Graffiti - The Homesick Experience
Growing up in the superficial fortress that is Dubai, graffiti was not something I encountered very often or, in fact, at all. Sure there was the usual "Fuck U!" but nothing that could prove even a distant comparison of this:
...or this:
These pictures, to me, represent a struggle between the concept of graffiti and the actual experience of it. Alas friends, it's "billboards for the rich, spray cans for the poor" (Link). Here in Toronto, the graffiti grows and so does the bastard opposition. Just the other day I was reading this pathetic excuse of an article, it was discussing the "Broken Windows Theory". The author had CLEARLY just finished reading some Gladwell and thought herself quite smart for being able to apply her new found knowledge to real life. Goddamn amateur, arm-chair sociologists. Anyway, her beef was, all graffiti is vandalism in some form, all vandalism is nasty looking, all nasty looking things lead people to behave in nasty ways, therefore, remove graffiti and rid the city of crime.
Now, my dear readers, you are an intelligent breed, this type of narrow thinking does not sway you I hope? If it does then I bet you 2 Mars Bars that you've never seen a glorious drawing that spreads across a whole wall, taunting you with daring notions of passion, persistance, and fantasy with its vibrant colours and abstract flow. Just look at the pics above, now realize that there is a really good chance of that wall being whitewashed in the future. You know how that makes me feel? Misunderstood. I like that wall, I think it is beautiful. I give it the same respect I would a Monet in a museum. I'm not comparing artists or styles or anything of the kind. I'm simply drawing similarties between creative effort.
Last Sunday morning, after a big 'ol greased up breakfast (scrambled eggs, taters, buttered toast, all drowning in salt in pepper), Prince led us to the aftermath of ReSurface 05. This sponsored event donates an alley to the spraying cause, with everything from garages, fences, brick walls, stairs, doors, etc. being open to artistic expression. The piece pictured above was done on a couple walls by the wonderful Press Pause Collective (includes Prince's bestfriendforlife, Homesick), I found it the BEST one there. Though do check the ReSurface site for wicked honorable mentions.
In my usual stalker fashion I have found some great shots of Press Pause wallwork about town, not from all members though, just a few, Mediah, Elicser, Homesick, and Fathom. Sadly, I found naught for Lease, whose praise I have previously sung on this site. I leave you with these pretty images and personal thoughts, final part of the series-post will follow shortly but first, we must commence THE WEEKEND!!!!!
Growing up in the superficial fortress that is Dubai, graffiti was not something I encountered very often or, in fact, at all. Sure there was the usual "Fuck U!" but nothing that could prove even a distant comparison of this:
...or this:
These pictures, to me, represent a struggle between the concept of graffiti and the actual experience of it. Alas friends, it's "billboards for the rich, spray cans for the poor" (Link). Here in Toronto, the graffiti grows and so does the bastard opposition. Just the other day I was reading this pathetic excuse of an article, it was discussing the "Broken Windows Theory". The author had CLEARLY just finished reading some Gladwell and thought herself quite smart for being able to apply her new found knowledge to real life. Goddamn amateur, arm-chair sociologists. Anyway, her beef was, all graffiti is vandalism in some form, all vandalism is nasty looking, all nasty looking things lead people to behave in nasty ways, therefore, remove graffiti and rid the city of crime.
Now, my dear readers, you are an intelligent breed, this type of narrow thinking does not sway you I hope? If it does then I bet you 2 Mars Bars that you've never seen a glorious drawing that spreads across a whole wall, taunting you with daring notions of passion, persistance, and fantasy with its vibrant colours and abstract flow. Just look at the pics above, now realize that there is a really good chance of that wall being whitewashed in the future. You know how that makes me feel? Misunderstood. I like that wall, I think it is beautiful. I give it the same respect I would a Monet in a museum. I'm not comparing artists or styles or anything of the kind. I'm simply drawing similarties between creative effort.
Last Sunday morning, after a big 'ol greased up breakfast (scrambled eggs, taters, buttered toast, all drowning in salt in pepper), Prince led us to the aftermath of ReSurface 05. This sponsored event donates an alley to the spraying cause, with everything from garages, fences, brick walls, stairs, doors, etc. being open to artistic expression. The piece pictured above was done on a couple walls by the wonderful Press Pause Collective (includes Prince's bestfriendforlife, Homesick), I found it the BEST one there. Though do check the ReSurface site for wicked honorable mentions.
In my usual stalker fashion I have found some great shots of Press Pause wallwork about town, not from all members though, just a few, Mediah, Elicser, Homesick, and Fathom. Sadly, I found naught for Lease, whose praise I have previously sung on this site. I leave you with these pretty images and personal thoughts, final part of the series-post will follow shortly but first, we must commence THE WEEKEND!!!!!
2 Comments:
Fine art, and the superficial fortress is doing alright these days. Seen it lately?
The fortress, it calls to me, it does! I'm visiting next month after two years apart. As usual, I've been warned that everything has changed, again. Some things never change, ha.
Post a Comment
<< Home