Niels Shoe Meulman
“Calligraffiti: Letters of Independence”
“Calligraffiti: Letters of Independence”
Thursday, July 1 – Tuesday July 27, 2010
Opening reception for the artist: Thursday, July 1, from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.
The Salamatina Gallery is pleased to host an unprecedented installation, Calligraffiti: Letters of Independence, by the cutting-edge artist Niels Shoe Meulman. This unique project will open on the evening of Thursday, July 1st with a live Calligraffiti performance.
During his opening-night performance, Meulman will literally rewrite the 1776 Declaration of Independence on site at the Salamatina Gallery. His Re-Declaration, which will take place over several days, will highlight all 1,337 of the historic words, resulting in 262 U.S. letter-sized pieces, executed in ink on paper. Showcasing the artistʼs fluid and hypnotic style, these “Letters” will remain on view and for sale until July 27.
According to the author Adam Eeuwens: “Calligraffiti is a combination of traditional calligraphy coupled with the speed of modern-day graffiti. It is an amalgam of an ancient, refined art form, fused with the raw force of rebellious street art. It combines the rhythm and regularity of Frakturʼs precise stroke with the perfect accidents of the vertical drip and splatter of the horizontal drop, creating a synthesis of opposites.” Meulman, one of the pioneers of this revolutionary art form, will break new ground by reinterpreting a document of the length and significance of the Declaration of Independence. The document has special meaning for the Amsterdam-based artist, who embraces elements of American culture as a whole, whether it be Pop Art, advertising, product packaging, skateboarding, graffiti or car design.
“My work is dedicated to the art of writing,” Meulman explains. “I am inspired by ancient Japanese brush characters, Arabic pictorial script, illuminated medieval books and flourish-filled quill writing, of which the Declaration of Independence is one of the most beautiful and eloquent examples. My interest in this document runs deeper than its being an emblem of U.S. courage and democracy. Its powerful words set forth human rights which are universal and resonate with my own personal beliefs, especially with regards to taking risks in order to exercise oneʼs freedom of expression.”
Born in Amsterdam in 1967, Niels Meulman is an internationally known artist, designer, and art director. Meulman began tagging in 1979 and became a graffiti legend by the time he was 18. Known as ‘Shoe’ within the graffiti community, his work evolved into a business for lettering and he furthered his technique by apprenticing under the Dutch graphic design master, Anthon Beeke.
In the nineties Meulman ran his own design company, Caulfield & Tensing, before joining the international advertising network BBDO. In recent years, he has been a Creative Director for MTV Europe, while also freelancing in typographic design. Meulman revolutionized the art of writing with Calligraffiti, an art form that fuses calligraphy and graffiti. He launched this movement in 2007 with a successful solo exhibition in Amsterdam, with contributions from graffiti pioneer and graphic artist Eric Haze and sneaker retailer Patta. Meulman has also teamed up with international record label Rush Hour, to mount a Calligraffiti exhibition entitled Different Strokes. He is currently working on exhibitions in Paris, Berlin and New York.
Widely acclaimed, Meulman’s designs and artwork are in the permanent collections of the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam and The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Amongst his essential works are a signature shoe design for the British sports brand, Umbro; the re-styling of the Dutch television channel, TMF; calligraphy for the new Bols Genever bottle; the Christel Palace logo that was awarded by the Art Directors Club New York and line of luxury silk scarves for his label Unruly.
Salamatina Gallery
2030 Northern Blvd.
Manhasset, NY 11030
