Cult British artist Chemical X visits Los Angeles

Saturday, February 15, 2020: Cult British artist Chemical X brought his art and protest to the wealthiest street in the western world to make a stand against the huge inequality in Los Angeles and highlight the homeless epidemic.

CBS Los Angeles was there to cover so watch what happened HERE

Also check out VICE HERE

Chemical X (pictured with Fat Boy Slim) first gained national and international attention with his £1m sculpture of actress Cara Delevingne set in seven thousand ecstasy pills. The Observer newspaper in Britain describes him as a ‘cult’ artist. He has collaborated with artists such as Banksy and Damien Hirston on the work he created for charities Greenpeace, Surfers Against Sewage, and now he is in Los Angeles. 

The anonymous British artist is known for his controversial works that address drug culture, homelessness, and the perception of truth. 

In May 2019, he installed a row of 12 tents in the heart of Skid Row, each covered in the branding of the many luxury labels that can be found just over 10 miles away in the Beverly Hills shopping strip of iconic Rodeo Drive. The installation was described as ‘The Street Where Luxury & Poverty Meet’ and called Skid Rodeo Drive. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jun/09/chemical-x-los-angeles-tents-skid-row-poverty-protest 

Further information: 

Skid Rodeo Drive http://www.chemicalx.co.uk/Skid_Rodeo_Drive/ 

Chemical X has worked closely on this project with Los Angeles Community Action Network (LA CAN). Both artist and activists share a desire to make the street population seen and engaged with by their LA neighbors. Chemical X will donate all profits from future sales of art and merchandise from the Skid Rodeo Drive work to LA CAN to continue their important work advocating for the houseless of Skid Row and beyond. 

Beverly Hills has a homeless population of 16 and Skid Row has a homeless population of 2,500. Skid Row is part of the Los Angeles Fashion District, and Rodeo Drive is home to the fashion Elite.

People experiencing homelessness in Skid Row were given the tents at the end of the artwork installation in May 2019. 

Concept

Chemical X is not looking to start a campaign nor to make the initiative an ‘issue.’ This is an art piece that looks to allow homelessness to be seen again through a new prism. The least aspirational object adorned by perceived luxury and fame reduced to anonymity, creating a level playing field where people experiencing homelessness can be seen as simply neighbors in the same city with differing fortunes. To make the unseen – – seen again.