DOWN TOWN PRODUCTION
An Exhibition of Chinese Urban Art
Curated by Yan Lei
23rd September – 21st November 2008
Top Chinese punk band Brain Failure playing at ICA on 17th October
2008, supported by Stanley Kubrick Goes Shopping. Down Town Production curator Yan Lei has been collaborating with seminal
Chinese punk band Brain Failure for many years, making paintings of them
and inviting them to participate in exhibitions. The aim is to introduce
another dimension to the traditional visual art exhibition and to open
up possibilities for creativity and interpretation.
Brain Failure is one of the leading punk bands in China. Founded by high
school dropout, Xiao Rong, in 1997, Brain Failure's members are the
first generation of Chinese musicians since the 1949 Communist
Revolution to grow-up in relative political stability, economic
prosperity and exposure to western popular culture. Brain Failure brings
a power and a passion to the stage that reflects the years of playing
underground gigs in Beijing. Lead singer Xiao Rong is relentless and
tireless, a man possessed.
Brain Failure is influenced by bands like The Clash, Ramones, Rancid, Op
Ivy and Green Day. Their lyrics tend to deal with the social problems
and attitudes of present day China, rather than the political issues. An
almost complete lack of media interest and a general aversion to rock
music in China hampered their progress at home, but they have found a
warmer reception in the outside world. Their US tour in 2003 led to the
release of the 2004 album American Dreamer, a reference perhaps to the
fulfilment of a long-awaited dream for recognition in the music world.
Further acceptance came in the form of a casting for a European Levi's
Commercial and coverage across US printed press, with appearances on
MTVU and MTV Chi, MTV's new Asian American channel.
Their latest EP Beijing Calling features Public Enemy's Chuck D.
Stanley Kubrick Goes Shopping:
Supporting Brain Failure is a group who, in stark contast to Brain
Failure, are steeped in the history of British rock 'n' roll. Recently
formed, Stanley Kubrick Goes Shopping comprises legendary photographer
Dennis Morris (best known for his seminal images of Bob Marley and the
Sex Pistols during the 1970's); producer, Youth (ex-Killing Joke) and
Phillipe (ex-Telephon). Yan Lei invited the band to be part of Down
Town Production as a result of collaborative work with Dennis Morris -
Lei is working with elements of Morris' iconic Sex Pistol imagery -
while Youth has been working with Red Mansion artist Cang Xin on the
latter's Exchanged Identity series.
ADDITIONAL EVENT: LASER TAGGING
There will be a laser-tagging event attached to the gig brought to us by
Chinese rapper and graffiti artist, MC Yan, one of the Down Town
Production artists. Laser tagging has been developed in the last 2 years
and it is the latest trend in graffiti writing. MC Yan will be bringing
to London a major interactive laser tagging event at a London landmark.
MC Yan has also collaborated with Brain Failure on a track that will be
released in China in October of this year.
Check out some laser tagging at:
graffiti research lab
To view images of the LASER tagging event at TATE Modern on
September 27th, please CLICK HERE
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Brain Failure
Stanley Kubrick Goes Shopping
MC Yan laser tagging in Hong Kong
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