All that jazz: Berlin wall artist Thierry Noir celebrates the symbiotic relationship between art and music

Infamous Berlin wall
Infamous Berlin wall artist Thierry Noir's latest exhibition 'Jazz' has opened at London's Howard Griffin Gallery
(Image credit: Thierry Noir)

When Thierry Noir finished painting the walls of London's Howard Griffin Gallery for his latest exhibition, 'Jazz' – a show which explores the synthesis between art and music – there wasn’t an inch of space that wasn’t drenched in colour or alive with pattern; full of speed, movement and discordance, just like a visualisation of the jazz music that inspired it.

Of course, an immersion in the expressive nuances of complex and fringe musical forms is nothing new for Noir. In the 1980s, the French street artist was part of a community of artists, musicians and free thinkers that also included David Bowie and Iggy Pop, who moved into West Berlin and were hugely influenced by its alternative music scene – from new wave and hip hop, to punk rock and jazz. 

Through his distinctive, spontaneously painted characters, Noir became a forefather to the modern street art movement; most notably as one of the first artists to use the Berlin Wall as a canvas for his art in 1984, fragments of which can now be found in Berlin's East Side Gallery and in a New York City courtyard. 

Since those early days, Noir has remained in Berlin, where his love affair with music continues. 'If I had not been an artist, I would have been a musician,' he notes. It is this inextricable bond between music and art that is the focus of his solo exhibition at Howard Griffin.

Here, brandishing musical instruments, his distinctive characters are painted in lurid, clashing colours upon canvases, on sculptural works and across the walls. Moving into 3D forms, Noir has worked with sculptor Chris Tsonias to create a series of playable musical instruments inspired by Noir's imagery that will complete the sensory experience. In the past, Noir has often referred to himself as 'the Picasso of the street' – a comparison that is perfectly clear to see here.

Music and art in Noir's work.

The show explores the inextricable link between music and art in Noir's work

(Image credit: Thierry Noir)

Music scene

Noir, who moved to West Berlin in the 1980s, has been hugely influenced by its alternative music scene throughout his career

(Image credit: Thierry Noir)

Musical instruments and painted in the artist's trademark clashing colours upon canvases.

In 'Jazz', the distinctive characters for which Noir is reknowned are equipped with musical instruments and painted in the artist's trademark clashing colours upon canvases, on sculptural works and across the walls

(Image credit: Thierry Noir)

Chris Tsonias to create a series of playable musical instruments.

In addition to the canvases and wall murals, Noir has has worked with sculptor Chris Tsonias to create a series of playable musical instruments 

(Image credit: Thierry Noir)

The Picasso of the street.

In the past, Noir has often referred to himself as 'the Picasso of the street' – a comparison that is clear to see here

(Image credit: Thierry Noir)

Noir has remained in Berlin.

Noir has remained in Berlin, where his love affair with music continues. 'If I had not been an artist, I would have been a musician,' he explains

(Image credit: Thierry Noir)

Berlin wall artist Thierry Noir celebrates the symbiotic relationship.

Through his distinctive, spontaneously painted characters, Noir became a forefather to the modern street art movement

(Image credit: Thierry Noir)

Irish rock band U2 also used Noir's artwork.

Noir was one of the first artists to use the Berlin wall as a canvas for his art in 1984 – fragments of which can now be found in the city's East Side Gallery and in a New York City courtyard

(Image credit: Thierry Noir)

Berlin wall artist Thierry Noir celebrates the symbiotic relationship between art and music.

Irish rock band U2 also used Noir's artwork to decorate their 1991 album Achtung Baby

(Image credit: Thierry Noir)

ADDRESS

Howard Griffin Gallery
189 Shoreditch High Street
London, E1 6HU

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Ali Morris is a UK-based editor, writer and creative consultant specialising in design, interiors and architecture. In her 16 years as a design writer, Ali has travelled the world, crafting articles about creative projects, products, places and people for titles such as Dezeen, Wallpaper* and Kinfolk.