‘The Suggestionists’ a New Solo Exhibition by Artist Jamie Hewlett

9 Honey X (red), 2015, Deep LED Driven Lig9htbox With Clear Acrylic Cover Cover, Aluminium Painted Over Frame, With Rotary Dimmer, Digitally Printed Backlit Acetate, Edition of 3, Jamie Hewlett. Courtesy of Lazinc and artist [1] (1).jpg

Uber-talented artist, designer and Gorillaz co-founder Jamie Hewlett has brought a superb must-see new solo exhibition, The Suggestionists, to London’s Lazinc gallery, opening today. The MALESTROM has had a sneak peek and the verdict is a resounding YES!

The show focuses on three different areas of multi-media works – Pines, Tarot and Honey. Jamie’s aim with this brand new offering is to “shine a light on the conscious and unconscious, the everyday and the fantastical”.

First up is ethereal collection ‘Pines’, a series of stark and evocative black-and-white drawings that take the viewer into an enchanted woodland.

Pine 3, 2015, Original One Colour Screenprint on Somerset Satin White 300gsm, Edition of 5, Jamie Hewlett. Courtesy of Lazinc and artist

The ‘Tarot’ collection of works, pays homage to the world of tarotica. Inspired by a book on the legendary Tarot de Marseille deck by filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky.

The book was a gift from his wife, Hewlett took three years to complete the project, painstakingly hand-painting each of the 22 larger-than-life tarot cards in watercolour, gouache and India ink. Up close they’re quite something to behold, contain incredible detail, and a large dose of humour.

'L'Empereur', (2015) Archival Pigment Digital Print, Edition of 5, TAROT Jamie Hewlett jpg[1] — ‘L’Empereur’, (2015) Archival Pigment Digital Print, Edition of 5, TAROT Jamie Hewlett

Finally located in a darkened and seedy room at the the rear of the gallery is ‘Honey’. Hewlett’s take on the sexual exploitation of 60s and 70s movies, revolving around a mysterious fictional female character positioned on imagined vintage film posters, is something of a nod to Hewlett’s fascination with the genre.

4 Honey X Pie, 2015, Jamie Hewlett. Courtesy of Lazinc and artist

Best known as the creator the cult comic book ‘Tank Girl’ and co-founder of Gorillaz, the most successful virtual band ever, Hewlett has forged a distinctive visual style over the past few decades, while also securing a unique place in British pop culture with his mischievous wit and irreverence.

The Suggestionists is one of the best shows you’ll likely take in this summer and is a welcome return to the public sphere for one of our most talented and iconic artists.