Get inspired by Plakatstil posters style with its bold, simple but very powerful works of Brnhard, Hohlwein, Erdt and Gipkens.

The Plakatstil or “Poster Style” movement emerged in Germany between 1900 and 1930. The main characteristic of this style are strong central image, bold lines of the font, often in hand-drawn block letters, with very simple design and emphasis on flat colours and shapes. Plakatstil moved away from complex decorative style of the Art Nouveau and set new standards for modern commercial posters.

Faile is one of the icon of the contemporary street art along with artist such as Bast, WK, Shepard Fairey, Banksy and many others. New York based creative collective formed in 1999 by Patrick McNeil, Patrick Miller and Aiko Nakagawa (left collective in 2006).

I really admire their style of ripped, repeated and overlay images from pop culture, comic books, old advertising and typography utilizing painting stenciling, silk screen and collage in very unique way.

Possibly the first Faile’s work I have seen was about two years ago on facade of Tate Modern during Street Art exhibition. To be honest I  didn’t pay very close attention to street art scene, but the their exhibitions was just mind blowing. Somehow there is something in their work I found very interesting and exciting almost moving.

(12th of February – 19th of March)

11 Rathbone Place, London W1T 1HR
Open: Tuesday – Saturday 11am – 7pm
Admittance: Free

Get acquainted with Faile by Michael Mann, Ion Magazine / 2009
Faile Interview by Manuel Bello, Fecal Face / 2007
Faile by Shepard Fairey &, Anne Keehn, Swindle
Faile, Shift / 2004

Articles:
Lazarides Faile Biography, Lazarides /2010
Openings: “A Decade of Faile” @ Lazarides Gallery, Arrested Motion /2010
Close-Up: Faile “Prayer Wheels” and “Circular Palettes”, Arrested Motion / 2008
Studio Visit: Faile, Fecal Face, 2008
Faile – Lost in Glimmering Shadows – Preview Night, Guuilotine – Glltn /2008
Faile, Wikipedia

March 2010
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If you wold like to see more, please go to Calendar 2008 , 2009 or 2010. Please feel free to leave your comments.

The modern poster dates back to 1870s when invention of colour lithography allowed artist to achieve vibrant colours and cheap mass production. By the 1890s in France (“Belle Epoque”) a number of artists created poster art in this period, foremost amongst them Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and Jules Chéret (“The Father of the Poster”).

The poster art has been recognized as an art form and attracted many well known artists. Commercial success of the poster art led to a major exhibition in Paris in 1884; Great Britain and Italy in 1894, Germany in 1896 and Russia in 1897. The most significant exhibition of that time was held in Reims, France in 1896 (1690 posters).

In the 1890s poster art became important part of Art Nouveau style characterized by flowing, organic lines, elegant grace, and a richly complex symbolism. Alphonse Mucha and Eugène Grasset were the most influential poster designers of this generation.

The Art Poster spreads through Europe and the United States. Each countries developed their distinctive national style. In France the cult of the café; in Italy the opera and fashion; in Spain the bullfight and festivals; in Germany trade fairs and magazines; in Britain and America literary journals and the circus.

February 2010
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If you wold like to see more, please go to Calendar 2008 ,or 2009 or 2010. Please feel free to leave your comments.