Ricky Swallow is a an Australian born and educated modern artist. His work consists mainly of sculpture and watercolour based paintings with a twist! His art is kind of like a dark, sordid twist on reality, taking modern concepts/ products and re-hashing them in a way that will either make you turn away without hesitation or stop and stare for ages.

My first introduction to him was when I picked up his published work in the form a of coffee table book called “Field Recordings” at a book sale a couple of years ago. I was initially drawn to the cover: a skull sculpture resting on its side, staring blankly at you through hollow eyes, dressed in an Adidas hood. I don’t know why but it gripped me, the detail was so intricate and vivid, that it kind of gave me chills… kind of modern morbidity.

Not everything that comes from Swallow’s is dark and sordid, his twist on modernity can be quite comical and commentary to the world at large; for instance his Darth Vader portrait, or the first apple Mac’s being made a human skull embedded with the Apple logo.

Whatever his reason for his work, detail is undeniable. Everything he does is done with such immaculate intricacy that even if you don’t like the work, you are still left impressed.

**Ricky Swallow now lives and works in Los Angeles, and has produced over 9 published works and had numerous gallery showings.

For more Swallows click here

Probably the most famous modern artist of this generation is Banksy. Known globally for his amazing street art that always seem to challenge some previously presented image in juxtaposition, Banksy known for challenging the role of the corporation in our lives, has come the closest he has ever been to revealing his identity in his first film “Exit Though The Gift Shop”, which documents the modern artist and his trade, is set to debut at the Berlin Film Festival this week.

Narrated by Rhys Ifans, with a musical score with some of Roni Size‘s input, Banksy sets out to document the short-lived lifespan of a modern artists work:

“Most normal art is built to last hundreds of years, it’s cast in bronze or it’s oil on canvas, but street art has a short lifespan, so it needed documenting… you know.” Banksy

Check out the Banksyfilm.com for more info

Local Cape Town based artist BAKAbeans recently caught my attention in a big way! His pieces seem like a combination of Seth McFarlane and Salvador Dali, with such complex and intricate attention to detail he produces kind of twisted, motion driven compositions where insane character sketches meets a world of warped graffiti.

What struck me about his work is just the pure intensity of each piece: Each work is so full and epic that it takes you a while to fully grasp how much time has actually gone into its creation; as your eyes adjust to the imagery you start to realize the absolute complexity of it all.

In my opinion BAKAbeans is the epitomy of the modern artist, using non-conformist methods to express the inner man whilst slamming work in the corner of peoples eye in a Banksy-esque manner.

I caught up with the man himself and ask him a few questions about his life, his art, and his geyser!

1.           So when I came to your house yesterday, I understand it had been a bit of an epic morning for you?  What happened?

Geyser fucked out and flooded the place. Super awesome.

2 .        When you started creating art, what was you goal? Where you in a graffiti based mind-set, or where you looking towards a more classical approach? i.e. did you always start with the intention of being a “modern” artist (if that’s how you see yourself)?

I’ve been drawing since i remember. I’ve had plenty influences on the way. it was less of me wanting to be an artist and more of me just doing what i needed to do. I get quite irratable if I don’t create things!

3.         Who are your heroes? Past and present… the guys you look up to?

Plenty plenty. I would consider anyone I’m influenced by in a positive way a hero. SIngeling out a few just wouldn’t do everyone else justice!

4.         How do you rate SA artists of your kind of origin on a global scale?

SA’s Got Talent

5.         Where do you, ideally, want to be in 5 years?

uh, 5 years older and still creating things!

6.         If you could do a commissioned piece for anyone in the world (artist or otherwise) who would it be? Why?

Wow hectic question. I’d rather do a work for anyone who values what i do, rather than seeking approval.

7.         What would you create for them?

Extraterrestrial Puke Art

8.         Take us through the process of your “creations”? Do you have a goal, or objective when you start sketching or do you kind of start and end up where you end up?

At the moment a lot of it kind of creates itself. Otherwise I’ll sketch it up and formulate a concept.

9.         The office, the mighty boosh or not the nine-o-clock news

The mighty boosh and The Office (UK version preferably)

10.       Did you vote in the SA elections?

Next time…

**BAKAbeans is going to be doing a PIECE for dont party and it is going to be GIVEN AWAY at the DONT PARTY in “the little shop of horrors” event!

To check out more of the life and times of the BAKAbeans check out his FLICKR and his BLOG