Coverage: David Walker’s London Solo Show “A Blank Canvas is a White Flag”

David Walker has populated cities across the world with his strikingly surreal portraits on the sides of buildings. Now Berlin-based, the artist is back to London for his first gallery show in three years at the Lawrence Alkin Gallery, ‘A Blank Canvas is a White Flag’.

The artist has produced a variety of processes and styles with an all new way of presenting portraits. The viewers are in for a treat exploring not only Walker’s signature style colour-explosive paintings but also new techniques including 3D installations, photography, as well as collaborations with talented artists Ryan Callanan and Schoony.

On the meaning behind the exhibition’s title ‘A Blank Canvas is a White Flag’, the artist comments that it refers ‘to that idea of the war you wage on being a creative in the world today’. It can be very difficult to justify making portrait paintings when you read the news or see what’s happening in the world. There are a lot of forces both interior and exterior that makes you question the worth of making a painting. The title really comes from that idea that if you do nothing then you’ve essentially given up. Like every artist you go through phases of wondering why the hell you do it. For me it’s a need to make things, manifest work, to move forward and create’. 

If you are in London the exhibition is running until 30 November 2014 at 9 Kingsland Road, London E2 8AA. Continue reading for more images from his show and stay with us for more news on Walker’s work in London.