Going Nowhere Fast – D*Face

Well the beast from the east is still trying its best to cause havoc in the UK, and while my immediate area is not horrendously affected (there is basically dandruff style snow falling and doing not a lot), some areas around my county are heavily impacted.  I can’t turn on the local news or listen to the radio without hearing that someone is stuck in a snow drift or local buses have been cancelled due to adverse weather conditions.  I know its a tenuous link to “Going Nowhere Fast”, but its there…

I am a massive fan of street art.  In fact alongside artworks about myths and legends, it is probably one of my favourite genres.  It’s versatile and edgy, and an ever changing landscape within the art world.  It brings art to the masses who see art as something that is stuck in galleries, and above all else it brings colour to urban areas which could essentially be all concrete.

D*Face is a prolific member of the street art community, with pieces dotted around all over the place.  He has been producing pieces over the last 15 years or so, and is one that I watch out for avidly.  His style is comic, pop art, mixed with a bit of lowbrow and a sardonic humour.

It’s hard to become a well known street artist.  It is a fiercely competitive arena where the struggle for walls to paint and keep hold of is one of the issues.  Only the well known get their works commissioned and preserved.  Many start in the same way now, making stickers of motifs, and applying them to sign posts, exchanges and pretty much anywhere they will be seen.  Stickers then evolved to posters and so on until the artist becomes recognised.  This is the route that D*Face took.

D*face has a few motifs, the winged bomb for example.

You can see the wings in many pieces of D*Face’s work, such as “Going Nowhere Fast”, where the blonde bombshell has the wings at her temple (yes I know I called her a bombshell!).

For me, D*Face’s art, such as this piece, hommages Roy Lichtenstein’s work, but gives a social commentary on what is around him.  The stylised pair look as if they are travelling at speed, yet stuck for an eternity in this motionless pose.  He is zombiesque, while she retains her Femme Fatale composure.

D*Face’s popularity is probably attributed to his ability to keep his work fresh and designs different enough not to become samey.  He has several styles which he applies, appealing to different audiences around the world.

His colour work is simple and vibrant, drawing your eye to his designs, sometimes using iconic people which he elaborates in to this own style.

There is often an element of decay or death in the designs, bringing to mind our own mortality, but this is in no way morbid.  To me, D*Face’s work seems to be saying have fun while you can, life isn’t that serious, so sit back and enjoy the ride.

What you do you think of D*Face’s work?  Why not tell me in the comments?  Like this post?  Why not share it?