Harvel

( born 1966 ) Harvel is a contemporary sub urban artist that emerged from the early 1980's UK punk scene. Mixing the violence and distortion with classic beauty and typographic style.  Inspired by a diverse range of artists from the Flemish School artists Pieter Bruegal the Elder and Hieronymus Bosche through to contemporary artist like Tracey Emin and her mono prints and iconic fashion design from the likes of  Jo Gordon's ' Kiss of Death ' 1994. Much of Harvel's art is based on classic skull symbolism and the attachment of symbolic meaning to both human and animal skulls. The skull has been used to represent death and mortality in art for thousands of years, but such reading varies with changing cultural contexts. In Elizabethan England, the Death's Head Skull image without the lower jaw was used as a symbol for bawds, rakes, sexual adventures and prostitutes. Emblematic of The Libertine and often the wearing of a half skull ring would be used to advertise their station either professionally or otherwise. Today Harvel's work takes the form of  large format paintings shown in galleries and exhibition events and his work can be found in the urban environments in the form of street art. having shown in cities around the world.  With his painted art pieces and paste up adorning urban spaces from Australia to the UK.   "As an artist I look to the past for inspiration, but have no plans to live there"