Culture Art

The Outside In at ME London ǀ Exhibition review

11^th July 2013

Melanie Weaver

11 July 2013

The Outside In is a month long showcase of works by international street and graffiti artists, curated by Street Art London. The show features pieces both on canvas and in the medium of projections that scroll across the nine-storey marble walls of the hotel’s impressive atrium.

The works exhibited are diverse and colourful. As its title suggests, the exhibition reflects ME’s philosophy of celebrating the city’s rich culture by bringing it indoors and incorporating it into the otherwise minimalistic environment of the hotel. It’s certainly an interesting concept as visitors to ME, with its polished surfaces and stunning rooftop terrace, couldn’t feel further removed from the streets of East London, one of the city’s best locations for spotting street art.

The exhibition includes pieces from five renowned artists including BRK, Christiaan Nagel, Thierry Noir, RUN and Zomby. Nagel’s works, a series of pop-art inspired sculptural mushrooms, are particularly strong, however their positioning within the space doesn’t highlight them, meaning they might easily be overlooked by a viewer.

The formal way in which the pieces are presented does make visitors question whether the true spirit of street art has been captured, however the exhibition fulfils its original intention of bringing the style to new audiences and the projections add another interesting dimension.

The Outside In is part of a programme of events at ME and will be followed by an exciting two-day experience A Weekend of London Street Art, which will give guests the opportunity to take a guided tour of East London street art, as well as taking part in a workshop where they can create their own pieces. With an unusual concept and many vibrant works, The Outside In is definitely worth a visit, for both seasoned street art enthusiasts and those who just want to learn a little more about the style.

★★★★★

Melanie Weaver
Photos: Indrek Galetin

The Outside In is at ME London until 4^th August 2013. For further information visit the exhibition’s website here.