also quite liked polymath Jonathan Ross' piece “Dystopian Arkham Knight”. Even though it's in theme I'm not wild about the PS inspired shoulder "pads" - but the brutally simple iron plated rest is awesome! Ross is steeped in comic history and mythos so his influences are not immediately obvious but he is possibly hinting at a future Batman's shift to increasingly darker politics as well as DC Elsewhere tales where Batman is found to be a knight in a past time.


https://twitter.com/wossy



The longer I studied the detail of Gothic Gotham from Logan Hicks the more I liked it's gorgeous ambitions. Batman, and Arkham have its roots in Gothic London so it makes a lot of sense that a piece like Hicks' was envisioned for display in London.

Using life-sized replicas of Batman’s costume as a blank canvas, I was asked to interpret the Dark Knights attire. I felt like the character of Batman and the imagery that one thinks of when you envision Batman was a solid inspiration for the piece.

My piece is entitled "Gothic Gotham”, and is based on a Gothic Revivalist pattern that was first designed by Lewis F Day. Applying the pattern to the bust was fairly difficult. I ended up having to cut close to 30 different shapes with patterns in order to accommodate the curved surfaces and the odd shapes. Each piece was hand sprayed with a gloss black on a flat black surface to get it to show up. Pretty happy with the results.”

Logan Hicks - Gothic Gotham
Logan hicks is a NY-based painter who uses stencils to produce his work. His art is driven by an interest in the urban environment and how people interact within it.

https://twitter.com/loganhicksny | https://www.facebook.com/logan.hicks | http://workhorsevisuals.com/new/



Another favourite piece tying with Hayden Kays' “Hayden Cave” was “Fades to Bat” created by none other than Ms. Jodie Kidd.



Whilst not entirely original it wins on sheer spectacle, use of striking colours and Bat love again seemingly inspired by Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins - if I was to choose one piece to adorn my living room this would be that piece. “Hayden Cave” would suit the study man cave a lot more.

https://twitter.com/realjodiekidd



I was giddy like a little kid visiting Kachette and being able to immerse myself in the Batman: Arkham Knight Cape & Cowl Exhibition, sadly the exhibition closed shop after a week long run in the build up to the release of Batman: Arkham Knight.


It is interesting that a couple of pieces hinted at the the line between art and life, art imitating life and life imitating art. As if you want to get an idea of what to expect from Zack Snyder's March 2016 Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice film I would be surprised if there were similarities in look and feel to Batman: Arkham Knight as the games seem to be an increasing influence on his and others visual library for their films.

I have highlighted the pieces I was drawn to, the other popular pieces from participating celebrities and artists include:

Lauren Baker - Acid Rain
Multidisciplinary artist Lauren Baker explores transitions between life, death and rebirth whilst delivering an aesthetic value that has seen her work featured in The V&A, Tate Modern and Tate Britain.

The corrosive Gotham rain falls upon the dark night. Batman is unmoved. Shrouded in darkness, he fights for the light.

https://twitter.com/laurenbakerart | https://www.facebook.com/lauren.baker.art | http://www.laurenbakerart.com/


INSA – High Heels And Low Lifes
Globally renowned artist INSA has painted his work across the world, carved in ice in the Arctic, painted on mud huts in Africa and recently completed one of the biggest paintings on the planet photographed from space.

For Arkham Knight Cape & Cowl INSA has transformed Batman with his trademark INSA graffiti fetish pattern.

https://twitter.com/insaland | http://www.insaland.com/blog/


Cyclops - Somewhere on the Spectrum
Cyclops is a London-based artist, working across a variety of media. Somewhere on the Spectrum uses the idea that the colour black contains all other colours and represents this by adorning the normally iconic black mask with an optimistic rainbow.

http://www.lucasprice.com/

Case - Till Death Do Us Part
Andreas von Chrzanowski aka CASE is a German graffiti artist and one of four members of the “Maclaim Crew”. Case is widely recognised as a pioneer in the art of spray-can photo-realistism.

The alliance between Batman and Bruce Wayne is life-long, they will be parted only by death.

https://twitter.com/case_maclaim | https://www.facebook.com/case.maclaim


Pam Glew - Black Flag
Pam Glew is a contemporary British artist, known for her unique bleaching technique on vintage fabrics and flags.

https://twitter.com/pamglew | https://www.facebook.com/pamglew | http://www.pamglew.co.uk/



CRASH - Fr...
Growing up in NYC during the 60’s and fascinated by the Subway system, Crash's style became a hybrid of Pop and the Graffiti style of the 70's. Crash’s aesthetic bridged the gap from the street to the gallery scene of the early 80's.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/47273175834/ | https://instagram.com/crashone/ | http://www.crashone.com/


Inkie - Tribal Knights
Bristol-bred, London-based graffiti king and inventor of Ink Nouveau paints his signature female forms and classic wildstyles in cities across the globe.

https://twitter.com/inkiegraffiti | https://instagram.com/inkiegraffiti/


Pure Evil - I'm Happy With Bad
A child of contemporary London and San Francisco, Pure Evil is also a child of his times. A painter based in London’s East End and famous for his ‘nightmare series’ of crying ladies.

https://twitter.com/pureevilgallery | https://www.facebook.com/pureevilgallery | http://pureevilgallery.virb.com/


Jon Burgerman - Yellow Bat Cape Club
Internationally acclaimed New York-based British Artist, Jon Burgerman, is known for his iconic compositions and ‘doodles’, spreading his message of creativity and fun across the globe.

https://twitter.com/jonburgerman | http://www.jonburgerman.com/


Kid Acne - Batwoman
Kid Acne is an artist, illustrator, print-maker and MC. His work can be seen around the world in murals and gallery shows from LA to Azerbaijan and his inimitable style of illustration has adorned products for some of the world's leading brands.

https://twitter.com/kid_acne | https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kid-Acne/388644020116 | http://www.kidacne.com/blog/
Batman: Arkham Knight will be available from 23rd June 2015 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC.


For more information about Batman: Arkham Knight
@WB_Games_UK
@BatmanArkham
#ArkhamKnight
www.batmanarkhamknight.com

Batman: Arkham Knight Cape & Cowl Exhibition
When:
Tuesday 23 June - Sunday 28 June 2015
11.00am – 9.00pm, Sun 11.00am – 5.00pm

Where:
Kachette, 347 Old Street, Shoreditch, London, EC1V 9LP


The Establishing Shot: BATMAN: ARKHAM KNIGHT CAPE & COWL EXHIBITION REVIEW – EXHIBITION VISIT