Dotmasters – Rude Kids
A whimsical tribute to naughty children everywhere populate this underpass linking Rogaland Theatre to the city centre.
Rude Kids: Undergang (1905-07/1905-07) by DotmastersNuart
Dotmasters’ “Rude Kids” series celebrates young rebels everywhere, perhaps suggesting that their contrarian attitudes may be exactly what's needed to create positive change in the world.
The artist found inspiration from the children in his own and friends immediate family, suspecting that a few may well grow up to be "Rude Kids". Most of the characters depicted are children under the age of 12.
Rude Kids: Undergang (1905-07/1905-07) by DotmastersNuart
Mona gets a makeover.
The series captures the subjects pulling various inappropriate stunts – from flipping the bird to painting on walls. Their environment has been rendered using the artist's trademark stencil style, mixing colourful domestic backgrounds with detailed monotone stencils.
Rude Kids: Undergang (1905-07/1905-07) by DotmastersNuart
The wall also incorporates Dotmasters' take on other artworks, including a defaced Mona Lisa in an ornate golden frame, using his traditional halftone dot style.
Rude Kids: Undergang (1905-07/1905-07) by DotmastersNuart
Rude Kids: Undergang (1905-07/1905-07) by DotmastersNuart
Rude Kids: Undergang (1905-07/1905-07) by DotmastersNuart
A roaring fireplace and stencilled magenta and cyan wallpaper serve as a contrast to the unruly kids.
Rude Kids: Undergang (1905-07/1905-07) by DotmastersNuart
Rude Kids: Undergang (1905-07/1905-07) by DotmastersNuart
The work gains a lot of participation from passers-by
Rude Kids: Undergang (1905-07/1905-07) by DotmastersNuart
Rude Kids: Undergang (1905-07/1905-07) by DotmastersNuart
For the Stavanger project, the artist included several empty signs in the work, allowing the audience to contribute messages for the children's placards.
Rude Kids: Undergang (1905-07/1905-07) by DotmastersNuart
Anonymous members of the public and other local street artists soon filled these in.
Rude Kids: Undergang (1905-07/1905-07) by DotmastersNuart
Rude Kids: Undergang (1905-07/1905-07) by DotmastersNuart
Versions of the "Rude Kids" project can be seen on walls in Paris, London, Liverpool, Aberdeen and New Zealand. While varying in scope and scale, a constant is the stencilled children seemingly caught in the act of doing something naughty.
Rude Kids: Undergang (1905-07/1905-07) by DotmastersNuart
Nuart partnered with Statens Vegvesen (The Norwegian Public Roads Administration) to create the work on an underpass that leads to the city's theatre.
Biography
The Dotmaster started painting on the streets of Brighton in the early 1990s. Born and raised in London, his artistic practice is the offspring of C6.org, a new-media based collective of art-pranksters.
The artist often creates street-based illusions that attempt to fool the viewer's eye, usually combined with a typically English sense of humour. His detailed stencil work regularly speaks about consumer and media culture. The artist appeared in the Banksy directed and Academy Award-nominated documentary "Exit Through the Gift Shop".
Dotmasters has been involved with the development of the Nuart Festival in Norway, from acting as a producer to co-curator and participating artist. He's considered part of the Nuart Family.
Design and project management: Studio Bergini
Photography: Brian Tallman
Supported by: Stavanger Kommune, Rogaland Fylkeskommune
Curated by Martyn Reed for Nuart
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