Portsmouth Wall Helps Southampton Artists
Monday 26th of July 2010
While shooting an avant-garde rock video, a south-coast production company that mixes art with business has unearthed an ironicdifference between Southampton and Portsmouth.
Southampton based Still Moving has recently started employing paintersand artists to create images and navigation for company web sites.
"It is very important for us to be ethical in our approach to businessand using an illustrator not only gives websites a unique look andfeel but also helps support an artist," explained Still Moving's co-founder Martin Davis. "Following the reaction of our clients we're convinced the paintbrush is mightier than the mouse."
Their latest collaboration is an entry to a competition to make the video for 'Fires' the next single by Southampton rock group Band of Skulls: the most recent south-coast act to gain major recognition in Europe and America."
"This challenge is an ideal way of introducing art into the 'Moving'aspect of our plan," confirmed the other half of Still Moving, IsabelAmber Ewen "and although there are many great streetartists in Southampton, once we saw Nova's skull designs we knew whowe wanted."
Southampton street artist Nova uses stencils to spray multi-layered images on walls. Recently he was invited by thePortsmouth art collective P.A.M to add his creations to the alley-ways around Fratton Park.
"They have a much freer attitude towards street art in Portsmouth and they've opened up many walls," he said "but the artists have to responsible and professional or this opportunity will disappear."
The designs around the stadium have become so respected that Portsmouth football club is planning to invite P.A.M to create murals inside the ground.
With every creative aspect of this production based in and around Southampton the irony of shooting in Portsmouth is not lost on the video's co-director Xan Phillips. "Although Southampton is famous forit's walls, the city's street artists have no where so public to express themselves.Everyone who walked past Nova told him how good the art he and P.A.M have created. It definitely inspires rather than repels."
Although the 'Band of Skulls' video competition has a £3000 cash prizeand global exposure Isabel, who shot and edited the whole promo, is ambivalent about winning: "Every element of the project slotted into place so well that we're already delighted with our achievement. Thewin would be very helpful but this video is already a great demonstration of how local art can work as a promotional device."
You can watch the video here. Closing date for public voting on the video is 11.59pm GMT, July 21 and the winner will be announced, July 26, 2010