On Friday 13th of November at Blender Studio there was 32K, a one night only exhibition of David Russell’s photography.
Russell’s first exhibition took his photography beyond simply documenting street art and graffiti to making his own art. Adopting the attitude of graffiti writers to the urban environment; the trains, getting up high and exploring the urban environment. Only Russell is using a camera rather than a spray can and painting with light and darkness. The photographs have the same chromatic intensity of aerosol paint. Not all of photographs had graffiti in it, three photographs at Flinders Street Station did not have even a sticker or tag in them but still had that attitude.
The exhibition brought out many people notable in Melbourne’s street art scene to support Russell. One wall of Blender Studio was covered with a wallpaper print produced by GT Sewell’s new business. Dean Sunshine supplied Mexican beers for the event. For although this was Russell’s first photography exhibition he is already highly respected in the scene.
Years ago when Facter first mentioned David Russell he said something like: “He looks like a cop; he isn’t, I’ve checked him out.” Graffiti writers and street artists have every reason to be suspicious of this short haired man with a big camera who was always hanging around watching them paint. Was he an undercover cop gathering evidence?
There are many photographer capturing the Melbourne’s street art and graffiti scene. I’ve done a bit of that myself and this is how it started for David Russell. However Russell was not just another photographer snapping shots of Melbourne’s walls. He was devoted to it, he was always there with his camera for as long as necessary. He was there for days in 2014 photographing Adnate paint his mural in Hosier Lane. This dedication led to Russell doing a long running series of monthly posting on Invurt blog; Through the Lens. His knowledge of the artists and scene lead to him to become more involved with various projects and doing street art tours.
November 14th, 2015 at 11:52 AM
Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
SAD….BUT BEAUTUFUL!
November 14th, 2015 at 11:53 AM
Nothing sad about it.
November 14th, 2015 at 11:55 AM
Only where it is….not in a gallery!
November 14th, 2015 at 11:58 AM
That is all part of the street art/graffiti attitude, not in a gallery.
November 14th, 2015 at 12:08 PM
Defacing other people’s property? But then…who cares about that? :(
November 15th, 2015 at 2:03 PM
Are you sure you are following the right blog? Street art and graffiti followers see the work as enriching the suburban landscape.
May 29th, 2019 at 12:24 PM
[…] Tsialos is credited as the principle photographer but there are others including David Russell (see my post on his street art photography that brings the streetscape into […]