Thierry Noir: Jazz, Howard Griffin Gallery

Thierry Noir brings his own brand of vivid street art to the Howard Griffin Gallery this summer that combines art with the rhythms of the Berlin music scene.

Thierry Noir & Berlin Wall

The radical French artist is best known as the first person to paint the Berlin Wall in 1984, an act he describes as making the monument ridiculous and thus helping to destroy it. All the characters that populate Noir's quirky work are inspired by this specific time in Berlin when Nu Wave, Hip Hop, Punk Rock and Jazz were all the rage amongst huge political and social upheaval. Influenced by musical genres, we can think of Noir's clashing colours as dissonant chords and his spontaneous technique like jazz improvisation.

Howard Griffin Gallery exhibition

If you are looking for things to do in East London this summer, Noir's new exhibition is filled with his recognisable clunky characters, clasping rounded instruments that ressemble Picasso's fascination with African tribal masks. These quirky beings come to life at Howard Griffin thanks to the large-scale sculptural works and playable musical instruments crafted by Noir with Chris Tsonias. There is even a musical performance at the gallery using these specially designed instruments.

It's a strange new world in East London, but we love Thierry Noir's mantra that all art is a performance.