Ben Eine: Exciting
Please be aware that this art is in a busy local business courtyard so due to covid restrictions it may not be possible to walk in… Please be respectful of this, good news is they do amazing cocktails and street food so why not book in and enjoy the art and some lunch!
Exciting – was painted by Ben Eine between the 24th and 26th of September 2020. Situated in the garden of what was then Carlisle’s newest bar, The Print Yard. Ben Heslop and Ben Eine had worked together for a number of years and Eine had always promised to come and paint in the city when the time was right. Ben Eine, who’s name and paintings are synonymous and ingrained in graffiti and street art history, used to be Banksy’s screen printer. He is regarded as one of the first artists to make the transition from graffiti to street art. David Cameron, then Prime Minister, gave an original canvas to President Barack Obama as the official gift from the UK to America when they first met in 2010. Strangely, the covid pandemic has turned so many things on its head in 2020, however this ‘moment in time’ where everyone’s schedules aligned came between the first national lock down and the second lockdown after Christmas 2020. This meant that after it was painted the piece lay hidden until April 2021 when bars and restaurants were allowed to tentatively reopen their doors adding further to the impact and the power of the chosen word ‘Exciting’. “There are so many cities around the world that recognise the value of street art and are actively encouraging it, it is great to see what Blank Wall Assassins are developing up here for the city ” Said Eine. Painted freehand in his signature bright bold and powerful ‘Circus Font,’ Eine has used a multitude of colours to paint a big, bold, statement piece. Exciting? you bet.
Watch the video of the project here
Now head out and take a left down the lane back onto the highstreet for your next discovery.
Print Yard Bar
