​[deːɐ̯ ˈt͡saːn deːɐ̯ ˈt͡saɪ̯t] Der Zahn Der Zeit

​By ALIAS & TONA

With ALIAS and TONA, the gallery brings the work of two leading German street artists to Amsterdam. While living and working in the metropolitan environment of Berlin and Hamburg respectively which is naturally reflected in their art, ALIAS and TONA search for the intimacy of direct contact with the individual in their works. This duality produces exciting, often emotional and always layered images. For both artists, who use the stencil as a technique, the starting point is the small, personal and tragic story within the great collective epic tale that we call life.

Alias mainly investigates how individuals are affected by injustice and feelings of loneliness and isolation. His works are usually in sober black and white accentuated with small touches of red color. This stylistic decision works well with the themes and graphically designed figures this stencil artist is so fond of. It’s only natural to relate to and reflect on the depicted subjects and it’s exactly in this way Alias hopes to make a change. He deliberately targets our emotions, toys with them by cutting his stenciled design in order to create a better world from the very within.

The search for the possibility of communication that painting offers is central to the work of street artist Tona. Painting breaks through all barriers because it does not require language. When painting on the street he often takes pictures of the attracted audience. He then transforms these images into detailed stencils, which are in turn painted on another wall in another city and so on. In Tona’s work everything is in motion and connected, but he’s always looking for contact with the individual.

This exhibition Der Zahn Der Zeit, Alias & Tona’s first show together, presents the artists fascination with the patina of time that is reflected in their creative process. On the street their art is likely to be found in obscure, isolated sites and old buildings. These original locations are a vital part of the identity of the artwork. For their indoor work they enjoy scavenging for rusty disintegrated materials to use as a background, infusing each of their mobile works with the spirit of the original location.

EXHIBITION OPENING
Saturday 23 April 17:00 - 22:00
Exhibition until 5 June

O.D. GALLERY - SINGEL 395 - AMSTERDAM
OPEN WEDNESDAY - SUNDAY, 12:00 - 18:00

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