Weds 30th Nov: Shucks One "Foundation Rocks"

Tonight is the unveiling of the new show at Dalston Superstore by Shucks One so I popped in earlier today to have a little sneak peek whilst curator Saskia Wickens was adding the finishing touches. The first thing that hit me was the new wallpaper that has gone up to replace Anna Bruder's previous white and black cartoon interior........ see here in the last photo - the spectrum print by Jonas Ranson. This is the perfect patterned back-drop for the new pieces to take over the walls which comprise of brightly painted panels of reclaimed wood, skateboards and denim jackets. Shucks One Is an artist, Radio DJ, youth worker and journalist specialising in hip-hop music and culture. With this exhibition "Foundation Rocks" he is investigating important figures in classic UK and US Hip-hop culture by exploring its wider implications on modern culture. The accumulation of works are a visual interpretation of interviews Shucks One conducted with hip hop pioneers of the 1980s, whose music influenced a whole generation of young men and women in the UK. Themes addresses issues of history, identity, religion and cultural heritage................

“The term ‘old school’ is often banded around without any real understanding of the underlying themes. With this series of works I intend to explore messages and concepts, not just from hip-hop, but human history as well. It is part history lesson, part hip hop project.”

Through this fun fine art version of graffiti, Shucks One has developed a way of expressing and contextualising the history of modern day street music and art. Using found objects for canvasses, Shucks One creates a sketchbook and almost mix tape way of exhibiting work layering bold colours and pattern reminiscent of tribal fabric prints and ancient symbols. "Foundation Rocks" plays on the original hip hop mantras of ‘peace, love, and unity; knowledge, wisdom and understanding’, to oppose the dominant lyrics of violence, negativity and corporatism in hip-hop today. The project is the artists’ search to rediscover the foundation principles by retracing the history of UK hip hop music and the individuals responsible.

You can check out all of these works from tomorrow and treat yourself to some of the fine food from the kitchen........... or just trip-out staring at the wallpaper like its a MAC spinning spectrum wheel of doom as I did .............