New Exhibition: Banksy

**THE WORLD'S MOST CONTROVERSIAL STREET AND STENCIL ARTIST

**

Vernissage: 6:30pm - 8:30pm, 29 April 2008

Exhibition: 30 April - 13 May 2008

Venue: Main Gallery 21-31 Old Bailey Street, Central, Hong Kong

Schoeni Art Gallery is immensely thrilled to present our gallery's first urban art exhibition in association with Fabrik Contemporary Art and the Helium Foundation, UK. Banksy is undoubtedly the world's most famous street and stencil artist of our time and a pre-eminent figure whose' works encompass the culture of the generation we live in.

Often being compared with Andy Warhol and regarded as 'the new Damien Hirst', Banksy is evidently a happening representative of today's cutting-edge art scene. He epitomizes an art that is honest, real and conveniently accessible. Banksy's works can be seen globally from the streets of London to the Segregation Wall in Palestine and he has shaken the art world with his revolutionary guerrilla art of using stenciled spray paint to convey mocking messages of peace, justice and freedom.

At the Red charity auction in February 2008, organized by Bono, Damien Hirst and Sotheby's to help fight Aids in Africa, Banksy's "Keep it Spotless" was sold for 1,870,000USD setting an auction record for the artist. The remarkable piece consists of a joint collaboration between Banksy and Damien Hirst, in which the stencil artist defaced one of Hirst's famous spot paintings.

The exhibition will be a continuation of the show, which will take place at the Hong Kong Arts Centre from 23-28 April, highlighting Banksy's rare and previously unseen in Hong Kong originals. The showing at Schoeni Art Gallery will then be enhanced by additional unique examples of his work, such as his famous policemen with iconic smiley faces of the acid house music, rats with drills, monkeys carrying written messages and weapons of mass destruction. In this ground breaking event, Schoeni Art Gallery wishes to nurture a sensational and effervescent opportunity to experience an unorthodox art form that is created under time and space.

• Nicole Schoeni

All artworks exhibited at the exhibition are secondary market originals and prints.

For interview arrangements or further information please contact Daniela Cavero.

Exhibition venue:

Main Gallery, 21 - 31 Old Bailey Street, Central, Hong Kong

Opening Date:

6:30 pm - 8:30 pm, 29 April 2008

Exhibition runs:

30 April - 13 May 2008

Private viewing:

(by appointment only)

14 May - 21 May 2008

Contact Details:

Tel: +852 2869-8802     Fax: +852 2522-1528

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