Heineken Expression UV art off

Music? Illustrators? Free Entry? Sounds good to me!

Culch.ie was invited to check out Heineken Expression in Tripod, Dublin. The blurb will tell you.. “The crème of national and international designers and illustrators will come together as part of ‘Heineken Expression’, a three part series of events that visits cities around the country during October and November to celebrate creativity and the Heineken Bottle.”

Let me put that in plain english: Heineken got a geansai load of ‘hot’ illustrators to funk up their bottles (the UV glow ones are kinda cool). And why should they stop there? they’ve got the drink, they’ve got the illustrators, chuck in some smooth tunes and mix it up. Better still, the tickets are free and can be gotten through the website (over 18s only).

I don’t know what I was expecting when I walked in but never have I seen a nightclub FULL of people so quietly enthralled. The crowd were of ‘Bernard Shaw’ ilk. That is to say, a very friendly crowd who like threadless T’s and sparkly cupcakes. There was lots of eneregy. The artists fevering at their canvases as the crowd seemed to flow around them with the same constant pace.

The idea was to have the artists in a Draw Off. They were split into BrenB, Steve Simpson, Serge Seidlitz and Chris Judge one side of the room. Phil Dunne, TADO, Gaetan Billault and Danleo on the other. Round 1 in pure black and white. Round 2 in colour and round 3 in UV markers on glass. The crowd would decide who goes through by cheer volume. There was a break between each round to give the canvas jockeys a break. Most of them stayed by the dance floor and were incredibly approachable. They almost phyiscally Buzzed with energy and the crowd reacted to it so warmly, you couldn’t help but get caught up.

I caught a few of them between sessions to find out what they thought of doing Heineken Expression.

Phil Dunne

What do you think of the night?

I love it! Working live is very exciting without the backup of a computer and going back when you do a mistake, you just have to go for it.

Whats your favoutite bit?

Drawing on Tshirts. It’s challenging to draw on fabric on a table in a club but it’s great fun to do.

Steve Simspon

Whats it like working in front of ‘a live studio audience’

He pauses, smiles, looks at the bottle of heineken in his hand and says “Great!”

Is this the 1st one of these you’ve done?

“No. There are these kind of drawing social events at Twisted Pepper with BrenB and the guys”.

You’re going on to do this in Galway and Cork, how do you think that’ll go?

Another big grin. “Oh. It’s like a school trip with all your mates. Sharing rooms. Running about. It’s gonna be a lot of fun”.

TADO

How are you feeling?

“Nervous!!”

This from an Internationally reknown illustrator?! And Katie (of the Mike and Katie team that makes up TADO) was genuinly nervous. She told me she was absolutly loving it and with that dived back to the comfort of the canvas to prepare for the next round. Adorable.

If you didn’t make the Dublin session there is always Cork and Galway to look forward to.

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Cork

Heineken Expression hits the real capital at 8pm on Friday, 13th November 2009 in The Classic.

Acts on the night will include Irish born, Shit Robot (a.k.a Marcus Lambkin) whose latest offering boasts both old and new disco and electro inspired house selections. You can register for tickets online.

Music by

• Shit Robot (DJ)
• Jamie Behan (DJ)
• DJ Tu-Ki (DJ)
• Dancepig (DJ)
• Donal Dineen (DJ)

Illustrators

• Phil Dunne
• Steve Simpson
• Chris Judge
• Gaetan Billault
• BRENB

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Galway

Heineken Expression Galway is kicking off in Karma at 8pm on Friday, 27th November 2009 and a mighty night is on the cards.

Acts on the night will include Irish born, Shit Robot (a.k.a Marcus Lambkin) whose latest offering boasts both old and new disco and electro inspired house selections. You can register for tickets on the website.

music by

• Shit Robot (DJ)
• Mano Le Tough (DJ)
• Ruari (DJ)
• Cian Ó Cíobháin (DJ)

illustrators

• Phil Dunne
• Steve Simpson
• Chris Judge
• Gaetan Billault
• BRENB

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To get your tickets to the Cork or Galway Heineken Expression, or to check out the artists illustrative takes on the Heineken bottle go to the website here.

If you like this kind of drawing event and can’t make it to the cork or Galway sessions, check out www.candycollective.com For alternative nights out.