The must-see exhibit from pop culture provocateur, Hayden Kays
Whether making ‘Tories: Very Little Helps’ slogan tees or ‘This Is Not A Bomb’ Brillo boxes, the British artist Hayden Kays’ creations oft take a sardonic look at capitalism, popular culture and mindless, unresting consumption. With the festive season now upon us, Christmas marketing is out in full force – buy more, more, more! It’s relentless – Secret Santas, that gift for your boyfriends cousin…Turning this merry time on its head, Kays invites you to the Complete Kunst Show at ThePrintSpace gallery in Dalston.
This show is comprised of a ‘complete’ collection of the Banksy-approved artists personal favourite works; featuring 38 limited edition prints, a handful of photographs, newspaper clippings, drawings, stamps and other studio detritus make up the show at theprintspace. Kays describes the show as “the perfect place to purchase that special little something, for someone you don’t like that much”. “I’m frequently accused of being controversial and I just don’t think I am,” Kays tells Benjamin Murphy. “I think life is fucking controversial, half the world if starving to death, while the other half is stuffing their faces. We are able to pipe oil out of and around the globe at breakneck speed, but we’re not capable of piping clean drinking water to everyone. Life is controversial.” “I’m not deluded enough to think I can change the world,” he adds. “I’m only able to change my world.Art can open doors, Art can really move you, Art has got me here, Art gets me going, I believe in Art, it’s just sceptical of me.”
Check out the ‘Complete Kunst Show’ at theprintspace Gallery, 74 Kingsland Rd, London E2 8DL, running until 12th November. Follow Hayden on Instagram @haydenkays.
