Latest news with #Gittins
Hypebeast
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hypebeast
Tomas Gittins Takes Us Behind His Debut Solo Exhibition, 'Pursuit of Joy'
For Manchester-basedTomas Gittins, art making is an act composed of instinct and intention in equal measure. Gittins is just one artist leading the charge of a promising class of up-and-coming talent in the UK – a cohort opting for a more raw, unfiltered dialogue with the world at large, often going beyond the traditional white-walled space and into on-the-ground pockets of culture. Only six months in, 2025 has already been a banner year for the Brazilian-English artist, locking in a range of fashion and artistic projects under his belt. Now, theToxic Artsstarlet is coming back together the gallery, this time, gearing up to openPursuit of Joy, his debut solo exhibition. Staged in the heart of Soho, Gittins lands in London with a fresh crop of his signature face paintings — all of which have sold out days before opening doors. Alongside the works on view,Pursuit of Joyalso marks his first step into footwear. In collaboration withSalomon Sportstyle, he brings a sketchbook twist to the classicXT-6's. With a duet of monochromatic characters stretched across the side panels and stars that kiss the heel, thecustom, one-of-one pairwill be given to a visitor on June 6. Additionally, a special, screen-printed Gore-Tex jacket will be making an appearance, as well as a three limited-edition t-shirt giveaway for the first 100 visitors. Rather than a final stop, Gittins envisions his canvases as captures of feeling in-flux. 'Every character I make is a reflection of those feelings trapped inside. When I walk away from a canvas, I know a piece is done when I look at it and it's looking back at me,' he told Hypeart. 'I do art to make myself feel whole.' Embarking on this new era and road to joy, the artist takes us along for the ride. Ahead of the opening, Gittins walks us through pre-show feels, the ever-evolving UK creative landscape and what it's like to be an artist on the rise. The exhibition will be on view in London on June 6. 'My paintings evolve as people — we're all slowly just coming into the final image of what we'd like to be.' Can you describe the origins of your mantra 'The Joy Must Grow' and how it informed the title of this first solo,Pursuit of Joy? I started with works on paper and would sell them for £30. It led me to make larger pieces and over time, this expansion of scale — and joy — gave me the confidence to work with canvases. 'The Joy Must Grow' is about spreading how it makes me feel into the masses and then building my joy through this ethos. This show is really a benchmark for me. It's a way to say, 'This is what I am.' I love what I do and to be able to share it — that's my pursuit of joy and it will only get bigger. This is also your first time designing footwear. How did this collaboration with Salomon come about? Any surprises you encountered along the way? I'm a big runner and I love Salomon. My friend bought some of their shoes and I kept the box to make a drawing. I texted a picture of it to someone from Salomon and they offered me a pair of shoes. Since then, we've been able to form a really natural friendship and partnership, which has allowed me to get to this point. I still can't believe it. I had an initial drawing I made by hand, but had no idea how I was going to get it on the shoe, so I went to a sneaker guy for some help. They turned out so good, I'm really happy with it. It's one of those things where you close your eyes and just see an image of what you want: something that is truly me. Can you walk us through your XT-6 design and your decision to add these embellishments rather than redesign it entirely? I wanted to make it so that when you stand, my characters look at each other, and wanted to put as much as myself on a shoe without making it too garish. Something bold and recognizable, but also something that seamlessly fit with the design. That's how the faces come across, and I just love the star. It's so cute on the back. The last time we spoke with you, you mentioned that your practice was shaped by the solitude of living in Cape Town. Since your return to England, how has your creative practice, or your emotional connection to it, evolved? From the time I came back, I started to hone in on how I wanted my work to be perceived. I wanted people to look my pieces, recognize it as mine and just feel things within them. My paintings aren't just one layer. I'll probably paint like seven faces on top of one another. If you ever get to see my pieces in person, you'll see the layers of faces that passed through beforehand, and it's like my paintings evolve as people — we're all slowly just coming into the final image of what we'd like to be. What keeps me motivated is just making my drawings grow. I've got to wake up and feel the fire and just see where my future takes me. As someone navigating the UK arts scene firsthand, what shifts have you noticed as an emerging artist? How does the London scene compare to Manchester's? It's all about going out there, making connections and working on stuff that's true to you. Right now, it's a lot of brand work. I love working with Salomon because it's very me, and by doing a project like this, it propels me in these different directions that help me navigate the scene. It's also about tapping into all these different pockets and utilizing everything within the UK scene. We're a small nation, so everything's quite accessible if you're willing to seek it out. With Manchester, we're sort of new to the art scene. Gallery presence is still growing, and it's coming along nicely. There's really a real push for young Manchester artists because we're seeing a lot of potential and now people have a better understanding of how you can make it through art. What is the synergy like between yourself and Toxic Arts? They operate very uniquely in the way that they give artists so much trust and agency to showcase their work authentically. It's been such a breath of fresh air because I'm not a businessman, I just love to paint. Toxic Arts gives me the opportunity to focus on creating without pigeonholing me or stunting my abilities. They don't have an in-person gallery space, but every time they do a show, it's all about bringing you into their world. They've entrusted me with the belief of what I want to do, so it feels more like working with friends that want to see me reach my potential and really do that as well. What do you hope the audience walks away from your show with?I want people to come in and see my work and feel a connection to what I've built, especially something that's as recognizable as faces. A lot of people have said my work feels quite nostalgic. As long as it evokes a feeling or a memory, I'm happy with just that little bit of connection. That's all I want — for people to see the character in the piece and not just the 2D image. What's been keeping you motivated, excited or inspired these days?When I started making art, I realized this is what I'm going to be doing. It's what makes me smile when I wake up and excited to start my day. What keeps me motivated is just making my drawings grow. I've got to wake up and feel the fire and just see where my future takes me.
South Wales Argus
4 days ago
- South Wales Argus
Personal trainer given 14 months' detention after ‘catastrophic collision'
Mazyar Azarbonyad, 20, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving following the crash, which wrecked five police cars and left seven officers needing hospital treatment, on the A1 west of Newcastle upon Tyne in the early hours of April 9. Sentencing him at Newcastle Crown Court on Monday, Judge Tim Gittins said: 'It is nothing short of a miracle that no one was more seriously injured or that there were not multiple fatalities.' One officer suffered soft tissue damage to her knee and nerve damage to her back, requiring her to remain in hospital for three days, and another needed stitches for a cut to his forehead, the court heard. Judge Gittins said: 'It led to regional traffic chaos, misery for many travellers, not to mention the substantial loss of work and study hours for those that were caught up in the aftermath of what you caused.' The court heard Azarbonyad, who arrived in the UK after fleeing his home country Iran when he was 14, was driving passenger Courtney Redfern home in a BMW X5 when he was seen by a police officer driving over the speed limit and with defective rear lights. The aftermath of the crash on the A1 on Tyneside (Owen Humphreys/PA) The court heard he had bought the vehicle on finance despite having a provisional driving licence, no insurance and later admitting to officers he had paid for only three driving lessons previously. The judge said: 'You should have been nowhere near the driving seat of any vehicle that night, let alone one such as a BMW X5, a large and powerful SUV.' The defendant, who had been stopped for driving without a licence and with no insurance in 2023, initially pulled over for police but when an officer approached his car on foot he said 'nah' and made off at speed, according to his passenger. Penny Hall, defending, said Azarbonyad claimed Ms Redfern told him she had drugs on her and he 'panicked'. Judge Gittins said: 'Whether or not you were made aware of the small amount of cannabis in her possession I am satisfied you made a deliberate decision to make off substantially because of your unlawful driving position.' The court heard Azarbonyad had arrived in the UK after fleeing his home country Iran when he was 14 (Northumbria Police/PA) Azarbonyad was spotted by police in the area again about 30 minutes later and failed to stop for a second time, nearly losing control on a bend and hitting a kerb as he accelerated onto the A1, where the judge said his speed reached a 'hair-raising level' of over 120 mph. Jolyon Perks, prosecuting, said his passenger told him several times to stop. He said: 'In her opinion, she thought he could have killed someone.' When police vehicles moved in to contain the BMW, Azarbonyad braked harshly in the middle of the four-lane carriageway, going from 119 mph to 0mph in an emergency stop and causing a multiple-vehicle pile-up, the court heard. Mr Perks said: 'A number of these officers were trapped in vehicles. There were liquids involved, thankfully not petrol. A number of officers were rendered unconscious. It was clearly a very traumatic incident.' When Azarbonyad was interviewed he described his driving as 'shit', but did not accept he braked harshly and said the police chasing him were travelling too fast, Mr Perks told the court. In the days that followed his release on bail he continued to drive to the gym where he worked, before he was arrested at a petrol station.
Rhyl Journal
4 days ago
- Rhyl Journal
Personal trainer given 14 months' detention after ‘catastrophic collision'
Mazyar Azarbonyad, 20, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving following the crash, which wrecked five police cars and left seven officers needing hospital treatment, on the A1 west of Newcastle upon Tyne in the early hours of April 9. Sentencing him at Newcastle Crown Court on Monday, Judge Tim Gittins said: 'It is nothing short of a miracle that no one was more seriously injured or that there were not multiple fatalities.' One officer suffered soft tissue damage to her knee and nerve damage to her back, requiring her to remain in hospital for three days, and another needed stitches for a cut to his forehead, the court heard. Judge Gittins said: 'It led to regional traffic chaos, misery for many travellers, not to mention the substantial loss of work and study hours for those that were caught up in the aftermath of what you caused.' The court heard Azarbonyad, who arrived in the UK after fleeing his home country Iran when he was 14, was driving passenger Courtney Redfern home in a BMW X5 when he was seen by a police officer driving over the speed limit and with defective rear lights. The court heard he had bought the vehicle on finance despite having a provisional driving licence, no insurance and later admitting to officers he had paid for only three driving lessons previously. The judge said: 'You should have been nowhere near the driving seat of any vehicle that night, let alone one such as a BMW X5, a large and powerful SUV.' The defendant, who had been stopped for driving without a licence and with no insurance in 2023, initially pulled over for police but when an officer approached his car on foot he said 'nah' and made off at speed, according to his passenger. Penny Hall, defending, said Azarbonyad claimed Ms Redfern told him she had drugs on her and he 'panicked'. Judge Gittins said: 'Whether or not you were made aware of the small amount of cannabis in her possession I am satisfied you made a deliberate decision to make off substantially because of your unlawful driving position.' Azarbonyad was spotted by police in the area again about 30 minutes later and failed to stop for a second time, nearly losing control on a bend and hitting a kerb as he accelerated onto the A1, where the judge said his speed reached a 'hair-raising level' of over 120 mph. Jolyon Perks, prosecuting, said his passenger told him several times to stop. He said: 'In her opinion, she thought he could have killed someone.' When police vehicles moved in to contain the BMW, Azarbonyad braked harshly in the middle of the four-lane carriageway, going from 119 mph to 0mph in an emergency stop and causing a multiple-vehicle pile-up, the court heard. Mr Perks said: 'A number of these officers were trapped in vehicles. There were liquids involved, thankfully not petrol. A number of officers were rendered unconscious. It was clearly a very traumatic incident.' When Azarbonyad was interviewed he described his driving as 'shit', but did not accept he braked harshly and said the police chasing him were travelling too fast, Mr Perks told the court. In the days that followed his release on bail he continued to drive to the gym where he worked, before he was arrested at a petrol station.
North Wales Chronicle
4 days ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Personal trainer given 14 months' detention after ‘catastrophic collision'
Mazyar Azarbonyad, 20, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving following the crash, which wrecked five police cars and left seven officers needing hospital treatment, on the A1 west of Newcastle upon Tyne in the early hours of April 9. Sentencing him at Newcastle Crown Court on Monday, Judge Tim Gittins said: 'It is nothing short of a miracle that no one was more seriously injured or that there were not multiple fatalities.' One officer suffered soft tissue damage to her knee and nerve damage to her back, requiring her to remain in hospital for three days, and another needed stitches for a cut to his forehead, the court heard. Judge Gittins said: 'It led to regional traffic chaos, misery for many travellers, not to mention the substantial loss of work and study hours for those that were caught up in the aftermath of what you caused.' The court heard Azarbonyad, who arrived in the UK after fleeing his home country Iran when he was 14, was driving passenger Courtney Redfern home in a BMW X5 when he was seen by a police officer driving over the speed limit and with defective rear lights. The court heard he had bought the vehicle on finance despite having a provisional driving licence, no insurance and later admitting to officers he had paid for only three driving lessons previously. The judge said: 'You should have been nowhere near the driving seat of any vehicle that night, let alone one such as a BMW X5, a large and powerful SUV.' The defendant, who had been stopped for driving without a licence and with no insurance in 2023, initially pulled over for police but when an officer approached his car on foot he said 'nah' and made off at speed, according to his passenger. Penny Hall, defending, said Azarbonyad claimed Ms Redfern told him she had drugs on her and he 'panicked'. Judge Gittins said: 'Whether or not you were made aware of the small amount of cannabis in her possession I am satisfied you made a deliberate decision to make off substantially because of your unlawful driving position.' Azarbonyad was spotted by police in the area again about 30 minutes later and failed to stop for a second time, nearly losing control on a bend and hitting a kerb as he accelerated onto the A1, where the judge said his speed reached a 'hair-raising level' of over 120 mph. Jolyon Perks, prosecuting, said his passenger told him several times to stop. He said: 'In her opinion, she thought he could have killed someone.' When police vehicles moved in to contain the BMW, Azarbonyad braked harshly in the middle of the four-lane carriageway, going from 119 mph to 0mph in an emergency stop and causing a multiple-vehicle pile-up, the court heard. Mr Perks said: 'A number of these officers were trapped in vehicles. There were liquids involved, thankfully not petrol. A number of officers were rendered unconscious. It was clearly a very traumatic incident.' When Azarbonyad was interviewed he described his driving as 'shit', but did not accept he braked harshly and said the police chasing him were travelling too fast, Mr Perks told the court. In the days that followed his release on bail he continued to drive to the gym where he worked, before he was arrested at a petrol station.
Glasgow Times
4 days ago
- Glasgow Times
Personal trainer given 14 months' detention after ‘catastrophic collision'
Mazyar Azarbonyad, 20, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving following the crash, which wrecked five police cars and left seven officers needing hospital treatment, on the A1 west of Newcastle upon Tyne in the early hours of April 9. Sentencing him at Newcastle Crown Court on Monday, Judge Tim Gittins said: 'It is nothing short of a miracle that no one was more seriously injured or that there were not multiple fatalities.' One officer suffered soft tissue damage to her knee and nerve damage to her back, requiring her to remain in hospital for three days, and another needed stitches for a cut to his forehead, the court heard. Judge Gittins said: 'It led to regional traffic chaos, misery for many travellers, not to mention the substantial loss of work and study hours for those that were caught up in the aftermath of what you caused.' The court heard Azarbonyad, who arrived in the UK after fleeing his home country Iran when he was 14, was driving passenger Courtney Redfern home in a BMW X5 when he was seen by a police officer driving over the speed limit and with defective rear lights. The aftermath of the crash on the A1 on Tyneside (Owen Humphreys/PA) The court heard he had bought the vehicle on finance despite having a provisional driving licence, no insurance and later admitting to officers he had paid for only three driving lessons previously. The judge said: 'You should have been nowhere near the driving seat of any vehicle that night, let alone one such as a BMW X5, a large and powerful SUV.' The defendant, who had been stopped for driving without a licence and with no insurance in 2023, initially pulled over for police but when an officer approached his car on foot he said 'nah' and made off at speed, according to his passenger. Penny Hall, defending, said Azarbonyad claimed Ms Redfern told him she had drugs on her and he 'panicked'. Judge Gittins said: 'Whether or not you were made aware of the small amount of cannabis in her possession I am satisfied you made a deliberate decision to make off substantially because of your unlawful driving position.' The court heard Azarbonyad had arrived in the UK after fleeing his home country Iran when he was 14 (Northumbria Police/PA) Azarbonyad was spotted by police in the area again about 30 minutes later and failed to stop for a second time, nearly losing control on a bend and hitting a kerb as he accelerated onto the A1, where the judge said his speed reached a 'hair-raising level' of over 120 mph. Jolyon Perks, prosecuting, said his passenger told him several times to stop. He said: 'In her opinion, she thought he could have killed someone.' When police vehicles moved in to contain the BMW, Azarbonyad braked harshly in the middle of the four-lane carriageway, going from 119 mph to 0mph in an emergency stop and causing a multiple-vehicle pile-up, the court heard. Mr Perks said: 'A number of these officers were trapped in vehicles. There were liquids involved, thankfully not petrol. A number of officers were rendered unconscious. It was clearly a very traumatic incident.' When Azarbonyad was interviewed he described his driving as 'shit', but did not accept he braked harshly and said the police chasing him were travelling too fast, Mr Perks told the court. In the days that followed his release on bail he continued to drive to the gym where he worked, before he was arrested at a petrol station.
