Top Brighton graffiti artists Aroe, Gary and Rebus painted the hoardings by the i360 construction site on Brighton Beach watched by a crowd of interested passers by and graffiti fans.
Brighton is a city famous for its love of graffiti and is home to some iconic works. Local legend Aroe, the artist has brought his unique style to the i360 hoardings, is famous for his large-scale, visually complex wall paintings.
He is the man responsible for Kensington Street’s rebirth as an internationally renowned site for graffiti, but while his reputation takes him around the world, he remains deeply rooted in the Brighton community.
He said: “There’s always been a progressive and productive scene here. Brighton is now known as a place for pushing and inventing new stuff. Any success I have I would credit to this city.”
Graffiti moves fast and doesn’t stay long before something new and exciting is painted over it. Where street artists often use stencils or projections, Aroe stresses that graffiti is free hand and a very different art form.
He and Gary have most recently been busy at Circus Street Market, where Aroe painted the huge and mysterious statement ‘Many Shall Know’ across the old municipal market building, which is to be redeveloped into an exciting new part of the city.
Another familiar name for those in the know is Aroe’s crewmate and frequent collaborator, Gary. The abnormally normally-named artist makes the most of his moniker. Traditional graffiti focuses on the ‘piece’, a highly textural, large scale rendering of the artist’s name. In fact, the design often becomes so intricate as to be indecipherable to those outside the culture. Gary is a master of the ‘piece’; his work absorbs and adapts a wide range of techniques, from Abstract, to Sharp, to Wildstyle.
At the i360 he has brought back the Domesday Book name for Brighton, Bristelmstune, painting it large on the sea facing hoardings, bringing the heritage of the past together with the heritage of the future.
Later this year, Aroe will be bringing top European graffiti artists to extend the work along the beach hoardings at the i360 site.
Eleanor Harris, CEO of Brighton i360 Ltd, said, “We wanted our hoardings to encapsulate the creativity and diversity of Brighton.”
Hoardings around the site include information about the i360 and have spyholes so that people can enjoy watching the construction under way.
Media enquiries: Paula Seager, Natural PR on Tel: 01273 857242 or Email: paula@naturalpr.biz
About Brighton i360
At 162 metres high, and with an observation pod rising to 138 metres, the i360 will be the tallest observation tower outside London, offering a new perspective on the fun loving seaside city of Brighton. Sited at the root end of the historic West Pier on Brighton’s seafront, the i360 has a slender, elegant design, with a futuristic pod allowing 200 visitors at a time to enjoy the surrounding view as it slowly unfolds. The visitor centre incorporates a 400 seat restaurant; a shop; exhibition space; and conference and event facilities.
Twitter: @TheBrightoni360
Facebook: Brighton-i360
Pinterest: Brightoni360
Blog: Brightoni360.wordpress.com
www.brightoni360.co.uk
About Marks Barfield Architects Founded in 1989 by Julia Barfield and David Marks, Marks Barfield Architects is the award winning team behind the creation of the London Eye. The practice received the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in April 2003 in recognition of the outstanding innovation in design of the London Eye. Marks Barfield’s approach is based on delivering excellence and creating gentle landmarks.
www.marksbarfield.com
@marksbarfield
