Showing posts with label UK. Show all posts
Showing posts with label UK. Show all posts
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(Photo by Marisa Rosa)Can you tell me about yourself? How you became interested in art? What are the important moments in your evolution?
I'm a visual artist currently living and working in Brussels, Belgium. My first introduction to the art world happened thanks to the work and vision of my mother who is a Modern Jazz dance choreographer.
Some “keydates” and main periods of my life from my birth until now:
1983-1990: Birth and childhood in Ivory Coast, Africa. 1990-1996: Primary school in Brussels, Belgium. First drawings. 1996-2002: Boarding school in Soignies, Belgium. High interest in Graphic arts, along with music, poetry and sport. 2002-2003: Studies in Hastings, England: Painting and Sculpture. 2003-2007: University in Belgium and The Netherlands: Journalism and Slavonic languages. Political illustrations. Growing interest for Photography. 2007-2009: Lots of different jobs: Teacher, Journalist, Editor, Coach. The priority remained in my creative projects. End of my political/activist period. 2009-2010: Full time visual artist. Birth of "Pencil Vs Camera" and "Digital Circlism". Exhibitions in Belgium and abroad. 2011-Present: Birth of "Flesh and Acrylic". Exhibitions in Belgium and abroad.
In "Flesh and Acrylic", where and when are the pictures taken?
Almost all of my "Flesh and Acrylic" projects have been done in Braives, a small city located in the Belgian countryside. I have my studio there in the attic of a lovely family house (my grandfather was born in this house, but that’s just a little anecdote). I started this project in June 2011. I made the latest one a few weeks ago (a flesh and acrylic "demo" in the context of a short video report talking about “Art and Surrealism in Belgium”; broadcasted on "TV3" (Catalonia, Spain).
What was your mission - what did you hope to achieve? Was you quest successful?
In this series, my main intention was to give a new dimension to the life model, to make something new and to generate surprise, happiness and joy in the viewer’s eyes. I wanted the result for each piece to be extremely colourful and spontaneous. As usual when I do an abstract work, I paint in a very intuitive way. The final piece is often wild with unexpected effects. Finally, I try to create an optical illusion blending different layers together, which can be a bit confusing sometimes. But this is what I like the most.
Can you describe what we are looking at with your own words?
These are mainly abstract acrylic paintings on very large wooden panels. The main idea is to create a vivid and creative surface and to blend a model with the background. The particularity of the project resides in the fact that a living person is integrated in the artwork and is part of the whole composition.
How did you create these amazing scenes – can you walk me through your method?
I first go to the art shop and get lots of acrylic paint. Then I build the wooden surface. I paint some abstract themes on the wooden panels, the model comes and he/she stays in front of the panels for 2 or 3 hours allowing me to directly add paint on her/his body as well. Once the abstract painting process is finished, I take pictures of the final result. The photos will be printed and exhibited afterwards.
Limited Edition Prints exhibited at the AAF (2011)
Certainly it's not recommended to cover your skin with acrylic paint repetitively, I first tried it on several parts of my own body, no pain, no irritation... Acrylic paint is water-based so the majority of the substance is not toxic. Acrylic paints with cadmium can be harmful because of the heavy metals they contain. I use acrylic WITHOUT cadmium.
What is the message behind your art?
In this “Flesh and Acrylic” series, the messages are: “life is colourful” and “Life is like a canvas, anything can happen”.
What kind of reaction do you get from people when you show them?
Some think it is "extreme" and they say I’m completely crazy. Other people beg to become a model for one of these projects…
Is there an ecological message you want to convey in this series?
I’m definitely a person pleading for the protection of nature etc, but to be honest, in this series, it was not my primary goal. In this project, human beings made of flesh and blood transform themselves into synthetic plastic creatures. It is a bit provocative.
- What is the type of paint?
It’s always acrylic paint, hence the title “Flesh and Acrylic”
- How many pots of paint did you use?
Usually between 8 and 16 pots for each “Flesh and Acrylic” project.
- How many litres is each one?
Usually there is 750 mililitres in one pot, depending on the brand.
How many different colours did you use?
I like to work with simple primary colors. So I have maybe 4 or 5 colors maximum and I mix them together to obtain new colors when needed.
(*): Barcroft Media is a British press agency working with Ben
I'm a visual artist currently living and working in Brussels, Belgium. My first introduction to the art world happened thanks to the work and vision of my mother who is a Modern Jazz dance choreographer.
Some “keydates” and main periods of my life from my birth until now:
1983-1990: Birth and childhood in Ivory Coast, Africa. 1990-1996: Primary school in Brussels, Belgium. First drawings. 1996-2002: Boarding school in Soignies, Belgium. High interest in Graphic arts, along with music, poetry and sport. 2002-2003: Studies in Hastings, England: Painting and Sculpture. 2003-2007: University in Belgium and The Netherlands: Journalism and Slavonic languages. Political illustrations. Growing interest for Photography. 2007-2009: Lots of different jobs: Teacher, Journalist, Editor, Coach. The priority remained in my creative projects. End of my political/activist period. 2009-2010: Full time visual artist. Birth of "Pencil Vs Camera" and "Digital Circlism". Exhibitions in Belgium and abroad. 2011-Present: Birth of "Flesh and Acrylic". Exhibitions in Belgium and abroad.
In "Flesh and Acrylic", where and when are the pictures taken?
Almost all of my "Flesh and Acrylic" projects have been done in Braives, a small city located in the Belgian countryside. I have my studio there in the attic of a lovely family house (my grandfather was born in this house, but that’s just a little anecdote). I started this project in June 2011. I made the latest one a few weeks ago (a flesh and acrylic "demo" in the context of a short video report talking about “Art and Surrealism in Belgium”; broadcasted on "TV3" (Catalonia, Spain).
What was your mission - what did you hope to achieve? Was you quest successful?
In this series, my main intention was to give a new dimension to the life model, to make something new and to generate surprise, happiness and joy in the viewer’s eyes. I wanted the result for each piece to be extremely colourful and spontaneous. As usual when I do an abstract work, I paint in a very intuitive way. The final piece is often wild with unexpected effects. Finally, I try to create an optical illusion blending different layers together, which can be a bit confusing sometimes. But this is what I like the most.
Can you describe what we are looking at with your own words?
These are mainly abstract acrylic paintings on very large wooden panels. The main idea is to create a vivid and creative surface and to blend a model with the background. The particularity of the project resides in the fact that a living person is integrated in the artwork and is part of the whole composition.
How did you create these amazing scenes – can you walk me through your method?
I first go to the art shop and get lots of acrylic paint. Then I build the wooden surface. I paint some abstract themes on the wooden panels, the model comes and he/she stays in front of the panels for 2 or 3 hours allowing me to directly add paint on her/his body as well. Once the abstract painting process is finished, I take pictures of the final result. The photos will be printed and exhibited afterwards.
Limited Edition Prints exhibited at the AAF (2011)Certainly it's not recommended to cover your skin with acrylic paint repetitively, I first tried it on several parts of my own body, no pain, no irritation... Acrylic paint is water-based so the majority of the substance is not toxic. Acrylic paints with cadmium can be harmful because of the heavy metals they contain. I use acrylic WITHOUT cadmium.
What is the message behind your art?
In this “Flesh and Acrylic” series, the messages are: “life is colourful” and “Life is like a canvas, anything can happen”.
What kind of reaction do you get from people when you show them?
Some think it is "extreme" and they say I’m completely crazy. Other people beg to become a model for one of these projects…
Is there an ecological message you want to convey in this series?
I’m definitely a person pleading for the protection of nature etc, but to be honest, in this series, it was not my primary goal. In this project, human beings made of flesh and blood transform themselves into synthetic plastic creatures. It is a bit provocative.
- What is the type of paint?
It’s always acrylic paint, hence the title “Flesh and Acrylic”
- How many pots of paint did you use?
Usually between 8 and 16 pots for each “Flesh and Acrylic” project.
- How many litres is each one?
Usually there is 750 mililitres in one pot, depending on the brand.
How many different colours did you use?
I like to work with simple primary colors. So I have maybe 4 or 5 colors maximum and I mix them together to obtain new colors when needed.
(*): Barcroft Media is a British press agency working with Ben
Some unseen images of Ben's Flesh and Acrylic project:
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(click to enlarge)
Several of my limited edition prints (in Pencil Vs Camera) already face mounted and bonded between 2 high quality acrylic glass panels (Diasec finishing) were exhibited at the Battersea Affordable Art Fair in London via The Art Movement from the 19th till the 23rd of October 2011. You can find more info about my limited editions prints and about Diasec here.
© 2011 - Ben Heine
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Graffiti Lab, a UK based company, is now selling
several of my creations, printed in limited editions.
several of my creations, printed in limited editions.
hello@graffitilab.co.uk
Quick study for my bigger Panorama of London (coming soon). Taken recently at the top of "London Eye". If you wish, you can view a detail here. This photo has been shot with the Samsung NX10, provided by Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
A picture I recently took in London, UK. I love the fact that there is a strong connection between the red booth and the ad on the bus... That was a pure coincidence. As previously mentioned, I'll soon share a huge panorama of the city. (The above photo has been shot with the Samsung NX10, provided by Samsung Electronics. Co., Ltd)
MIKA - 2
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I intend to make other portraits and caricatures
of the great Mika in the coming weeks/months.
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MIKA is a London-based, Grammy-nominated
and BRIT Award-winning singer-songwriter.
of the great Mika in the coming weeks/months.
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MIKA is a London-based, Grammy-nominated
and BRIT Award-winning singer-songwriter.
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Blossom Tree
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By Peter S. Quinn
The nights are young and days still
Promises of worship life shall fulfill
As rain comes to earth and forest
A flower shall give its beautiful crest
And a heart will come and be within
Take day by day its twilight’s spin
What into the heart grows to learn
Forest of man and street shall earn
Come give your truth to the dreams
Which like a flower from beauty streams
And wishful thinking will come again
And join these powers that now reign
Grow your green on the high hill
Take what is yours and from earth will
All is not there what you now see
Look at the leaves look at the tree
Hold your own with reading of sign
And draw your doubt from its horizon line
Powers within are everywhere about
Giving you spirit and showing you doubt
The question lies there which has power
Street with their names or dawn’s own hour
Rise to each name shine with its beams
Moments will come and have their deems
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.
By Peter S. Quinn
The nights are young and days still
Promises of worship life shall fulfill
As rain comes to earth and forest
A flower shall give its beautiful crest
And a heart will come and be within
Take day by day its twilight’s spin
What into the heart grows to learn
Forest of man and street shall earn
Come give your truth to the dreams
Which like a flower from beauty streams
And wishful thinking will come again
And join these powers that now reign
Grow your green on the high hill
Take what is yours and from earth will
All is not there what you now see
Look at the leaves look at the tree
Hold your own with reading of sign
And draw your doubt from its horizon line
Powers within are everywhere about
Giving you spirit and showing you doubt
The question lies there which has power
Street with their names or dawn’s own hour
Rise to each name shine with its beams
Moments will come and have their deems
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Summer Time
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Dream Dream Away!
A poem by Peter S. Quinn
Dream dream away tonight
With each song that feels right
Some bouquets are in your mind
And other's in reality you'll find
Keep them and grow them more
Some of them pictures will lore
Daydreaming going to dreams
The image of uncertainty deems
Spin through clutter and rainbow
Everything that's shining the day
Fill every thought with a wow
Come what should and what may
Tumbling down to new summer
Feeling the warms in its hands
Finding the blossoms newcomer
Each in its field and marshlands
Dream dream away to the bright
Morning that comes after night
Filling the air with its perfume
From every summer bed's bloom
A poem by Peter S. Quinn
Dream dream away tonight
With each song that feels right
Some bouquets are in your mind
And other's in reality you'll find
Keep them and grow them more
Some of them pictures will lore
Daydreaming going to dreams
The image of uncertainty deems
Spin through clutter and rainbow
Everything that's shining the day
Fill every thought with a wow
Come what should and what may
Tumbling down to new summer
Feeling the warms in its hands
Finding the blossoms newcomer
Each in its field and marshlands
Dream dream away to the bright
Morning that comes after night
Filling the air with its perfume
From every summer bed's bloom
Elliott Rush
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I made this sketch of Elliott Rush playing and singing in a pub in the centre of Brussels, some weeks ago. He is an awesome British Pop/Jazz musician! You've got to visit his Myspace!
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Cuban Cigars "Made in UK" ?
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Imperial Tobacco boss to woo Castro
over bid for cigar company
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By Robin Pagnamenta
Imperial Tobacco boss to woo Castro
over bid for cigar company
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By Robin Pagnamenta
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Gareth Davies, chief executive of Imperial Tobacco (the largest tobacco manufacturer in the UK), will travel to Cuba to woo Fidel Castro’s Government after a board recommendation of the group’s €12.6 billion (£8.5 billion) offer to acquire Altadis, the Franco-Spanish tobacco company, announced yesterday.
Mr Davies hopes to secure Cuban government support for the deal and persuade it not to exercise a change of control clause that it holds over Corporación Habanos, a 50-50 joint venture which Altadis operates in Cuba that owns the country’s most famous cigar brands, including Montecristo, Cohiba, Romeo y Julieta and Partagas.
Mr Davies said yesterday the proposed entry of Habanos into 50 per cent British ownership would represent a “great addition” to Imperial’s existing portfolio of cigarette brands, including Lambert & Butler, Superkings and Embassy.
He said he planned to visit Cuba “in the not too distant future” with Antonio Vázquez, the Altadis chief executive, who will retain a role in the new organisation, assuming that Imperial’s €50 per share offer is approved by shareholders.
Mr Davies, who will continue to head the enlarged group from Imperial’s headquarters in Bristol, is expected to meet with Habanos executives as well as senior figures in the Castro administration. “We are hopeful that the change of control clause will not be exercised,” Mr Davies said.
“We hope this joint venture will continue to go from strength to strength – it’s a business we plan to invest in.” Mr Davies said he saw considerable opportunities to market Habanos “luxury brands” in the Far East, Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, and predicted that there would be “considerable upside” in the event of an end to a US trade embargo against Cuban products.
Altadis, which also owns cigarette brands such as Gitanes, Gauloises and Ducados, is the world’s largest cigar group and also owns non-Cuban mass-market cigar brands such as Phillies, Backwoods and Dutch Masters.
The company’s cigar business generated €888 million in sales last year or 22 per cent of Altadis’s €4 billion of total sales. The bulk of the Madrid-based operation’s sales are in cigarettes, which generated 43 per cent of revenues last year.
Logista, its distribution arm, accounted for the remainder, but Imperial is believed to be considering a sale of this business. A range of private equity firms, including CVC, PAI, Cinven and Carlyle Group, are understood to be interested.
Mr Davies said that there were significant opportunities for cross-selling both companies’ cigarette brands in new markets, and extending them with the launch of slim or extra long varieties. He said he hoped the combination would allow for annual cost savings of €300 million.
The takeover, to be funded with a mixture of debt and a £5 billion rights issue, will cement Imperial’s position as the fourth largest player in the global tobacco business after Philip Morris International – the US owner of Marlboro – Lucky Strike-owner British American Tobacco, and Japan’s JTI, which recently acquired Britain’s Gallaher. The proposed new group would also have a stronger presence in markets such as Morocco, Spain, France, Russia and Germany.
A spokeswoman for CVC Capital Partners, which had earlier submitted a €50-per-share bid of its own only to struggle raising finance, said the group would adopt a wait and see approach.
Mr Davies hopes to secure Cuban government support for the deal and persuade it not to exercise a change of control clause that it holds over Corporación Habanos, a 50-50 joint venture which Altadis operates in Cuba that owns the country’s most famous cigar brands, including Montecristo, Cohiba, Romeo y Julieta and Partagas.
Mr Davies said yesterday the proposed entry of Habanos into 50 per cent British ownership would represent a “great addition” to Imperial’s existing portfolio of cigarette brands, including Lambert & Butler, Superkings and Embassy.
He said he planned to visit Cuba “in the not too distant future” with Antonio Vázquez, the Altadis chief executive, who will retain a role in the new organisation, assuming that Imperial’s €50 per share offer is approved by shareholders.
Mr Davies, who will continue to head the enlarged group from Imperial’s headquarters in Bristol, is expected to meet with Habanos executives as well as senior figures in the Castro administration. “We are hopeful that the change of control clause will not be exercised,” Mr Davies said.
“We hope this joint venture will continue to go from strength to strength – it’s a business we plan to invest in.” Mr Davies said he saw considerable opportunities to market Habanos “luxury brands” in the Far East, Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, and predicted that there would be “considerable upside” in the event of an end to a US trade embargo against Cuban products.
Altadis, which also owns cigarette brands such as Gitanes, Gauloises and Ducados, is the world’s largest cigar group and also owns non-Cuban mass-market cigar brands such as Phillies, Backwoods and Dutch Masters.
The company’s cigar business generated €888 million in sales last year or 22 per cent of Altadis’s €4 billion of total sales. The bulk of the Madrid-based operation’s sales are in cigarettes, which generated 43 per cent of revenues last year.
Logista, its distribution arm, accounted for the remainder, but Imperial is believed to be considering a sale of this business. A range of private equity firms, including CVC, PAI, Cinven and Carlyle Group, are understood to be interested.
Mr Davies said that there were significant opportunities for cross-selling both companies’ cigarette brands in new markets, and extending them with the launch of slim or extra long varieties. He said he hoped the combination would allow for annual cost savings of €300 million.
The takeover, to be funded with a mixture of debt and a £5 billion rights issue, will cement Imperial’s position as the fourth largest player in the global tobacco business after Philip Morris International – the US owner of Marlboro – Lucky Strike-owner British American Tobacco, and Japan’s JTI, which recently acquired Britain’s Gallaher. The proposed new group would also have a stronger presence in markets such as Morocco, Spain, France, Russia and Germany.
A spokeswoman for CVC Capital Partners, which had earlier submitted a €50-per-share bid of its own only to struggle raising finance, said the group would adopt a wait and see approach.
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Imperial Tobacco targets US with $1.9bn deal
The British group is buying Commonwealth Brands,
America's fourth largest cigarette maker
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By Dearbail Jordan
.The British group is buying Commonwealth Brands,
America's fourth largest cigarette maker
.
By Dearbail Jordan
Imperial Tobacco revealed the real reason behind a decision to suspend its £600 million annual share buyback scheme by announcing the $1.9 billion acquisition of US cigarette maker Commonwealth Brands.
The British company is buying America's fourth largest cigarette producer from Houchens Industries, a US conglomerate which is the country's biggest employee-owned business. The deal is expected to complete in April this year. The acquisition will significantly boost Imperial Tobacco's footprint in the US, where it owns cigarette paper manufacturer Robert Burton Associates.
Imperial Tobacco had intended to grow organically in the region, earmarking $20 million a year to expand its presence by increasing its staff from 40 to 200, but the company has chosen instead to grow through acquisition. However, the market reacted negatively to this morning's announcement, sending shares down 1.61 per cent, or 36p, to 21.95p.
Last month, speculation heightened that Imperial Tobacco, which makes John Player Special and Embassy cigarettes, was set to be taken over after the company refused to update the market on the status of its buyback programme, which was suspended in December after rival UK company Gallaher, said it had received a £7.5 billion approach from Japan Tobacco.
Robert Dyrbus, finance director at Imperial Tobacco, said it was likely that buybacks would resume in the second half of next year when the company will review its financial position after increasing its current £3.8 billion debt facility by £1 billion to acquire Commonwealth Brands.
Gareth Davis, chief executive at Imperial Tobacco, said the company is planning to launch a range of new tobacco brands in the US, which could eventually be rolled out across the rest of its global operations, but declined to divulge details of the products because of market sensitivity. He added that he does not expect to make any job cuts at Commonwealth Brands.
Commonwealth Brands holds 3.7 per cent of the American cigarette market, and owns brands including USA Gold and Sonoma. In the year ended September 30, 2006, it reported pre-tax profits of £30 million on £178 million in revenue. In its last financial year it produced 14 billion cigarettes, but has the capacity to manufacture 20 billion per annum.
The British company is buying America's fourth largest cigarette producer from Houchens Industries, a US conglomerate which is the country's biggest employee-owned business. The deal is expected to complete in April this year. The acquisition will significantly boost Imperial Tobacco's footprint in the US, where it owns cigarette paper manufacturer Robert Burton Associates.
Imperial Tobacco had intended to grow organically in the region, earmarking $20 million a year to expand its presence by increasing its staff from 40 to 200, but the company has chosen instead to grow through acquisition. However, the market reacted negatively to this morning's announcement, sending shares down 1.61 per cent, or 36p, to 21.95p.
Last month, speculation heightened that Imperial Tobacco, which makes John Player Special and Embassy cigarettes, was set to be taken over after the company refused to update the market on the status of its buyback programme, which was suspended in December after rival UK company Gallaher, said it had received a £7.5 billion approach from Japan Tobacco.
Robert Dyrbus, finance director at Imperial Tobacco, said it was likely that buybacks would resume in the second half of next year when the company will review its financial position after increasing its current £3.8 billion debt facility by £1 billion to acquire Commonwealth Brands.
Gareth Davis, chief executive at Imperial Tobacco, said the company is planning to launch a range of new tobacco brands in the US, which could eventually be rolled out across the rest of its global operations, but declined to divulge details of the products because of market sensitivity. He added that he does not expect to make any job cuts at Commonwealth Brands.
Commonwealth Brands holds 3.7 per cent of the American cigarette market, and owns brands including USA Gold and Sonoma. In the year ended September 30, 2006, it reported pre-tax profits of £30 million on £178 million in revenue. In its last financial year it produced 14 billion cigarettes, but has the capacity to manufacture 20 billion per annum.
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--> These articles appeared on business.timesonline.co.uk
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