By Any Means Necessary is both exhibition and critique challenging the traditional boundaries that divide and define artistic practices. It asserts that all art, at its core, originates from a single impulse: the act of marking a blank surface, a universal drive to create and be seen. This shared genesis unites works across mediums, highlighting that, while they may diverge in form and reception, all art exists to claim space and express identity.
Historically, institutions have elevated certain forms, privileging gallery-bound work while relegating practices like tattoo and graffiti to the periphery. By Any Means Necessary interrogates this hierarchy, questioning the authority of those who base artistic value on framing and presentation rather than substance and technique. It contends that the next generation of collector sees a painting as no more valuable than a tattoo or handbag, each being an essential expression of a common creative impulse.
This egalitarian theme finds physical embodiment in the community surrounding Shipton Gallery’s Hackney Wick location—a neighbourhood shaped by constant urban change since the 2012 Olympics. Extending the exhibition beyond the gallery walls, a temporary wooden structure near the station invites unsanctioned contributions from the public, merging the curated exhibition space with the spontaneous energy of the street.
The wall serves as a public canvas, temporarily transforming the area into a dynamic forum that blends structured space with urban expression, illustrating a competition for visibility—not only among artists but among art forms and traditional art platforms, each seeking recognition in an growing cultural marketplace.
For more information and opening hours visit:https://shipton.gallery/exhibitions/by-any-means-necessary-tattoo-grafitti-fine-art