Street art trailblazer Kid Acne’s new show opens in Copenhagen
Kid Acne is an artist, illustrator, print-maker and sometime MC from Lilongwe, Malawi who grew up under the grey skies of the East Midlands.
Huck caught up with the spotty-faced wunderkind and street art legend as his show All Hail Glycon goes on show at Copenhagen’s Limited Works gallery, until November 1.
Things That Inspire Me
The Birth Of Hip Hop
This mural was painted in conjunction with The Festival Of The Mind in Sheffield. FOTM is curated by Professor Vanessa Toulmin of the National Fairground Archive. One strand of the festival teams up academics from The University of Sheffield with makers and practitioners from the city. My unlikely collaboration is with Dr Katie Edwards who is currently researching the use and significance of religious imagery within popular culture. After seeing The Birth of Hip-Hop illustration I did some time ago, I was commissioned to paint the mural last week, which has been accompanied by a talk and Q&A at The Spiegeltent.
Lost Civilisations
I take inspiration from all over the place, though I’m particularly interested in theories of alternate history and lost civilisations. I’ve been watching documentaries and reading books by Graham Hancock, John Anthony West and Robert Bauval. All of which are informing my studio practice, both visually and lyrically.
Ramm:Ell:Zee
I’ve always been inspired by Ramm:Ell:Zee. His artwork, music and Ionic Treatise are all well worth checking. I think his analogy of wildstyle graffiti and illuminated scriptures are very interesting. I feel honoured and humbled to have met him and talked about his theories for a minute. Big up New Flesh. Rest in Panzerism!
Quentin Blake
Although I found my feet through painting graffiti as a teenager, with everything said and done – the real inspiration for my style comes from the work of Quentin Blake. I love the simplicity and rawness of his work. He and Roald Dahl were the perfect partnership in my view.
Travels
I would say traveling is the most rewarding thing to have come out of what I do. I feel very fortunate to have visited so many places around the world and to have met all these different people. Even the bad times become good times in the end. I always feel inspired after I’ve been away.
Music
I couldn’t work without music. Good music definitely helps me to switch off and get into the zone when I’m working. I’m currently enjoying the likes of Mndsgn, Strange U, Burgundy Blood and Jonwayne. I am also working on a new album and a couple of EPs due for release in the near future under the name Mongrels.
Check out Kid Acne’s All Hail Glycon show at Limited Works, Copenhagen until November 1.
You might like
Introducing ‘The Chaos Isles’, a new photozine by Huck and Yushy
Normal Island — From unlicensed raves to the solstice at Stonehenge, furries to giant vegetable growers, Yushy is one of the UK’s best lensmen of its wild side. ‘The Chaos Isles’ will be sent out exclusively to Club Huck+ members.
Join Club Huck+ to get the most from Huck
Dispatches from the sharp edge of culture — Members get our print magazine, special photozines, The Huck Long Read newsletter, discounts from our friends and partners, digital versions of back issues and priority access to events.
Landmark new exhibition is celebrating 50 years of female punk
God Save the Queens — The Museum of Youth Culture is bringing together rare photography, archive material and a one-night-only supergroup featuring members of X-Ray Spex, The Slits and The Raincoats.
Halcyon, end of summer days in ’80s Massachusetts
Bell Pond — Stephen DiRado’s new photobook is a nostalgic look at blissed out moments of young love, family and coming of age at a swimming pond in Worcester, Massachusetts.
The groundbreaking photography of Gordon Parks
Voices in the Mirror — A new exhibition dives deep into the legendary lensman’s archive, who captured the Civil Rights Movement and Black America like no other.
A chaotic portrait of an ’80s American farming family
Holy Cow! — Melonie Bennett grew up on a farm in Maine in the ’80s, and documented her family’s idiosyncratic daily life. She presents those humorous, everyday memories in a new exhibition and photobook.
