I think we made a new personal best for me as both the normal and the hand finished editions were sold out within 10 minutes. I know there are a few people out there who weren’t happy with the performance of the website but it seemed to go pretty smoothly for most people. V4 of eelus.com is being worked on as we speak, in a secret hangar in the desert, under a giant tarpaulin. The new site will be built in HTML and will hopefully be much more stable and user friendly.

The 4th of September sees the opening of my next show ‘Paradise Lost’ at Brooklynite Gallery in NYC with fellow stencil head C215. To give you a taster of some of the work on offer, there is a new super limited, 7 colour screen print edition of my Firestarter image going on sale TODAY over at www.brooklynitegallery.com.

Firestarter. 7 colour screen print. Edition of 50.

Here’s a new piece from the show. Painted onto an old burned out bakers tin.

Paradise Lost. Spray paint on tin

Here’s a close up of one of the 200+ hand made invites I made using my Gocco PG-11 printer.

I’ll be flying out to NYC next week to set up the show and paint some big pieces outside so if you’re in the area on the 4th, come on by and say hello!

Who came up with the idea first? How should I know?! Did I steal the idea from Casey Burns? Not in the slightest. Did he steal the idea from me? Again, I’ve no idea. But is it really a case of plagiarism? Or maybe, just maybe, that out of the 6 billion people on planet Earth thinking up ideas every single second, 2 of them, living at at either ends of the globe came up with the same idea. The idea itself is hardly like dreaming up the theory of relativity. An AT-AT from the Star Wars films looks like a dog, wouldn’t it be cool to paint a picture of somebody actually taking it for a walk? BOOM! There it is. Yeah, it certainly is a big coincidence that both images appeared within a year or so of each other, but I doubt it’s a case of theft.

But this brings up an interesting case that I know has been discussed a lot already, especially over the last year or so; where exactly is the line drawn between influence and plagiarism? And another question, can 2 (or more) people really come up with the same idea within the same time frame?

Let’s take the first question to start with and use examples from what has become known as the world of ’street art’. Off the top of my head I thought quickly about a few artists who’s work are quite similar in style and content and I’ve put a few examples below. Let’s start with a pretty obvious one.

Warhol's Marilyn

Banksy's Kate Moss.

MBW's Madonna

Banksy taking the first step to create a humorous play on the classic Andy Warhol image, but then Mr Brainwash following suit and using the idea yet again, this time Madonna being the focus. So who is MBW ripping off, Banksy or Warhol? Is he ripping anybody off at all, can it be filed under ‘influenced by…’? I think knowing what we know about MBW after his starring role in the recent Banksy film, it’s probably safe to say his influences for this image very much came from Banksy. My PERSONAL opinion on this one is that to regurgitate an idea that’s already been coughed up once before is really pushing it, but this seems to be a recurring theme that surrounds the controversy of MBW and I’m not gonna get sucked into that discussion right now.

Next example, D-Face V’s Paul Insect.

Paul Insect’s Jimmy Hendrix Dead Rebel

D-Face’s John Lennon.

Both artists released a successful series of very similar images based around various dead musicians all in stages of decomposition. I could be wrong but I’m pretty sure Insect’s work was released first, but does this mean D-Face has ripped him off? I’ve no idea, he could have been sitting on this idea for sometime and from experience (examples of which I’ll go into shortly) this could very well be the case.

Paul Insect’s ‘Poison’.

Miss Bugs ‘Mother’

2 Artists who have been known to be very similar stylistically, but which side of the line would you say they fall? Is there quite simply a strong influence here or is it something more?

Rene Gagnon

Banksy

Obviously 2 VERY similar images but can it be put down to a massive yet quite innocent coincidence? A quick google search for ‘boy praying’ and the original source photo used for both images is on the 3rd page of results, so it’s hardly a hard to come by image. Rene Gagnon was first off the mark from what I’ve read, but does this mean Banksy has blatantly ripped him off? I guess it could be possible that Banksy was totally unaware of Gagnon’s image before he released his own, stranger things have happened at sea. But what if he was aware? Quite uncharacteristic behavior for an artist who has quite deservedly risen to the top of his game through the quality and originality of his work and ideas. A simple change of clothing for the boy would have been an effort, but both are identical. also quite interesting how one has devil horns, the other an angel’s halo.

Banksy’s Nola

My ‘Not Everything is so Black & White’

Here’s an example I can safely say for sure was a total coincidence. My piece was sketched out and ready to paint before the release of Banksy’s Nola and after seeing the similarities, I decided to ditch my idea at first and just put it down to bad luck, a classic case of sitting too long on an idea only to be beaten by a more pro-active peer. But then after I realised how much I liked the image and I knew that I wasn’t trying to rip anybody off, I just went with it. And why not? Banksy is hardly the first person to paint someone holding an umbrella, and I doubt I’ll be the last.

I know all of the above isn’t the greatest argument and discussion in the world, simply because I don’t have time to go into a total balls out essay on the subject. But I guess my point is that coincidences occur, it’s just part of life. I also wonder at times about the theory of humanity sharing a collective consciousness in some way, and how artists are said to be more in tune with the unseen ideas and thoughts that surround us. I’ve seen many examples of it in the past to support the theory and wonder if it’s such a crazy idea. The brain operates though a series of electrical impulses, maybe these waves of electricity aren’t confined to the inner workings of our own minds.

And yes, there’s always going to be people who will take the easy route and just blatantly rip somebody off, but I’d like to think that people would have enough foresight and mindfulness to try and work out which side of the line the work falls, theft, influence or simply innocent coincidence.

In other news, I’m pleased to reveal I’m planning something exciting. I seem to have stumbled through life being late to every cool party around. Never been entirely sure why this is, did I really lead such a sheltered upbringing in the grim north? Or have I spent most of my life going from day to day with my eyes to the floor, so lost in my own miserable little existence that everything I SHOULD have been into completely passed me by.

Whether it was music, literature or art, my eyes were only really opened when I first moved to London back in 2000, and even now, I’m still only just clumsily stumbling across things I wish I’d discovered years ago. Now, when I was a kid, I loved to spend hours making my own comics and magazines, writing my own fantasy stories and badly copying Frank Frazetta’s art to accompany them. But as I got older, a lot of that DIY mentality lost the great battle and was sent cowering to the caves at the back of my consciousness by things like girls, video games and horror movies. I still loved to draw, and that’s never gone away, but all my creative efforts began to be self consciously hidden away from the cruel world in sketchbooks, and so it was until I discovered the London street art scene back around 2002.

So it wasn’t until a couple of years ago that I discovered something else almost completely new to me. Zines. I saw people printing their own little mini comics before but the penny never really dropped. Not only did I not realise that these small run, indie publications had been created by people just like me, in their own time, with their own dime, BUT this is also something I could do myself, just like when I was a kid.

So, late to the party as usual, I’m about to crash through the door with annoying enthusiasm, good intentions and a shit bottle of wine. My journey into the world of non-profit and extremely time consuming self publications is at hand, and I’m excited.

In the coming months I’ll get together the first issue of the Freak Show zine, and if all goes well will hopefully go on to release around 3 issues a year. Each and every copy will be a signed and numbered limited edition with screen printed covers and pull out posters, Gocco printed postcards, badges, photography, comic strips, illustration, stickers, mindless articles and anything else that seems like a good idea at the time.

By illustrator Olly Moss. You can see more of his work here.

8 lovely litho postcards per pack for only £6 + postage. Here’s a few of my favorites from the pack.

Lung Mixture

Firestarter

Not Everything is so Black & White

Icarus

I first met Al around 8 years ago when I was invited to put some work into one of the awesome Finders Keepers shows that he organized alongside fellow creative juggernauts D-Face, PMH and Dave the Chimp. It was a big moment for me being the first show I’d ever had work in, and I got chance to meet the artists that inspired me to start painting in the first place. Since then, his instantly recognizable mutants have appeared in countless books, art shows worldwide, on Eastpak backpacks, skateboards, Adidas trainers, Volvo ads but more importantly, walls. Beautiful, non profitable, outdoor walls.

But it doesn’t end there, oh no. In January of this year, he stepped up yet again by releasing his own movie. But not just any type of Movie, it was a Zombie movie. I haven’t seen Life After Beth yet but I’m seriously looking forward to catching it in the summer where it’ll be doing the festival rounds. Until then, here’s the trailer to keep you going.

His latest art offerings take inspiration from ancient Mesoamerican cultures. Beautifully crafted paper collage and mixed media on paper reflecting the patterned masks and ornate headdresses of the Mayan people, yet remaining true to the bold, graphic stylings that have gained him so much recognition over the years.

If this is the kind of thing that butters your muffin then you should head to http://mysteriousal.bigcartel.com where you can check out all of the work he has for sale including his latest print release ‘Salboan Warrior Mask #5′ which quite frankly is an absolute steal at only £60.

Salboan Warrior Mask #5

This direction in work is leading up to a London show in Autumn based around the infamous Doomsday predictions of the Mayan cultures and the blood thirsty gods that they worshipped. I’m personally looking forward to this as it’s a theme that I’ve been into for years which fascinates me. Also this is Al’s first London solo show in a while so it really shouldn’t be missed.

So it’s an interesting coincidence that while he’s been working on themes of the approaching apocalypse, he’s been selected to ride out the coming storm from the secure confines of The Bunker. Earlier today I was handed a document from my ‘contact’ showing details of Al’s administration form, and this is what it had to say.

Welcome to The Bunker.

We have learned of a threat that will almost certainly end the world as we know it. Luckily for you, we have saved you a room in a top secret underground facility known as The Bunker.

Space inside The Bunker is limited, but you’re allowed 10 items to hopefully ease the pain of the apocalypse and keep you comfortable in your underground abode while life on the surface is almost certainly wiped out by a catastrophic event. Please complete the form below and return it as soon as possible.

Q: We can allow you access to 1 music video. What will it be?
A: Thanks! That’s easy. Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’.

Q: There is room on the wall for 1 piece of art. What would you like?
A: I could look at Henri Rousseau’s ‘Tiger in a tropical storm (surprised)’ all day.

Q: There is a small bookshelf with room for 1 book. What will it be?
A: The Bible. I wouldn’t read it, though. I’d tear out the pages and eat them.

Q: You’re allowed 1 film. What will you watch?
A: Return of the Living Dead. It’s got everything you could want in a film.

Q: There are bunk beds inside the room. Who gets the other bed, and which bunk would you like?
A: Kylie. And she’d get more than the bottom bunk, I can tell you. The cheeky minx.

Q: You’re allowed 1 small treasured item. What is it?
A: I don’t have any treasured possessions.

Q: We’ve managed to get you a CD player. What album would you like?
A: Man, that’s impossible. So many good albums. I’d probably just settle for a CD of the sound of cattle dying.

Q: We are willing to cook you 1 meal of your choice on your first night in The Bunker. What would you like?
A: I’d probably be pretty full after my Bible, but I’d manage a side order of coal, smashed human bones, dust and ash.

Q: All inhabitants of The Bunker MUST have their memories of Old Earth erased. However, we will allow you a single memory of your old life. What will it be?
A: I’d like to remember an old Christmas Eve with my family.

Q: We can project a view of your choice onto the Window Screen. What would you like to look at.
A: The view from outside the Roebuck Pub, on Richmond Hill, overlooking Twickenham on a warm, summer evening. I’ve seen some seriously good shit in my life, but nothing comes close to that.

Thank you for your co-operation. We will do our best to satisfy your needs and we wish you a pleasant stay in The Bunker.

The Bunker Administration Team.

I have to say, I like Mysterious Al. Why? Because we share a common appreciation for the finer things in life, the things that really matter. Zombies, skulls, doomsday, beer, sunshine. Even if the likes of me don’t make it into The Bunker, as I sit choking on my own tears feeling the heat from the asteroid as it passes overhead, a small part of me will smile knowing that when the smoke clears and the elite step foot back onto the surface, Al will be there. His yellow pointed teeth glistening as the sun rises over a new Earth.

My man on the inside assures me that he’ll have information on a new lucky Bunker next Friday, so stay tuned folks.

You can see more of Leslie’s work HERE and see the original image over at my website HERE where Dress Up is available to buy as a 32 colour screen print.

I’ll be here running the show every day from 11-6:30 until Sunday so if you’re in the area come over and say hello. Until then, here’s a few photos of the show courtesy of Wallkandy and Butterfly from Juxtapoz.

You can view all the Wallkandy photos HERE .
All the photos from Butterfly HERE .
And you can view and buy the available paintings and prints at my website http://eelus.com .

The Colour Out Of Space. Blackall Studios, 73 Leonard St, London.