Located in the up-and-coming London neighborhood of Dalston, the cafe Tina, We Salute You is a popular coffee shop turned gallery space for local artists. While Tina isn't the first cafe to double as an ever-changing art showcase, the idea for exhibiting art at Tina is a little different and pretty unique.
The most noticeable difference? There aren't any frames. Instead, artists are told to directly draw, paint and stick things on to the walls at Tina. The works stay up for eight weeks and then the walls are completely painted over for a new artist. (So far, there are about 18 layers of art that's been covered up.) And unlike other cafe/art spaces which sell works that are exhibited in the shops, the artists' designs for Tina are not available for purchase.
The most current talent to outfit the space is English illustrator Stephen Cheetham, who has turned the shop into a "living room." Stephen created the oddly charming furnishings and portraits digitally, then turned them into wallpaper, creating an almost picture book-like atmosphere.
Also unusual: Tina occasionally hosts speakeasy-style events at night (complete with secret entry passwords). We're getting a kick out of the mental image of modern day flappers in Stephen's "living room."
Want to see how it all came about and more images of the final result? Click through the slideshow below. All images courtesy of Tina, We Salute You.
