A forerunner of the modern street art movement who illegally painted his bright images onto miles of the Berlin Wall under hostile conditions has a second solo exhibition in Shoreditch themed on music.

Hackney Gazette: Thierry NoirThierry Noir (Image: Archant)

In 1984 Thierry Noir began painting his iconic images as an act of rebellion against the repression of the Iron Curtain which the border symbolised.

His first show at the Howard Griffin Gallery last year was a retrospective of his work over the past 30 years, and featured a concrete wall bisecting the space as well as photographs, interviews and films.

Through his exhibition Jazz, Noir returns to the musical influences which brought him to Berlin.

It presents a unique synthesis between the music and art worlds as seen through the eyes of the infamous artist.

Noir, whose work is found in public collections all over the world, was already leading a rebellious lifestyle in Lyon, France, before he moved to Berlin in 1984, to follow a burgeoning underground music scene.

Berlin was the capital of alternative music at that time, from new wave to hip-hop, punk rock to jazz, and Noir has said that had he not become an artist, he would have become a musician.

Gallery owner, Richard Howard Griffin, said: “For this show we are covering every inch of the gallery space with colour – the walls, floor and ceiling. There are custom made Noir instruments and sculptures throughout the space and even a Thierry Noir shaped piano.

“We are going all out on the visual for this show and it will be the best looking show that we have ever produced at the gallery I predict.”

The exhibition will feature a unique musical performance in which specially designed instruments in the form of Noir characters will be played live. Jazz shows at the Howard Griffin Gallery, 189 Shoreditch High Street, until July 26.