Icy & Sot x Swoon x BSA : Unveiling “Unforced Hijab” for Heliotrope

Here is the first public look at the new print by Icy & Sot which they  made especially to aid the programs in Haiti and Braddock, Pennsylvania for Heliotrope Prints. The limited run print will be released this week, April 6th at a pop up show opening in Manhattan and we hope you can come.

Icy & Sot “Unforced Hijab” (image courtesy of the artists)

True to form, the Iranian brothers challenge conventions with the personal and political, creating a new piece that their growing and ardent fan base will appreciate. Taking a stance about the religious/cultural garment that many women around the world wear is common today, especially with Westerners derisively rejecting it as a sign of women’s suffrage – or worse yet, deception. Icy & Sot take a deliberately opposite approach, regaling the maligned hijab with spring colors and flowers.

Like their stencil works on the streets of Brooklyn, Iran, across the US and Europe, Icy and Sot don’t always take the easy road, preferring to use their voice to challenge systemic social/political/environmental injustices and hypocrisies. “Unforced Hijab” combines this activism with their ever increasingly more sophisticated technique and taste level for direct communication.

We asked I&S about this new piece for the Heliotrope benefit.

BSA: Can you tell us about the image you have chosen for this new release?
Icy & Sot: “Unforced Hijab” depicts that the Hijab can be a beautiful thing for someone if it’s not forced.

BSA: Do you have a special connection with the people of Haiti or Swoon?
Icy & Sot: We have always been huge fans of Swoon’s work and we admire her projects that help communities. We see that she is always caring for others.

BSA: How do you see the role of an artist in relation to addressing socio-political / humanitarian issues in the world?
Icy & Sot: Art definitely can contribute to change in society, especially public art because it has more and diverse views. We believe that the role of the artist is to advocate for the freedom and the hope of the general public. We think the artist is to raise awareness about the issues happening in their time

BSA: Many art fans are excited to buy prints of their favorite artists – have you made many prints in the past?
Icy & Sot: Yes we have had numbers of print releases in the past.

BSA: What new project are you looking forward to this year?
Icy & Sot:
It’s going to be a busy year. We are looking forward to some group museum shows that we will be part of. We are also excited about our next solo show in November at Thinkspace gallery in Los Angeles.

We are honored that Icy & Sot agreed to participate in this show with us and pleased that they are part of this great effort.

To learn more about Icy And Sot please click here.

 

WHAT: Swoon x Heliotrope x BSA Pop-Up Opening Reception
WHEN: Thursday, April 6 at 6 PM – 9 PM
WHERE: 88 1/2 7th Avenue, between 15th & 16th St., New York, NY

Heliotrope Prints Fundraiser
Curated by Steven P. Harrington and Jaime Rojo, Brooklyn StreetArt



Join us for the opening of our pop-up exhibit, featuring newly released sketches by Swoon Studio and limited edition prints by six world-renowned street artists:

Case Maclaim
Faith XLVII
Icy And Sot
Li-Hill
Miss Van
Tavar Zawacki (Above)

Prints starting at $50 apiece.

Proceeds support the cultural and education programs of the Heliotrope Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization founded by Swoon aka Caledonia Curry.

Live DJ for your enjoyment. Refreshments provided by Stolen Rum and by Smart Beer

https://www.facebook.com/events/1174138686030369/

 

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