Local stencil nerd Stabs, steps in off the street for his debut solo show 'Lite works' at Backwoods galley in October.
With a decade of stencil based street activity in Melbourne and abroad Stabs has held up to be one of Melbourne's most infamous street artists. Working out of Everfresh studio Stabs has constantly developed his often kooky and stylistic characters along with evolving a paint and print practice that reflects multiple textures, diverse applications and embraces an ephemeral quality where by time and nature add to a desired street aesthetic.
Self taught in all aspects of his craft. Stabs is not only opportunistic in his street work, often capitalising on vacant shop fronts and "sneaky spots" but also in sourcing materials with a "from the streets, for the streets" mentality.
Stabs holds an attention to detail that commands respect, often dedicating a solid weeks work into the cutting of a single stencil alone. This committed work ethic along with his uniquely stylised characters and their internal elements has gained him recognition and placed him amongst Australia's leading street based artists.
Exhibiting in group shows both nationally and internationally his enthusiasm for the street and his commitment towards a fine art career has put him in good steed for a promising future.
Well traveled internationally and with a true appreciation and knowledge of his surroundings, Stabs continues to re-define the public facade amongst our daily travels. Stabs illustrates a character that not only captures ones imagination but also raises the importance of an alternative voice in an often commercialised street-scape. With a broad appeal to children, the everyday passer by, street delinquents and the attentive art collector Stabs portrays at a distance an ominous monster. However on closer inspection his creations vibrate with a rich and colourful narrative.
Often blurring the line between a forbidding darkness and a child like sense of play. Stabs gives focus to illustrative line work that addresses tension not only within his chosen materials but also as a representation of personal emotion and an outlook on the urbanised world that we have created for ourselves. A fondness of pastel and appealing colour selections also add to the idea that all is not as it seems in an often dark and bleak urban environment. Lite works is exactly that. An exploration of diverse mediums all with focus on the art of stencil making and it's intended use of repetition. His debut show aims to illustrate and inform those involved about the complexity of a simple line, it's execution and the power of sincere emotion.
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