Kung Fu Wildstyle: Fab 5 Freddy x MC Yan
June 30-July 15, 2013 at Film Society of Lincoln Center’s Frieda and Roy Furman Gallery
North American debut of new works by FAB 5 FREDDY and MC YAN! The exhibit features recent work by the artists Fab 5 Freddy and MC Yan, who explore the relationship between Kung Fu movies and urban culture. With Bruce Lee as the central iconic image, both artist imagine the martial arts star in these works from their different cultural perspectives, with their street art backgrounds as just one of the common threads. The work was originally created for a successful pop-up show in Hong Kong in the fall of 2012, then traveled to Shanghai. Now the Kung Fu Wildstyle exhibition will be on view for two weeks in New York City's Frieda and Roy Furman Gallery at Lincoln Center's Walter Reade Theatre.
Fred Brathwaite aka Fab 5 Freddy is a Hip Hop pioneer, film maker and fine artist who among many achievements was the first artist from the graffiti culture to exhibit his work in Europe and America. He starred in and produced the seminal Hip Hop film Wild Style, and hosted the genre's first nationally broadcast television show, YO! MTV Raps. He's recently had successful exhibits in NY, LA, Germany and China.
Chenguang Ren aka MC Yan is known as the Godfather of Chinese Hip Hop due to his work with Hong Kong rap outfit LMF in the 1990's. He was also one of the first graffiti writers to gain fame, and is known for his political activism. He has designed products for Nike, Clot and Remy Martin among others, and created new works at the Tate Modern in London and at Paris' FINAC.
Links
Interview: Fab 5 Freddy and MC Yan (FilmLinc Daily, July 3, 2013)
Photos by Julie Cunnah