AMMO Magazine are teaming up with Boat Magazine to host a live illustration event in which contributing artists will draw a map of their London. Boat Magazine is run by the people behind Boat Design Studio; for two months each year they shut their London studio and relocate to another part of the world. Whilst in these cities they rent a house and get involved with local creatives to tell unique stories about the city that you wouldn’t find in any tourist guide. So far they been to Sarajevo & Detroit. For their 3rd issue they’ve decided to stay put and focus on London.

As part of the 3rd issue AMMO & Boat Magazine have joined forces to run an illustration feature, showcasing maps by artists and designers in London (although you’re also welcome to take part if you can get to London for the day!). Out of the artists who take part 5 or 6 will get double page spreads in the magazine. The project is open to illustrators from in and around the capital to come to Boat’s studio space, and create a series of maps of London on Saturday 25th February from 11am.

“Our hope is that the unique interests, passions and beliefs of the creators who make them will shine a light on rich diversity and creativity of the capital. Without any geographic stimulus from maps, tube maps or google, we will ask illustrators to create a depiction of their own London – mapped in a way a stranger could follow.The work will be galleried on this site, and five of the maps will be chosen to be featured in the London issue of Boat Magazine which will hit shelves in April. ”

Find out more: http://ammomagazine.co.uk/competitions/london_scenes.html

‘Love & Hate’, Stolenspace Gallery, Dray Walk, The Old Truman Brewery until 4th March 2012.

Stolen Space Gallery in Shoreditch kicks off their first exhibition of 2012 by celebrating…and mourning… Valentines Day with an exhibition entitled ‘Love & Hate’.

A group show featuring mixed media pieces from various artists, as well as a few brand new screen print releases, featuring some of the best names in street art and low-brow art.

Featuring: Arth daniels, Chloe early, D*Face, Dan Witz, David Bray, Kai & Sunny, Miss Van, Ronzo, Sylvia Ji, Toshi, Will Barras, Word To Mother, Von, Jeff Soto, Pete Fowler, EINE, Josie Morway, Kelly Allen, Charles Krafft, Ramon Maiden, Ryan Callanan, Curtis Kulig, William Stevenson.

‘Love & Hate’ opens at Stolen Space Gallery on 10th February until 4th March 2012.

‘Phantasmagoria’ group show, Forman’s Smokehouse Gallery, London. Private view Thursday 9th February.

For something altogether different this week, take a trip to the Forman’s Smokehouse Gallery on Stour Road for their new exhibition Phantasmagoria.

Featuring an impressive line-up of artists including Roman Klonek, Jon Burgerman and David Shillinglaw, the exhibition will be themed around “the ongoing cycles of sub-cultures and counter cultures, their art, and its serendipitous decaying of objective and social meaning in tribal and underground arts.”

Motivated by the desire to comment on advertising using meaningful and symbolic art to sell and promote products, the art in the exhibition will be a mix of satire, the grotesque, street art, pop art and low-brow illustration.

Featuring: Andrew James, James Unsworth, Anwot, Isaac Cordal, Martin Wollerstam, Jon Burgerman, Shin Tanaka, Rebecca Strickson, David Shillinglaw, Agent Provocateur, Todd Ryan White, Roman Klonek, Otto Schade, Dave Anderson and Boicut.

Phantasmagoria opens on Thursday 9th February, 6pm – 9pm at Forman’s Smokehouse Gallery, Stour Road, East London.

For more information, check out this interview with Computer Arts magazine.

David Shrigley ‘Brain Activity’, Hayward Gallery, London until Sunday May 13th.

British artist David Shrigley is best known for his humourous drawings that make witty and wry observations on everyday life.

“Trained as a fine artist, his deliberately crude graphic style gives his work an immediate and accessible appeal, while simultaneously offering insightful commentary on the absurdities of human relationships.”

This exhibition, his first major survey show in London, will cover the full range of Shrigley’s diverse practice. This extends far beyond drawing to include photography, books, sculpture, animation, painting and music.

Spanning the upper galleries of the Hayward Gallery, the show will also include new artwork and site specific installations.

Check out Shrigley’s interview with Time Out Magazine for an insight into his working practice.

Open now until 13th May 2012 at the Hayward Gallery, London.

Gil Guerra aka LIGONE was born in the coastal city of Setúbal in 1985, among fishes and fishermen. Soon he started scrabling and drawing, stumbling on graffiti at the age of 13 and on street art at the age of 18, inspired by the posters, stickers and stencils of Lisbon and Barcelona. In 2006 his vespa scooter took him to the city of Caldas da Rainha to study Graphic Design.

Thirsty for more knowledge, he packed his stuff and flew to Budapest, to experience an ERASMUS program. In this city, also by the riverside, he came in contact with different tools and techniques to improve his work – photography, animation, and silkscreen print. After his return he concluded his Degree, that was when he found a new challenge, again far from his home town, by the sea.

Without thinking twice he packed his things and left for a new life in Gent where he stayed for 6 months. There he had the opportunity to work with Glossy, one of the most well known studios of design in Belgium doing an internship. Lately he has been collaborating with the Artistic Collective Gentuza, from Gent, what has revealed to be an enriching experience. In his imaginary world of little stylized creatures, the challenge is now to explore different materials, techniques and platforms. Words by Sandra Faustino.

Gil Guerra has recently participated in the first Fiend Projects Art Festival, at  Designcenter de Winkelhaak where he has a new collection of screen prints on display. Don’t miss your chance to check out his work & many of the other artists involved – including the Inkygoodness Shape/Shift exhibition! The evcnt which launched earlier this month ends on Saturday 28th January. More information here:  http://www.fiendprojects.com. In the press: Inkygoodness feature on Computer Arts blog.

SOYU is a new brand that aims to bring together eastern and western culture through art and fashion, with the force of a Bruce Lee kick to your face – just at a time when the world could do with a bit of positivity. SOYU’s launch project is the Creative Zodiac. A set of 12 prints, by 12 fantastic artists inspired by the 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac.

Each artist was chosen for their unique style, skill and craft they put in to their pieces. Limited to just 10 prints per piece it is also a response to the mass produced ‘Upload and Order’ printed products that are appearing online.

Each A2 piece is digitally printed on 315gsm cotton uncoated rag, resulting in some of the finest quality wall art around.

SOYU are selling these beautiful prints with a launch offer of just £15 per print during Chinese New Year week (23-29 January). Visit their site soyu.co.uk to find out more!

(l-r) Toy Factory, SKETCH Thursday’s founder Sacha Eckes, Fiend Projects founder & artist Mark Goss & the Inkygoodness girls!

(above) Inkygoodness Shape/Shift exhibition wall, at Fiend Projects Art Festival, Designcenter de Winkelhaak.

Fiend Projects Art Festival exhibition; featuring over 25 international artists & illustrators.

SKETCH Fiend session at Designcenter de Winkelhaak.

Our Shape/Shift launch party on Saturday was a blast! We had a really good time, and enjoyed meeting lots of local illustrators & artists – esp at the special SKETCH Fiend event, which attracted lots of visitors to the venue. Mark Goss (Fiend Projects founder) was a brilliant host – thanks for welcoming us to Antwerp &  introducing us to so many people! We received fantastic feedback from visitors, and look forward to checking out more of the Fiend Projects Art Festival event over the next few days.

Don’t miss your chance to check out Fiend Projects At Festival and our Shape/Shift print exhibition  - open now until 28th January! If you can’t make it to Antwerp, then why not visit our big cartel store, where you can pick up one of our Shape/Shift prints for just 55€ (unframed).

Lovingly reproduced on thick photo rag paper, each of our illustrators Shape/Shift inspired designs are available in a limited edition run of 10, for a short time only! Shop now on bigcartel now to avoid disappointment!

Shape/Shift Illustration Print Exhibition runs until Saturday 28th January 2012, at Designcenter de Winkelhaak, Antwerp. Fiend Projects Art Festival show is open daily from 10am – 4pm, closed on Sundays. Visit http://www.fiendprojects.com for the full festival line up.