Making Triangles, a sculpture!

"Making triangles" is the first sculpture of our recent series of works (that we use to call "living-structures"). It is an aluminium sculpture of 70x70x30cm, realized in 2012.

The first image appearing readable is an equilateral triangle from which, shortly after, becomes noticeable the speed control and a connection of twisted intertwined mechanisms. Approaching more appear more evident a pipes system and some elements that would suggest a living being: an eye, a mouth and two arms, but still remains a mechanism and, as such, seems to have a function and perhaps an operator. This "living structure" recalls the first creation, in a creative sense, in terms of production and construction; recalls the human potential for growth and creation. The large triangle made to generate something smaller, and it does thanks to the fluid passing through it. This fluid does not, however, come from the outside, but by the same mechanism, it is the lifeblood that flows in the pipes. The reality is self-powered, the man shape itself. It should be added that the equilateral triangle, moreover, is harmony and proportion, and in a sense we have an harmonic system as such and in its parts, with the ability to create. 

A "Red" version of this sculpture was presented at ArtYou - Urban Art Basel 2012, and this new one will be presented at the Grafik13 in Zürich (22-24 of march 2013).

More about it and about the new series of works on: www.nevercrew.com

Undercontrol!

It 'a long time that we do not publish something new here on our blog, and fortunately this is due to the fact that we are working and we have not much free time. However, we are preparing so much material and so many projects that we will realize soon. :-)

The painting you see in the big picture above is named "Undercontrol", we realized it in august 2012 in a pedestrian underpass in Monte Carasso (CH), under the highway, in the context of a project proposed by the Urbanova association.

At the same project were involved also BigTato, PlusPower, Panho, Zeta, Rysk and Irons.

About this painting and its concept we can say that: Everyone moves, since he was born, on roads, means, thoughts and planets that feels as if they had always been here as they are now and as if they always belonged to him.

(click on the images to enlarge them)

Magenta!

We recently completed our latest painting: "Magenta - The never-ending game between the Astronaut and the Plastiline Rabbit", a 240 square meters outdoor painting realized at the elementary schools of Bozzoreda, Lugano (CH),  on request of the DSU of Lugano (the public services department of Lugano). 

It is mainly realized with spray cans paint, with some part in acrylic paint markers and lacks. It is composed by two big walls, one perpendicular to the other, and it shows an evolving scenery, a story (or more) that's taking life. The basis of this painting are the idea of creating, of creativity, imagination, thought, discovery and memories; of the great abilities and possibilities from which we naturally can tap into at any age.

...You can hear strange noises coming from behind the little door: the rustle of paper is mixed with the roar of a fully active engine, a slight fluttering of wings seems to accompany the notes of a guitar, while something is moving in the water and seems to enjoy. The small key can reveal everything and involve the visitor in the never-ending game between the astronaut and the plastiline rabbit. 

Click on the images to enlarge them, and more about "Magenta" on our website.

The Funnel Project

"The Funnel" is the project that we proposed to Arte Urbana Lugano, in the national competition for the temporary renewal of the Lugano-Besso (CH) pedestrian tunnel.

A 80 feet long blackboard that runs through the tunnel, on one hand, a white wall with benches to observe, on the other one; colored chalks in an automatic-vending machine, the four cardinal points written with neon lights; messages which are randomly generated by a computer. This is "The Funnel", where the constant flow of travelers and passers-by brings messages, information, ideas and suggestions.
The idea behind this project is very simple: give to people, who go through the tunnel that connects Besso to Lugano or that come from the railway station, a tool to express themselves and a place to leave their own messages. But the developments are full of potential. Who has never written a sentence of love, an insult, a thought on the blackboard at school? Who has never dreamed of doing it using all the available colors?
A dream comes true to the nth power, with a 80 meters long blackboard placed on the south wall of the tunnel. Divided into four colors regions representing the four cardinal points that meet up int the tunnel, the blackboard will turn it into "Funnel," a funnel of information, news, messages, thoughts that come from the four corners of the world and from the two poles of the city : the Besso quarter and Lugano. Mixing visions and travels in a single, large collective fresco.

To participate in this work, the distracted traveler or the rushing passer-by, will have at the disposal colored chalks, which can be found in an automatic-vending machine located at the junction of the North / South and East / West flows, at the underpass that leads to the train tracks. Each color is linked to one of the four cardinal points, and thus, perhaps, influence the choice of the message to leave and in which part of the long blackboard leave it.
To inspire the passer-traveler-writer will be distributed, along with chalks, a phrase printed on a ticket. Dark, disturbing, maybe funny: it is randomly generated by a computer and, perhaps because it's random, it speaks us about our fate... or maybe not. After leaving his mark on the large blackboard, the traveler-passer will recover from his labors by sitting in front of the long black wall, on a simple bench at the foot of a luminous white and just as long wall (the north part). To view, read and think.
"The Funnel" is this: a place where the flow of information, thoughts, desires, stops for a moment, on a long blackboard placed at the intersection of different worlds. In Lugano. A simple idea, full of potential developments: into "the Funnel" you can organize events, lectures, happenings, drawing contests, reading evenings of the messages that stranded on the blackboard. But "The Funnel" will become ath first something alive, a landing place for the flow, one that binds and unites the whole, an organism with a life of its own made of urban legends, love stories and oblique messages written in chalk.

We planned to use about 80% of the maximum budget allowed for this project (CHF 100'000. -): 50% for the realization and 30% to support events and activities within it.

The competition was won by Sophie Maffioli and Paola Tallarico, with the project "(S)Guarda Lugano", and it will be realized in june 2012 for Arte Urbana Lugano.

For more details about concept, techichal solutions, more images and for the ITALIAN version download the PDF here or visit our website.

Sluggy P - Superfrosted!

Sluggy P Superfrosted is the hairy version of Sluggy P (our latest 4 inches designer toy), evolved for situations of considerable frost and frosting (outdoor or in the kitchen). As the "regular" Sluggy P, the Superfrosted lives in the cities and look at us from the top of the buildings; but he's more relaxed and also likes to visit mountains and nature, or to walk right on the streets. His new hairy surface gives him the necessary protection from low temperatures and bad weather (also between persons), and also more adherence on his head to grab everything he needs. Needless to say, thanks to his white hairy-look he's frequently confused with a Yeti, but he's more common and not aggressive.

In the first series, we will produce 50 pieces with white hair and pink donut and 50 pieces with white hair and blue donut, both numbered and signed and buyable on our store.

To know more about Sluggy P Superfrosted, visit its page on our website.

Click here to know more about the "regular" Sluggy P and here to visit our store.

A wallpaper set is on out downloads page.

 

Sluggy P!

"Sluggy P" is a character that we created for the upcoming movie "Tutti Giù" by Niccolò Castelli (ImagoFilm), for wich we worked as art directors, that's going to be released in 2012.

Sluggy-P is a pigeon like any other one, but probably not so easy going. He doesn't like the chaotic life of the metropolis, also if he likes to live there. He desires a better life for everyone (and for himself, of course) with all the modern comforts and technologies, but without the excess and disorder of bad informations and without pollution. He loves colors, creativity and diversity, but can't stand confusion and intolerance. This stressful situation makes him very hungry and a bit depressed, and he takes comfort from the sweetness of donuts, like an edible colored lifebelt. 

 

More about Sluggy P on our Website.

More about "Tutti Giù" on the official page and on the IMDb page.

 

A wallpapers set is available on our Downloads Page.

 

 

 

 

Live and Explore!

In april 2011 we were invited by a crew of UK based journalists (Redwood Group), from the Volvo's LIV magazine, to partecipate in theyr "European Art Movement" project. The basic idea was a trip trough Europe on their Volvo XC60 with three stops, one for every selected artist. The stops were Bornholm in Denmark (Anne Sofie Meldgaard), Leipzig in Germany (Metulczki) and Lugano in Switzerland (us). We had to choose a place to realize a work and we decided to do that on the top of the "Balestra" Carpark in the center of Lugano. 

The work we realized represents a kind of exploration: the astronaut is a person who visits places that few humans can see, looking at things with wonder and, of course, for the first time; he discover them. The car instead explores the inside, lives the place in detail; it knows it and it's part of it. The article and the interview are published on issue n°2 - 2011 of LIV magazine and also as video documentary on Volvo's website. 

You can see the artwork by CLICKING HERE, the video interview by CLICKING HERE and you can read the article HERE.

Paint Club Switzerland Video!

On 2nd september 2011, we partecipated in the "Paint Club" Swiss competition at the "Rok" club in Luzern (CH), which consisted in an "art battle" between three teams of artists (2 artists in every team). With a subject decided just before the start ("BlockParty"), we had ninety minutes to create a painting (improvising) using acrylics and markers.

In the end, two judges and the audience chose our painting as the winner, and then we got the opportunity to participate in the European finals of the "Paint Club" in Berlin, that will probably be in 2012.

By clicking HERE you can see a short video about the performance.

The video is filmed by Andrea Todaro (http://vimeo.com/todaro) and edited by us.  The song is "Traffic Cars" by Professor Kliq (http://www.professorkliq.com/ ), and here you can find more details about the PAINT CLUB (http://the-paint-club.com/).

Cuckoo! Cuckoo!

At the beginning of july we realized 2 paintings in a private house, one in a corridor and one in the kitchen. In both projects there were few requests from the client, that however gave us a lot of freedom.
For the main painting "Cuckoo Cuckoo", in the corridor, we had to realize an image contaning the cities of Zürich, Lugano, Locarno and the Leventina valley, and we had to integrate everything with a red stripe. We used acrylics directly on wall (250 x 250 centimeters the main part, but almost 600 cm with the entire red stripe). Here below: the project, considering that we weren't able to take front pictures of the total work. Click on the images to enlarge).

Into the kitchen, we had to create a sort of frame around a chalkboard-painted area of the wall (136 x 70 cm). We painted a billboard using mixed media, acrylics and spray painting, to create an urban mood. Here below more pictures of the corridor painting (at work) and of the kitchen painting.