Mainstream Graffiti
Though we have a bit more graffiti on the streets of NYC than when Rudy Giuliani was Mayor, overall, New York’s outward appearance has remained pretty much clean for the most part. If you catch Coming to America on TBS the next time they play it; look at the trains very carefully. There is no space left untouched; the subway car is wallpapered with graffiti when Eddie Murphy goes into woo his Queen. Now, you will most likely find either some scratches on the windows or seats.
But now, along with other new trends, there is also a new type of graffiti art. A group of tech geeks have started using LED Throwies to create street art. These lights stay bright for 2 weeks and cost about 75 cents to make. It seems that this is a hipster-only affair because I don’t imagine the usual suspects having any interest in using the throwies.
I don’t know if it’s as rewarding to throw on LED lights onto sculptures as it is to write beautiful obscenities on the sides of buses, trains, or local restaurant/pub/college bathrooms, but it’s definitely catered to those who would normally stay away from vandalism all together & that’s what makes it more interesting. You now need some brains or a sizable bank account in order to stir chaos.
Photo Courtesy of Wired
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Hey Dhaval, I don’t think that Visual Resistance would consider itself mainstream. I read the article on this happening in Wired. http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,70552-0.html?tw=rss.index
It’s a pretty cool idea and hey, they’re changing the face of New York. Whether obscenities, obscure tags, or LED throwies, it’s all cool. No?
Hey sorry for the delay Anna. I do think it’s good that people will continue to express themselves. I just think it’s kind of cheesy to do it with LEDs. I am not saying I was a fan of the subway being covered with graffiti either - that was kind of annoying at times.
But to be analogous about it, it just is like taking Wayne’s World from Wayne’s basement and putting into a place that’s similar to Wayne’s basement but really isn’t Wayne’s basement.