POPTIMISM: Vinnie Nylon’s solo show at the High Roller Society gallery

“Welcome to POPTIMISM, a fantastic world of soda pops and child nostalgia.”

On 8^th September, Vinnie Nylon’s first ever solo show will go pop at the High Roller Society gallery in London.

For those who haven’t heard, Vinnie Nylon has been involved in the street art and graffiti movement for over 25 years. His art has appeared on walls, in print, paintings, graphics and on billboards for a variety of small and international companies — but never as a solo exhibit. This is very exciting news for all of us who have been following Nylon’s bright career, as his newest project, POPTIMISM, will not only be stylishly displayed, but will also be for sale.

The works on display include sticker art, vintage petrol cans, fanzine and screen print as well as a number of new acrylic paintings and mixed media pieces of various sizes. Nylon’s trademark bright colours and thick acrylic impasto are also accompanied by the more modest works of hand-finished prints and collages. 

The exhibition feels very personal, and because of the childlike nature of the material, it appeals to a mass audience. Last night Nylon’s show attracted a mixed crowd, which included parents with children. There is a stack of brightly coloured soft toys at the entrance of the gallery, not for sale, but to accompany their friends inside, and to set the tone of the exhibition.

POPTIMISM has been said to have been born out of Nylon’s lifelong collecting obsession, and is visual banquet in which all of the collected toys and mascots challenge each other. The show has a slightly sinister undertone — the big accentuated eyes of his soda pops and cartoons are definitely watching you as you browse, and what are they so happy about? It’s enough to make you shiver — but the cartoons are also undeniably cute.

Nylon’s exhibition is wonderfully displayed — a perfect combination of colour and class; a collision which has been designed to confuse the boundaries between high and low art. The exhibit features all new work inspired by the artist’s love for the aforementioned, and for vintage vinyl dolls. The mid 90s saw a candy-coloured army of characters being placed around London, and Vinnie Nylon has been placing the little advertising mascots around ever since. In preparation for Nylon’s show, the stickers can be seen everywhere: on public transport, road signs, billboards and many more — look out for them!

POPTIMISM is a seductive and sentimental exhibition, with a big goofy smile on it. It’s an original show, and we are definitely poptimistic about it.

Verdict: ••••

Lauren Poole

High Roller Society Gallery, Unit 10 Palmers Rd, London, E2 0SY.

POPTIMISM will run from 8th September — 7^th October.

For more information about High Roller Society Gallery and the exhibition, click here.