Combat Calligraphy

Zap Graffiti and Cleaver
Contemporary Urban Centre
1/12/2010 - 9/1/2011

Reviewed by Sebastian Gahan

"Is it art...?"

The universal question and art world equivalent of the philosophers staple "why are we here?" is forever being aimed at the ever growing street art and urban creative scene. In the Capital, many writers have high profile shows to a justifiably rapturous reception, but down here in t'North the popularity bug has seemingly yet to bite enough people and the excellent show at the Contemporary Urban Centre on Greenland Street put together by Zap Graffiti and Cleaver has seen comparatively few patters of booted feet.

Disappointingly so, as the street art fan in the know will be aware of many big name artists with work on show here. However, street art fan or not, this is a show well worth a visit before - like it's subject occasions - being removed from the walls it resides on forever. (The work is not actually sprayed directly on the gallery's walls, but that would have been a brilliant addition!) There are many pieces on offer in many formats not conventional to the street art format, such as framed photography of writers at work and their pieces in their natural setting, work on canvas and posters of some artists work and quotes from the groundbreaking street art movie Style Wars.

There are also of course some tantalizing outtakes from writers Black Books, some wild style pieces in various formats and other pieces such as a painted miniature train that would look perfect on your urban wall. Other fascinating pieces include the calling cards - New York subway maps that is - of the pioneering writers of New York in the Seventies and Eighties with their King status clearly marked. (King meaning that they have written in almost every area of the City. No easy task as you may imagine!) There is of course much more to see, but I don't want to spoil it for you!

Perhaps Liverpool is not quite ready for an exhibition of this nature, or even the location and timing of the show meant less footfall, but this show deserves a few more visitors before it closes. With work from STOOPS of Australia, KREK of Manchester, LSK of Faithless, ESPO of Brussels and so much more, come on down to Greenland Street and catch Combat Calligraphy.

Is it art? Come and make up your own mind at Combat Calligraphy.

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