Ten of Johannesburg innovative artists have been selected to create original works of art using a most unusual canvas—a Red Bull refrigerator. Aptly named the Red Bull Curates Canvas Cooler Project, this exciting venture into the world of contemporary art has already made waves in some of world’s most progressive cities in 2014, including Los Angeles, Sao Paulo, Tokyo, Geneva and Istanbul, and now makes its way to Johannesburg for the first time. All ten will be unveiled at 151 Smit Street on the 4th of December 2014.
Having previously taken place in Cape Town in 2013, this year it’s Johannesburg’s turn to get creative.
For the project each selected artist is paired with a very specific venue to ensure each cooler finds a permanent home in one of Johannesburg’s most stylish venues. The artists collaborate with their paired venue to discuss the look and feel desired and then have only a few days in which to produce an eye-catching design that will echo the selected venue’s signature style from their blank canvas.
Participating artists include painters, graphic designers, illustrators and graffiti artists who together boast a broad variety of the country’s exceptional creative talent.
Responsible for designing a cooler for Parktown North eatery and bar The Foundry, illustrator Kronk explained: “My cooler will be wholly inspired by The Foundry. As a person who regularly goes there to enjoy quality beer, I want my cooler to fit into the space in a harmonious way whilst having a strong Kronk aesthetic. As with most things, I go on feel and intuition, so the idea behind the cooler will be reactionary to their atmosphere at first and then figuring out how to accentuate that feel in my design.“
In addition to the 10 chosen artists, this year’s South African Red Bull Doodle Art Winner Kingsley Palime will also be designing a cooler.
Once complete, all 11 coolers will be displayed in a night of good music and art on Thursday, 4 December 2014 at 155 Smit Street in Braamfontein starting from 19h00.
Follow the conversation on Twitter @RedBullZA #RedBullCurates.
Participating Artists:
Kronk (graphic designer / illustrator) – designing for The Foundry
Rasty (graffiti artist/ muralist) – designing for Tokyo Star
Nic Christowitz (graphic designer / illustrator) – designing for Kitcheners
Maaike Bakker (illustrator / fine artist) – designing for Neighbourgoods
Lex Trickett (animator / illustrator) – designing for The Wolf Pack 1
Lazi Mathebula (illustrator / graphic designer) – designing for The Orbit
Lebogang Rasethaba (filmmaker) – designing for Pata Pata
Murray Turpin (artist/ gallery owner) – designing for Mama’s Shebeen
Shaun Hill (illustrator/ graphic designer) – designing for Gin
Chris Valentine (illustrator/ artist) – designing for The Wolf Pack 2
