Today (Thursday, 10th November), Dave Buonaguidi, better known as Real Hackney Dave, has produced an exclusive art supplement for Big Issue magazine, with brand new works by him and fellow artists which will be exhibited and sold to raise money for Big Issue Group (BIG).
The pieces showcased in The Big Issue art special are all created around the concept ‘JUST BE NICE’, on why he chose this subject, Real Hackney Dave explained: “It’s just 10 letters. Just three words. but it’s a very powerful and positive mantra and it’s very liberating”.
He continued: “The idea was to bring JUST BE NICE to life with pieces of art. I have made three huge JUST BE NICE works, a piece made of flowers, another with 4,000 sequins and even a seven-foot inflatable. I also contacted all the brilliant artists I know and asked for a massive favour. They created 50 incredible pieces that will be available to buy at a gallery in Hackney Wick in East London in November/December.”
All the works for the special edition include the JUST BE NICE motto, with the artists portraying their own creative takes on what that means to them.
Dave also asked Jamie Oliver to be a part of his special guest edited edition of the Big Issue, the celebrity chef and school meals campaigner took the opportunity to talk about what JUST BE NICE means to him: “Dave Buonaguidi, asked me to write a little something about kindness. Kindness shouldn’t be a competition, it shouldn’t be a transaction and it shouldn’t be seen as a badge of honour. I genuinely think it’s something beautiful, intimate and something that means you can sleep well at the end of the day. When all is said and done, it’s what really matters in life.”
He continued: “May I say thank you for your kindness in buying the Big Issue. It’s disgraceful that we