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Outsider art comes in from the cold

Levi Hawken with some of the work featured in his debut solo exhibition "Wilful Damage", which...
Levi Hawken with some of the work featured in his debut solo exhibition "Wilful Damage", which opened last night in Dunedin. Photo by Peter McIntosh.
Hawken's street art at the Thomas Burns St skate park, Dunedin. Photo supplied.
Hawken's street art at the Thomas Burns St skate park, Dunedin. Photo supplied.
Hawken in skateboard action. Photo by Craig Baxter.
Hawken in skateboard action. Photo by Craig Baxter.

After 18 years of doing graffiti, Levi Hawken's work is set to move from walls on the street to walls inside.

His debut solo exhibition, "Wilful Damage", opened in Dunedin last night and is a progression from graffiti to a more refined art form.

The former professional skater, well known for hill bombing, grew up in Auckland and started art at school.

"I did not do that well with my mark in art, and I was inspired by graffiti, so I decided to get completely submerged in it," he said.

Years of tagging followed, largely in his preferred "wildstyle" of lettering, shapes and forms.

"A lot of people do graffiti. The attraction is that it's against the law. If you were allowed to do it, they would not be as attracted to it."

However, his movement away from it "seemed natural".

"I'm just not into it.

"I don't feel it is necessary.

"People know who I am and I don't feel the need to write my name on a wall any more [and] I got sick of using spray paint; it's really bad for you."

The six pieces in the exhibition took Mr Hawken a year and a-half to paint, because some had as many as 10 layers of paint applied and he could only work on them between other projects.

He described them as "positive" and "uplifting" and said they drew on Dunedin's gothic and masonic architecture.

One in particular was "like a monument to all the pieces I've lost to the buff"of graffiti removal, he said.

Titled Censorship, it was a partner to a work called Church because it was the same design, only covered completely in grey paint.

"My art has always been free. It is the first time it's ever been for sale.

"A wall in someone's house is just as good as a wall out in the public. People still view it and enjoy it," he said.

Mr Hawken was in discussions with the Dunedin City Council about working under an initiative for art in public places.

The exhibition at None Gallery runs until August 22.

- ellie.constantine@odt.co.nz

 

 

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