'Kings of The Yakkedy Yak'
Nedan är en gammal anteckning från 'Clash D'Urbaine' tiden. Har i perioder ett reserverat förhållande till sticker/stencil art kulturen och min inställning är ungefär den samma idag som för två år sedan då jag skrev det här:
*Nu när jag läser det i efterhand så är det aningen aggresivt men som sagt, jag har fortfarande svårt att hitta graffitikulturens kraft och uttrycksfullhet i de stickers och stenciler som målas på stan.
'August 18, 2004
Naturally, I hold a love for all things artistic but one thing boogles my mind. The phenomenon, or terminology known as 'streetart', 'sticker art', 'postgraffiti', 'neograffiti', 'urban art', 'stencil art...', could it really be worth attention? By some it would probably be labeled and categorized with 'graffiti' but that only in my opinion marginalize the role graffiti/aerosol art has earned within contemporary culture. By definition (my definition...) graffiti could be described as being first and foremost about style, putting your creativity into the game; stalk, prey and 'get up' to leave your mark on society. It's courage and creativity all in one. It is breaking new grounds, unadultory vision and creating motion. The territory (art) is not new but the output and style pattern could only be activated during our contemporary era. No other historical period could spread art and individual messages as fast and effective as the elements we habitate and the tools we use. Graffiti also involves passion. Unfortunately it is hard to identify this passion in what some have proclaimed the stepchild of graffiti/aerosol art and categorized 'street art'. So, for several reasons I occasionally find it even more uncomfortable to watch and observe than any top-to-bottom spraypainted train would be to a regular commuter. Mostly because 'street art' seem very empty. Does it hold any importance at all? Where graffitiwriters used to freeze into a 'critical minded' bboy stance, the 'street art' culture only seem to vaguely know how to strike that necessary pose but not for what reason. The technique might be there but the skill just seem misused. One could confront that writers and aerosol artists in the 70's, 80's and present time was and still is only after fame and recognition within their specific social tribe and, ofcourse that is the case, but then naturally and logically the next step in any artistic evolution would be to get up and actually say something. So far: pigs, elephants, yellow snot, old funny women in hats on white stickers and most probably any other stale message. Slapping doodad stickers on a lamppost or painting pigs is not progressive. Nor is it very rebellious. To some it would even be interpreted as the voice of a generation that is not blind or deaf but probably a wee bit naive and retro obssesed.'
2006-nov-12 @ 1:09:05 pm Permalink
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