Chapter 3.
Hell’O Monsters
18 April – 17 May 2008
Opening: 18 April 6pm – 9pm
think.21 Contemporary Gallery
Rue du mail, 21
1050 Brussels
Belgium
T. 32 477 369 316
http://www.think21gallery.com
For its third chapter think.21 gallery is pleased to present works by the collective Hell’O Monsters.
Before exhibiting in galleries and museum spaces, the collective Hell’O Monsters (BOZAR) was leaving its traces on the urban landscape. Although their work is affiliated to graffiti culture the Hell’O Monsters have nevertheless transformed this urban visual vocabulary by drawing inspiration from illustration graphics and comics. For the exhibition at think.21 the Hell’O Monsters, have created new work that spreads over the
gallery space.
Hell’O Monsters is a Belgian collective formed by Blastus (Jérôme Meynen), Desro (François Dieltiens), Ewing 33 (Grégory Van Cleemput) and Tatone (Antoine Detaille). While studying art in Belgium the members of Hell’O Monsters adopted the vocabulary of graffiti : pseudonyms, the use of the wall and an emphasis on individual and spontaneous style. Collaborating for more than a year, the four artists successfully blend their individual styles to create an imaginary universe occupied by hybrid characters such as monsters with multiple eyes, mutated animals, humans with their heads split open. These figures manage to grab our attention and gain our affection despite their revolting appearance. In addition to the ink drawings and the paintings, the Hell’O Monsters universe breaks away from the wall and these miniature extra-ordinary beings suddenly occupy the exhibition space. The group’s creations, despite their colorful and happy look, are in fact caustic commentaries on the adult world, human nature and society.
Hell’O Monsters exhibited at the Palais des Beaux-Arts, the I.S.E.L.P., Extrabold gallery in Luxembourg, Montana gallery in Brussels and the Louis Adelantado Gallery in Alicante.