The Vader Project , a reimagining of the iconic Darth Vader helmet by some of today's hottest pop and underground artists, will be on display July 19-21, 2008 at Star Wars Celebration Japan , a landmark event being held at Makuhari-Messe in Chiba just outside Tokyo to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Star Wars. For more information visit
www.celebrationjapan.comor
www.celebrationjapan.jp.
The Vader Project is curated by Dov Kelemer and Sarah Jo Marks of DKE Toys. Kelemer and Marks gathered close to 100 of the hottest underground and pop surrealist painters, artists , and designers to participate. Each artist was given a 1:1 scale authentic prop replica of the actual Darth Vader helmet used in the Star Wars films. Each helmet served as a blank canvas for each artist to paint, design, mash up, and customize.
Japanese artists include:
Bounty Hunter
Chino
Dehara
Devil Robots
Gargamel
Itokin Park
Mad Barbarians
Mori Chack
RealxHead
Secret Base
T9G
Touma
Usugrow
Yoko d'Holbachie
Many of these artists jumped at the chance to lend their talents to one of the most iconic pop culture characters in film history.
"This could not be a timelier event," Kelemer said. "The pop surrealist/ lowbrow/graffiti/designer art scene is exploding around us. A canvas is what you make it, from bunnies to cows to toilet seats. The 'platform' group show has been around, and we have seen it all."
Ugly Doll co-creator David Horvath said it best: "It's Darth Vader! !! It's the most recognizable character in the universe. After this exhibition we don't ever need to be in a platform show again."
The Vader Project
The Vader Project originally premiered at Star Wars Celebration IV in Los Angeles in May 2007. From there it traveled to Star Wars Celebration Europe in London in June 2007. July 2007 brought 10 new helmets to the Star Wars Pavilion at the famed San Diego Comic -Con on International . The Project's exhibit at Star Wars Celebration Japan marks the first time the collection will be on display in Asia. The future plan is for the exhibition to travel to museums, galleries, and events around the world. The helmets will then be offered publicly at auction. Details will be announced later. For more updates sign up at www.thevaderproject.com
Dov Kelemer & Sarah Jo Marks
The Vader Project Co-Curators and Co-Founders of DKE Toys Dov Kelemer and Sarah Jo Marks make up one of the largest designer vinyl and art-toy distributors in the world, exclusively representing over 100 companies, artists, and designers. Kelemer started the business selling Star Wars memorabilia more than 15 years ago. With The Vader Project he has finally found a way to meld both his passions. Marks divides her time between managing DKE art exhibitions and all DKE promotions including STUFFED: a plush food show. www.dketoys.com
Artist List
Troy Alders Kii Arens Attaboy Anthony Ausgang Axis Aye Jay Gary Baseman
Andrew Bell Tim Biskup Mark Bodnar Andrew Brandou Buff Monster
Mister Cartoon Mr Clement Robbie Conal CRASH Steven Daily Dalek Cam de Leon
Bob Dob Tristan Eaton Marc Ecko Eelus Ron English FERG
David Flores Brian Flynn - Hybrid Design Paul Frank Sunich Huck Gee
Fawn Gehweiler Mike Giant Girls Drawing Girls Gris Grimly Joe Hahn
Haze XXL Jesse Hernandez Derek Hess Jeremyville kaNO
Sun-MinKim & David Horvath Jim Koch Frank Kozik David S. Krys - DSK Designs
Peter Kuper Wade Lageose - Lageose Design Joe Ledbetter Simone Legno - Tokidoki
Mad Marka27 Mars-1 Bill McMullen Melvins Brian Morris Nanospore Niagara
Mitch O’Connell olive47 Estevan Oriol Alex Pardee The Pizz Plastic God
Playskewl Dave Pressler Ragnar Jermaine Rogers Erick Scarecrow
J. Otto Seibold Shag Sket-One Shawn Smith Winston Smith Jeff Soto Damon Soule
Bwana Spoons Jophen Stein Suckadelic Gary Taxali Cameron Tiede
Touma UrbanMedium Michelle Valigura VanBeater Amanda Visell
