Duelling Banjos was commissioned to do layout and design for Actionaid´s resource material “Giving Women A Chance”. The 20 pages document was written by Annami Löfving and was sponsored by Actionaid and British Embassy (Rangoon). Cartoons/graphics was created by Chibi.
Printed version
Printed version
My good friend, artist and photographer Ko Thu Rein asked me some time ago if he could take my picture for a project he was working on and I agreed. For a long time I was curious about the result and now I finally got it. From the photo he later made a mixed media presentation which was sold in one of the exhibitions he was part of. I am very happy for you (that you manage to sell a picture with me on it) and I am really impressed with your work, thank you for letting me be part of it.
Photo of me stamped with “Aerosoul” all over the face. For some reason, when looking at the photo, I am thinking of samurai Maori avatar daydreaming in fumes.
I didn´t have the chance to see the final result but the mixed media painting was a, as far as I know, a digital print with acrylic details/touch ups on canvas. regardless, it looks great.
Have to get back to you about links to more works from Thu Rein…
The beef about the Obama piece in Yangon by Night have got way to much attention in national, international media and social forums. Some arguing it was a flirt with the media due to timing of Obama´s visit, some might say it is a tribute (as the writer does) or it is just a wall painting plain and simple. Toy or writer, you judge. In my opinion the only good part in this story is the actual outcome. The execution of the second piece was way better then the first one and the result is pretty good and I become happy when I look at it.
Graffiti in Myanmar is quite a new phenomenon (Dear journalists, it is NOT a result of the country opening up; it is just a comfy shortcut for you when you write the articles) and what makes me happy these days is that we can actually talk about Myanmar graffiti and street art. And this is where concept and long tradition of beef/battle in hip-hop becomes interesting. We can back stab each other, pissing on each other’s timelines and we can go over each other’s pieces in the streets, it is all part of the game. It might look childish, and I feel sorry for anyone´s piece being painted over, but what it actually does is improving us as artists, as vandals, it triggers us to become bigger and better because by the end of the day graffiti is all about style.
You can read (in English) an interview with the writer that did the piece in Myanmar Times
Lay low, 2012, ink on paper, 56 X 77 cm. Sold
what can I say, thank you so much for supporting my art. Your investment is truely my playground.
Also, I just witnessed the historical arrival of president Obama at Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s house. There are some incredible changes here in Myanmar for sure but we should not forget what is happening daily around us. This was my first reaction when the Eagle left the building:
“During the first outbreak of violence in Rakhine state an acquaintance to me in Myanmar posted or “liked” the facebook post “we should treat them as Palestinians” (the Rohingyas, my remark) I couldn’t think of a more awful comment in this time! Obama, now when you increasing your engagement with Myanmar and continuing supporting the Israel government, don’t forget that people in #Rakhine in #Kachin in #Gaza and many other places doesn’t have a home, a land nor security and they constantly living in fear of bullets and grenades.” (from my twitter account @duelling_banjos)
Just found out that some om my latest paintings was published at Artonomy. Don’t know much about the blog but I’m always happy when someone showing interest in my work. Thank you Helen Aldous for the support and follow her on twitter @artonomyblog
The text was taken from my artistic statement when I opened my website
Also a Big Up to my lovely Italian couple that bought some of my works this morning. Your investment is my playground
Detail of Cardialgia
Cardialgia, 2012
Because I’m worth it, 2012
Second place is the first loser, 2012, ink on paper, 56 X 77 cm is now available at Pansodan Gallery
Also, Big Up to “Ice Cold” MHA 2012 Freestyle champ from yesterdays battle!
Since I don´t have a studio at the moment I have handed over a selection of painting for display at Pansodan Gallery. Three of them are new and the two are from my latest solo exhibition “BETA Version”.
Cardialgia, 2012, ink on paper, 56 X 77 cm
Center of the universe, 2012, ink on paper, 56 X 77 cm
Nutrition facts: Kryptonite, 2012, ink on paper, 56 X 77 cm
Much Oblige, 2011, ink on paper and Burners not bombs, 2011, ink on paper
I also handed over the complete set of limited edition prints of the “Breaking Silence” series. The series comments on censorship, about who owns and how we use information on the internet, especially from my experience of working and living in Myanmar. Each design has a 50 pcs limited edition, all numbered and framed. Follow the hyperlink above for details of each print.
I you want to have a look at my paintings in real life and/or if you want to experience a wide range of great art from Myanmar please drop by Pansodan Gallery:
1st Floor, 286 Pansodan street, Kyauktada Township, Yangon, 09 5130846
You can also visit the Pansodan website or join their art buzz at Facebook.
If you have any questions about my work, feel free to contact me or the excellent people representing Pansodan Gallery. Open daily so no excuses, time is all we have.
Digital illustrations/line work (in progress) for upcoming paintings of the “Distance of War” series
Note for one self: also include: Iran, Israel, Palestine, North Korea
I love stickers, especially where they can grow old. Have you seen this on? Do you know the location? (clue: It is Tuesday and I heading down to this place when I am done with the writing)
I delivered my latest painting “U.S. Airmail” the other day. It seems that it will hang next to a Vietnamese propaganda poster and “Breaking Silence” print signed yours truly! thanks for the support once again.
Public and private spaces are shrinking with time, they call it globalization I heard. Today I was working on my representation making business cards in Studio Duelling Banjos (portable version 3.0)
SmileEvilsmile is a good friend of mine. I like him for many reasons but maybe most because he keeps it simple!
I was also published in TuckMagazine with five of my paintings. The text is either written by a computer or a poet on Kitamine. This is what they said about me and my work:
Casper ‘Cap’ Johansson’s art sparkles in a world blurred by blindness. Lost in a never ending prayer of preached progress the voiceless scream in thought against a modernity choking, each of the artist’s pieces bleeding feeling; the passion of belief breathing in a repressed society.
Envious of dream the fight against continues as, in anonymity’s mask, a being bleeds from believing; androgynous to a self the cell society breeds in. Heat freezes in a timed mind as captured in light the image of today’s pensive soul is painted. The body illuminates in intensity, a burning truth through fear piercing, the artist in rich starkness showing life smothered from breathing. Purity weeps in progress painted, mourning life dead in living.
In darkness light through expression explodes. Thoughts run away from trained feelings, an everyday defiance of the mind as in the heart the head beats. To another a differing eye, an opinion caught in fixed misunderstandings as meaning tails off in despair. Johansson delights in creating a future present, the pattern of thought visible to eyes open, each alive in individual definition.
Energy defies fate as blind minds fall from a waiting sky, the artist skilfully placing the viewer in the centre of a suffocating everyday. Set amidst a faceless city representing any and everywhere breathing, nature rebels in being, bleeding colour to the heart of human grieving. In a memorised present, withering life spins against the control it dies from, society repressed in an over populated ideal as collected breath is held from a watching world.
Concealed in disbelief a generation loses sight from a mind mechanical in thought. Tied to ticking eyes the body hides from prying, a blank staring back at an overwhelming world, the artist emphasising humanity’s plight against an improvement created. Faith fights for the glint in each, an indirection sought in the self to an expressive new as, limited by design, technology burns to a soul breathing.
Fiery waves adorn a canvas dark in thought, Johansson lighting an eye’s imagination to minds expanding, the rich white of light sheltering truths; a skin to the blood of fated living. Alive in invention the illusion of believing bleeds to another day blind as coloured from soul, the artist’s heart shines through.
Seeking truth in justice Johansson’s art continues to evolve, his impression of humanity’s struggle against itself profound and piercing.
#Mugshot #lesshairthen
Finally I have made some prints from the rubber cuttings I finished a long time ago. They came out quite nice in my point of view. As soon as they are dry they will be up fore sale but don’t be surprised if you find one in your backyard. The painting I am working on now is a portray of G-tone from the hip-hop group Cyclone. He is a good friend of mine and for sure one of the best MCs in Myanmar. Blam blam!
Fighting Fiddles, 2012, ink print on Shan paper, approx 380 X 570
Breaking Silence VIII (in front), 2012, Ink print on Shan paper, approx 380 X 570 (50 Pcs limited edition)
#Street soldier (working title), 91 X 91, mixed media, in progress
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