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Darren Cullen (graffiti artist)

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Darren Cullen
Darren Cullen in his London art studio
Born
Darren James Cullen
NationalityBritish
Known forGraffiti, Public art, Stenciling
Websitehttp://www.graffitikings.co.uk/darren-cullen
File:Kate Middleton & baby painting.jpg
Kate Middleton & baby painting

Darren Cullen is a British graffiti artist who is commonly known by the tag name SER. Cullen emerged as an artist from the British graffiti art scene in the early 1980s.[1][2]

Overview

Cullen grew up in Croydon where he became active in the graffiti and street art scene in 1983. His current graffiti name "Ser" was originally a crew name, which stood for "South East Rockers", it was an unorganized crew name used by other graffiti artists in the south east area of London. When other graffiti artists stopped using the name "Ser" Cullen adopted the name as his own.[3]

Cullen founded the graffiti art company Graffiti Kings based on Leake Street in London.[4][5]

In 2012 Cullen worked for the London 2012 Olympic Games, painting the stage sets for the opening ceremony.[6]

Cullen created a Hyperrealist mural of Kate Middleton and royal baby on a wall at Brookland Lake, Snodland, Kent.[7]

Cullen also donates pieces of artwork to non-profit organizations for underprivileged children.[8][example needed]

Rockmount Infants School in Upper Norwood received a council community grant to commission Cullen & fellow artist Paul Barlow to paint two sea murals on the classroom walls.[9]

Cullen has given credit to street artist Banksy saying "If it wasn't for Banksy, graffiti would still be about vandalism".[10]

Community work

Cullen has admitted to engaging in vandalism and tagging while growing up in Croydon, but after later turning his work into a legal, commercial activity, Cullen was commissioned by Merton Council to run graffiti workshops for young people. The workshops aimed to reduce vandalism and to foster an understanding of graffiti art and its positive uses among at-risk youth in Croydon by offering opportunities for graffiti artists to practise their art legally on designated walls.[11]

In 2000 Cullen worked with London Borough of Sutton to paint graffiti murals on 19 shop shutters to help reduce graffiti vandalism.[12]

Val Shawcross from the GLA's anti-graffiti committee visited Cullen while he painted a 300 yard long subway. Local youths from South Norwood London helped Cullen paint the mural, which was part of the Croydon Council Smarter Croydon initiative.[13]

Cullen has received the backing of the UK government for his work to prevent graffiti on trains.[14] Cullen has painted 15 train stations, the first being Wallington Train Station in Sutton south London.[15] The Wallington project had more than fifty young people taking part and around 300 more arrived to watch the event.[16]

References

  1. ^ Template:Cite article
  2. ^ "UK AUTHORITIES GOING AFTER REAL THREAT TO 2012 OLYMPICS: STREET ARTISTS". Animal New York. 21 July 2012.
  3. ^ "Global Street Art - Global Street Art - Street art and graffiti from around..." globalstreetart.com. 2014 [last update]. Retrieved 18 March 2014. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  4. ^ "Graffiti Kings: Graffiti and Street Art Workshops". Timeout. 26 Feburay 2014. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ "Duchess of Cambridge and newborn in graffiti portrait". ITV. 2013. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  6. ^ Walker, James (2014). "Artist Darren Cullen creates mural of Kate Middleton and royal baby on wall at Brookland Lake". kentonline.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  7. ^ Walker, James (2014). "Artist Darren Cullen creates mural of Kate Middleton and royal baby on wall at Brookland Lake". kentonline.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  8. ^ Johnson, Fatima (2012 [last update]). "disRESPECT Mag". respect-mag.com/. Retrieved 17 March 2014. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  9. ^ "Smarter scheme cash leaves class all at sea". Croydon Guardian. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  10. ^ Georgiou, Myria (16 December 2013). Media and the City. Google Books: Polity Press. p. 216. ISBN 9780745648552. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  11. ^ Template:Cite article
  12. ^ "Police Services Sutton". Parliament of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 28 June 2000. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  13. ^ "Art smartens up Croydon subway". Wirral Globe. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  14. ^ "BBC News - London 2012: Outrage over artist banned from Olympics". bbc.co.uk. 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  15. ^ "Global Street Art - Global Street Art - Street art and graffiti from around..." globalstreetart.com. 2014 [last update]. Retrieved 16 March 2014. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  16. ^ Template:Cite article

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