Widely heralded as the ‘Banksy of Bangkok’, Alex Face is internationally-renowned for his narrative-driven work that often depicts his most signature character, a lovable three-eyed child in a bunny suit named ‘Mardi’. Following the birth of his daughter, who was born with a face so ‘grumpy, like she was thinking really hard or worrying about her future’ (Alex Face quoted in Monruedee Jansuttipan, ‘Bangkok Street Artist Alex Face on Making Friends (and Enemies) Through Graffiti’, BK Magazine, 9 January 2014, online), Alex Face too, begun to look more critically at the world around him. Depicted with a weary expression on her face, Mardi’s third eye is always watching over her, perhaps as a reflection of the artist’s own paternal instincts.
Executed in 2014, Love-Peace is a captivating example from Alex Face’s notable oeuvre. In glowy shades of soft lavender, rosy pink and deep magenta, Mardi appears to almost illuminate off the canvas surface itself. The background has an almost other-worldly feel to it, composed of splattered paint that distinctively contrasts the more precise, multilayered brush strokes used to fashion the child’s fuzzy outfit. Showcasing both his formal training in architecture, and his street-art techniques, it is this intriguing blend that has contributed to the artist’s unique edge. Although Mardi’s small hands pull back at her costume to reveal a somewhat sinister skeleton beneath, the title Love-Peace offers a more hopeful reading, reflecting a sense of the world we should all aim to achieve.
Alongside street murals that have graced the walls of Bangkok, London, Tokyo, and Berlin, amongst others, Alex Face has collaborated with high-profile brands which include the likes of Mercedes Benz and COACH. In addition, Alex Face has recently been honoured with solo shows at the Vertical Gallery in Chicago (2019), and Galleria Ravagnan in Venice Italy (2019).
