Work in progress on Rivington Street, Shoreditch, opposite the massive 'SCARY' mural by Eine
Brian Adam Douglas, a.k.a. Elbow-Toe (interviewed) was in London a couple of weeks ago for his Due Date solo exhibition (covered), currently on at Black Rat Projects. While in town, he made sure to put up a few street pieces. AM caught up with the artist as he installed a black-and-white version of his linocut print Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? on Rivington Street in Shoreditch — opposite the landmark SCARY mural by Eine. We were able to witness the joys of trying to put up a large and rather intricate paster in windy conditions. Luckily, the team at Black Rat was nearby to provide a helping hand.
Other recent outdoor work by Elbow-Toe was done especially around the Broadway Market area — including white Oilbar drawings and aphorisms, and two copy-enlarged, hand-coloured collage works: This Too Shall Pass and Move It On Over. AM had previously spotted the latter, featuring a vicious-looking dog on an unheld leash, while it was being painted. Regrettably, it was destroyed not long after Elbow-Toe completed and pasted it at the entrance of the long-disused Queen Elizabeth Hospital for Children on Hackney Road. Someone clearly had an issue with the piece or its placement, or they were simply having a bad day. The beauty of street art lies partly in its ephemerality, but we’ll try to be faster with our camera next time.
More photos and text after the jump.
Applying the initial coat of wheatpaste
During our chat, Elbow-Toe mentioned the sting and general discomfort of getting wheatpaste splashed into his eye while out working one day. Although a sympathetic facial expression may have been appropriate here, AM’s auto-response was to just laugh. We suspect a not-insignificant proportion of the world’s sexually active female population will at some stage have experienced a similar predicament, so there may not be too much empathy coming Elbow-Toe’s way.
Mike (left) and Rupert (hidden) from Black Rat Projects assisting Elbow-Toe
"It's easier to play if you place the Twister mat on the ground."
Last few touches to 'Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?'
'This Too Shall Pass' on the Regent's Canal towpath by Broadway Market
Work in progress for the paster 'Move It On Over'
Nothing lasts forever - another lesson in the fleeting nature of street art
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- Work in progress on Rivington Street, Shoreditch, opposite the massive ‘SCARY’ mural by Eine
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- Elbow-Toe applying the initial coat of wheatpaste
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- Mike (left) and Rupert (hidden) from Black Rat Projects assisting Elbow-Toe
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- Rupert from Black Rat Projects with Elbow-Toe
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- “It’s easier to play if you place the Twister mat on the ground.”
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- Goop
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- More goop
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- Last few touches to ‘Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?’
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- ‘Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?’ – the following evening
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- ‘This Too Shall Pass’ on the Regent’s Canal towpath by Broadway Market
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- Work in progress for the paster ‘Move It On Over’
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- ‘Move It On Over’ (detail)
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- Nothing lasts forever – another lesson in the fleeting nature of street art
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- The Queen Elizabeth Hospital for Children (disused), Hackney Road
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- The Queen Elizabeth Hospital for Children (disused)
Text and photographs by Patrick Nguyen.
