Friday, October 14th at 7:30 PM
LIVING IN DELUSIONVILLE
In Person: Legendary street artist Ron English, and
filmmaker Constant van Hoeven (Mr Kaleidoscope)
Members $15 | Public $20
Known as the Godfather of Street Art, Ron English has
emerged as one of the most influential and controversial artists of our time.
Taking direct inspiration from the legendary Andy Warhol, English merges
American iconography with art history to create social and political statements
about contemporary American society. From Ronald McDonald to Mickey Mouse, no
cultural icon is sacred. English plays by his own rules, creating dynamic art
across the world which demands dialog and provokes action. From humble
Midwestern beginnings, processing the commercial imagery of pop culture into a
darker, funnier universe he calls Delusionville, English has pranked and
pummeled his way into prominence, influencing generations of artists and laying
the groundwork for the explosion of Street Art. Constant van Hoeven’s
new documentary offers insight into the iconic and pioneering artist behind the
genesis of street art and the creator of the ‘Popaganda’ art form. Combining
archival footage, animation and interviews with participants who offer intimate
insight into the mercurial artist. The documentary takes the viewer through
English’s unique universe and the world he has created. Living in
Delusionville explores the impact of corporate messaging through
art and its necessary antidote: noncommercial thought-provoking public art.
Through the lens of Ron English, raised on consumerist iconography, whose
visual language became the twisted and truthful distillation of pop detritus,
the film offers an engaging roadmap to critical thinking, guided by the jolt
and delight of art in the street. Welcome to Delusionville. (US, 2022,
75 min. | Dir. Constant van Hoeven)
One of the most prolific and recognizable artists alive
today, New York-based painter, street artist and designer Ron English has
bombed the global landscape with unforgettable images across all categories of
culture, history and art. As a fine art painter enjoying gallery and museum
representation worldwide, Mr. English is well-known for his stunning oil
technique and inventive use of color. Widely considered the Godfather of Street
Art, he has created murals and billboards across the globe that blend dazzling
visuals with biting political, consumerist and surrealist statements. Mr.
English has also been on the vanguard of the booming vinyl art figure movement,
releasing hundreds of unique and highly coveted collectibles that continue to
fetch healthy aftermarket prices. Publications featuring Mr. English
include The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA
Today, Miami Herald, Washington Post, Los
Angeles Times, LA Weekly, Art News, Time
Magazine, Rolling Stone, Creem, Juxtapoz
Magazine, Hi Fructose, Mad Magazine and many
others. His motion picture/television appearances include Exit through
the Gift Shop, Supersize Me, The Simpsons, Work
of Art, Street Art Throwdown, CNN, BBC, Sky
TV, and many others.
Constant van Hoeven (Mr Kaleidoscope) was born
in a small village in the Netherlands. His father took him to the movies every
week when growing up. He was mesmerized by the blockbusters of the eighties in
which Spielberg and Lucas had created worlds that would swoop you off your feet
and take you for a ride into worlds beyond imagination. As a teenager the
independent cinema took a foothold and Constant started experimenting with
cameras. Even though Danish avant-garde filmmaking became a trend, Constant
believed in the power of imagination and rebelled against the rebellion.
After traveling and exploring the world, he made his first short film, a
science fiction film called WHITE. A rendition of Lucas’ THX 1138, in which the
population all dress in white, live in a white city and are oppressed by a
white police state. With a budget of $250 he got together 50 extras all dressed
in white coveralls donated by a local business and shot on tapes donated by the
local electronics store. This short got him accepted into the Netherlands Film
Academy. At this prestigious film school, he gained the reputation of making
more with less, an attitude he learned to embrace. Constant’s films have been
screened and won awards at film festivals around the world. For more of Mr
Kaleidoscope’s work visit www.mrkaleidoscope.com.
