Last Saturday, on 18th July, Ctrl.Alt.Shift went down to the Southbank to put on a stunning array of live street art and music - we got some crazy results...

The challenge had been set: each artist had six hours (from 10am-4pm) to create an image based around CORRUPTION. Stepping up were graffer legends in the making, Remi Rough, Pure Evil, Ed Tizer, Chris Getliffe, plus up and comers Mr.P, Mock, Sam Bridge, Arthur Branco, and finally a touch of fine art through Karl Anthoney and 3D mastermind Wayne 'The Chiz' Chisnall.

For passersby, on an unexpected, but gratefully received sunny Saturday, it was a thrilling display (just outside the Queen Elizabeth Hall) to witness first-hand how these artists got down. The extended deadline of six hours was looking way too ample for the experts of the canvas (and The Chiz), as by lunch time, most were detailing the finishing touches. I even had to ask a few to slow down, take a break or two. Little surprise though – Sam Bridge told Ctrl.Alt.Shift: "I just want to get this done, I've been thinking about it for a while and it's such an exciting and engaging project."
 

With the public holding the power of voting who would win, the heat was on by 3pm, though the audience were already spoilt for choice, with each piece evolving into unique, and phenomenal works of art; from Arthur Branco's illustration of a sexy female figure, to Chisnall's dark and sinister grim-reaper like model, it was definitely the place the be for all art-fans in London.

If the mist of spray paints and intense smell of acrylics didn't attract a crowd, Ctrl.Alt.Shift threw in the added spectacle of spoken word poets and musicians as entertainment - lead by MC for the day, Inua Ellams; a man well respected around Southbank already for his smooth and cool spoken word poetry skills. Inua was on fire (drawing in the masses), whilst Dubplate Drama actor/music artist Isaac Ssebandeke delivered some powerful poetry followed by a few songs of his own. Retro MC James Pyke and musicians Mr.Pete Duggan and Pete Mcallen, in between other poetry sessions, completed an impressive set - all as the live street art showcase continued just behind.

Back to the art, and the hustling game was on, as the artists spent every last minute available perfecting their pieces. Pure Evil commented right at the death: "Of course man, I want to win this thing."

At 4pm, the cans and brushes were dropped – behold people, how powerful a tool the statement of art remains. Crowds gathered in for hours afterwards to post their votes (merely by placing a Ctrl.Alt.Shift sticker next to the piece of their choice).

Nevertheless, the votes were in, and the man with the funky dreads and tattered trousers – Chris Getliffe - triumphed with just a few more sticker votes. His surreal piece depicted "the corruption of innocence." The clean and ridiculously sharp image of two strange animals (one hugging a heart) was ever so slightly a stroke above the rest. So congrats to Chris (Ctrl.Alt.Shift readers can expect to see that work of art in issue 4 of our next magazine, out later this year).

Still for me, the highlight of the day was simply to see so many people excited and inspired by the art. Even Chris said: "I can be competitive, but it's just a privilege to be involved in such a project – I'm not a very in-the-know kind of person when it comes to these 'corruption issues', I skim past the bulls**t in the news all the time, but this showcase has opened the eyes of the public, and myself."
 

Art has always been a medium of changing perspectives and preconceptions – this showcase portrayed that notion is alive and kicking. Karl Anthoney (with the image of a knife slicing through an object) put it bluntly: "Ctrl.Alt.Shift is sick, ever growing, and doing the right kind of things to draw in and educate the next generation. Was this a success? Just look at everyone's reactions – speaks for itself don't it."

Note – Artist descriptions:

Name: Chis Getliffe
Title of piece: Innocence
Description: "That's lovely I'll give you a fiver for it" piece with two animals, one holding a heart.
He says: "The animals represent the good, pure, childlike nature we all have in us somewhere - and how easy it is to be corrupted. On a larger scale of things, it shows the corruption of one self."
 

Name: Karl Anthoney:
Title of piece: Corruption
Description: A knife going through an object
He says: "The knife represents the stern of higher power. The multi-coloured splats are the different nations being hit by the sharp blade; some colours free others slashed. The knife is thrusting through an object that looks like cheese or money – call it what you want. I call it corruption."

Name: Remi Rough
Title of piece: There's Two R's In CORRUPTION
Description: White background with the big yellow, white and red R
He says: "I went for a more ambiguous and abstract piece, using the clashing colours to make a statement of how corruption works. I find that it you make something too obvious, people can often just walk past it."

Name: Sam Bridge
Title of piece: So We Have A Deal?
Description: Man in a suit putting a green toy into this pocket
He says: "I have tried to illustrate the power that humankind has to make the right choice. The writhing marks made on the man's skin, almost fighting against each other, are a testament to the dichotomy of his power vs a frailty of will. His confused or ambiguous expression make it unclear if he is buying or selling the toy, however one can assume the deal is ugly, begging the question, "will he do the right thing?" The toy itself is a symbol of innocence. It is an item that has immense sentimental value to someone but is being used as a saleable commodity in what can only be viewed as an unsavoury transaction."
 
Name: Pure Evil
Title of piece: The Fat Cat Puppet-Master
Description: A blue cat with a puppet, and the 'Capitalism' Coca-Cola logo.
He says: "It's the corrupt capitalists controlling us all."

Name: Wayne Chisnall
Title of piece: Corruption Incarnate
Description: 3D model of a dark, caped figure with a snout
He says: "For my contribution to the live art showcase, I chose to create a sinister spectre-like creature that would be the embodiment of corruption.  As "power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely" I decided to make my piece out of the symbols and tools of power; namely money and oil. So this cloaked figure (skeletal and deformed by its own greed) is shown as having skin made of dollar bills with a gold snout and metal talons, all of which are stained and dripping with glistening black oil."

Name: Ed Tizer
Title of piece: Money Whore
Description: The green zombie-like man with writing: "Money Whore"
He says: "As it was corruption-themed, I did a zombie, to show how everybody is so interested in money, and how it can have an overall effect, with the city burning in the background. There are touches are gold, to represent how people get so excited over blinging shit, but are not prepared to work for the money they earn."

Name: Arthur Branco
Title of piece: Girl's Dreams Of Credible Success Corrupted By A Haze Of Booze, Cash, And Late Night Strip Joint Action.
Description: The green girl with dollar symbols around her
No comment (title kinda speaks for itself...)

Name: Mock
Title of piece: Corrupt London
Description: The vibrant board with CORRUPT painted in red, yellow and grey.
He says: "Working with what I had, the space and colours - I did a graffiti style piece to show how the London graffiti movement isn't corrupt but the people who call it vandalism are i.e. the police and government."

Name: Mr.P
Title of piece: Corruption Has Many Faces
Description: The multi-coloured face with writing: "Corruption has many faces."
No comment

Photos: Mannray Powell