Stories

There’s a war going on in the depths of Digbeth between some of Birmingham’s most talented artists. At the Rainbow Pub, contenders are battling it out to claim the title of Secret Wars Champion 2009.

The audience helps decide the winner

Their only weapon is a black pen, their battleground a huge white canvas, and the winner of each bout of frenzied drawing is decided by the Secret Wars audience.

Secret Wars has come a long way from its humble beginnings in London, “In the dark backstreets of Shoreditch, nestled between the hectic nightlife and the Victorian railway arches.” The event now takes place all over Europe, and is in its second year in Birmingham.

A real secret

Its growing cult status has always relied upon word of mouth. Secret Wars organisers liken the event to Fight Club, saying “Secret Wars is happening right now, you just don’t know! People just seem to catch on and swarm through the doors, as soon as we let the date be known.”

Fierce creatures

Keen graffiti artists from across Birmingham entered their names into a draw earlier this year, and the 16 lucky enough to be chosen were given a simple but intimidating brief: “90 minutes, only black paint, no colour freestyle, no sketches, go BIG or go home!”

So, with just an hour and a half to impress both the crowds and two judges with their artistic flair, contenders have to match speed with skill, filling their blank canvas with weird and wonderful designs.

High stakes

With a cash prize and lots of goodies up for grabs, along with recognition and respect from the street art community, competition is fierce, and all bets are off as to who will win the final in March 2009.

Posh One at work

Between now and then, The Rainbow will play host to eight first round heats over four nights, followed by the quarter and semi finals. Birmingham based DJs and MCs will be providing the soundtrack to each event, and all those attending are encouraged to take sides, pick their favourite artist, and make their loyalties known.

This may sound harsh, but organisers say Secret Wars is the event to watch for those seeking out new artistic talent: "This is Secret Wars. There can only be one winner.... paint will spill!"

Spreading like wildfire

Beyond the hype and showmanship, however, Secret Wars Birmingham is seen by its followers as a democratic platform for local and emerging artists, as 16 year old Matthew explains.

Matthew AKA Flowers

He felt he wasn’t ready to enter this second series, and will be competing next year, but came along this time to check out the competition. He’s keen to point out that Birmingham should not cower in London’s shadow, when it comes to art and culture:

“You know, to people who say Birmingham’s a cultural black hole, you just wait because everyone’s coming up, no-one’s messing about anymore. I know London takes the limelight, but we’re spreading like wildfire, so everyone better get down to Brum.”

The four artists taking part in this first heat each have a distinctive style, and vastly different plans of attack when it comes to Secret Wars.

Ouch

Glenn Anderson has been described as "the most modest and elusive of artists". He has filled blank walls in Vietnamese bars, completed large scale commissions for corporate clients, and recently held a successful solo exhibition in his home city.

Ouch at work

His unusual approach to Secret Wars confused the crowds from the outset- he began drawing before battle officially commenced, and finished only ten minutes in, having written in oversize curlicues a message deliberately hard to read.

It may not have won him a place in the next round, but it did send out a message- that art should be judged for itself, not surrounded by distracting performance.

Glenn appeared pleased with his work, and unconcerned that he won’t be competing in the quarter finals: “Secret Wars is what it is, you know, not the best environment to work in. It’s an interesting approach to putting yourself on the spot!”  

N4T4

Nathan is originally from Nuneaton, but has been involved in the Birmingham art scene for several years. Much of his work is deliberately ephemeral, like the painstakingly hand painted stickers he pastes up in public places.

N4T4 photo/ Juice126

Nathan has painted for festivals, skate parks, workshops and private clients, besides the street art with which he has left his mark, here and abroad.

He sites Australia as a guiding influence in his work: “I am inspired by aboriginal art and graffiti- its self evolved visual language, dual meanings and temporal quality, and its basis in culture, people and environment rather than commerce.”

His work is much more gentle and multilayered than what you might expect from a graffiti artist set to do battle in the antagonistic, highly strung atmosphere of Secret Wars. Although his favourite medium is spray paint, and his opponent had finished before he’d even started, he was looking forward to the competition:

“The work that we do here doesn’t really exist, it’s about the here and now. I’m just going to get stuck in and have some fun. Ouch seems to have started without me, but that’s OK, he’s just in his own world. As soon as I put my pen on the board, I’ll be in my own world too.”

Posh One

Adam Beavon, known as Posh to his friends, was raised in Castle Bromwich and studied art for a time in Leeds. He returned to his native stomping ground to work as an artist, and has exhibited widely. He sells canvases both in the UK and abroad, as well as taking on commissions for private clients.

Posh One

He enjoys working on unconventional surfaces- such as mirror and glass- and often customizes skateboards, trainers and vehicles, saying he likes to see his work “on the move.”

His style is clean and angular, drawing on horror, cartoon culture and science fiction. He populates his canvases with strange, often disturbing figures- giants tearing themselves out of cityscapes, robots with threatening claws. He sites New York graffiti artist Futura as one of influences, calling him “the daddy at what he does”.

Kungfo

Leon Sparkes is the youngest of this first heat’s contenders, and his style is angular and aggressive, portraying stylised figures packed in to claustrophobic spaces. He describes himself as "an artist, painter, illutrator, graphic designer and music composer", and enjoys "making a difference" to his space and environment.

Kungfo at work

The final piece for his BA in Interior Textiles and Illustrative Fine Art, entitled The Passion and Power, centred around the message: "The urge to create, to write and explain, to send and exchange."

Having made it to the finals last year, it’s obvious from his performance style that he is hungry to win.

Although his final piece drew negative reactions from some onlookers, it caught the attention of both the crowd and the judges, and he got through to the next round. 

Secret Plans

So what's next for Secret Wars Birmingham?

Seeds announces the winner

 This August the artists involved will be touring festivals across the country, including Birmingham's very own Shambala, to take part in demonstration battles. They also plan to collaborate with teams from London and Southampton.

Event organiser Seeds promises the Secret Wars final in March 2009 will be an "extravaganza", with a lineup of "big hip hop acts". With three more heats, the quarter and semi finals to look forward to before then, street artists across Birmingham are priming their pens and honing their skills.

Organisers are looking for DJs and MCs for the upcoming heats, so if you think you've got what it takes to provide the soundtrack to an illustration battle, send your demos to birmingham@secretwars.co.uk.