It's official the chattering classes are interested
This Guardian piece proves street art is firmly ensconced in the radar of the dull and witless. Unable to grasp the difference between graffiti and street art the writer flails around, making some cannily accurate descriptions of what's going on.
'No wonder an event described as "the UK's biggest street art project" (60 artists from all over the world decorating Nelson Street in Bristol last week) went down fairly quietly in the national press. It's not that new or surprising any more, let alone controversial. Nowadays, doing a bit of street art is as routine as checking your emails. There's probably an app for it.'
Whilst missing the point wholly, other than to point out the obvious.
Then there's this which starts with a complete load of shit
'A household name. That’s what Banksy is. Not since Thomas Pynchon has a more unwilling man been more sought after'
Unwilling really? You haven't noticed the media machinery that encapsulates everything he does then? But this article goes on to point out the process of 'institutionalization':
'Call it “commodification of dissent”, the production of a “commodity form”, or the “culture industry”, once subculture gets into the machine, it never comes out again intact. Cultural theorist Stuart Hall calls this process of institutionalization “a moment of profound danger”. For once you’re on their turf at their behest, what exactly is it that you’re doing there?'
There's something for you to discuss while you're at Ikea. The question is, where does this art form go next? Yes the graffiti will continue as it's neither pretty, funny, astute enough to be commodified to any great extent...yet. Will any make it out of the Street Art market? Will any step back realise there's is a bastardised form with little to no merit ? Step fully into the art arena and stop with the false pretense? Or will a few decide they did this for another reason?
You see Dr Funky doesn't mind that street artists sold out, he doesn't mind that they sell work, he doesn't mind that scene changed, what Dr Funky does mind, is the fucking bullshit, the weak lame insipid work, the lack of any social motive, the lack of 'spark'. This blog is a fucking challenge to any of you that will listen. Head in the sand make a few more dollars before people see you for what you are? Or do something, re-evaluate, show that a wall is still a weapon? Or just fuck off.
Funky, the very fact that I write comments on your blog when I know I'm going to get dissed surely shows that not every "street artist" has sold out, not every artist is bowing to market forces, or is trying to be on the side of the commercially successful. Apart from a lot of your readers who dislike me, by commenting here under my real name it also means a lot of artists think I'm a cunt. So be it. I am, but there's plenty of people around that respect honesty, so I ain't worried!
ReplyDeleteI'm not one of the "big guns" in the street art world, either because I lack the talent, or because I simply don't play the game. I don't like the rules of the game. Rules are restricting. I can't understand why graffiti has rules, but I guess it cuts down on the number of people getting stabbed over nonsense, so it's probably a good thing those rules are there. But I've painted with a bunch of the big guns, been in shows with others, and been around for a good while seeing what's happening, so I feel like I might have thoughts and opinions that, if not worth listening to, at least are relevant to a greater understanding of the story. But I digress. When I look at any street art blog I feel the same way as you in the final paragraph in your post. There is no danger, aggression, voice. Occasionally some great ideas, but it's rare. So many artists seem so quick to drop any kind of morals or personal standards, not even to get rich, but just simply to pay the rent. Sometimes that disgusts me. Sometimes I don't care, because it seems like most every human alive will drop to their knees and suck that dick just to get something they want, and so why should street artists be any different. Want to be in the movie? Suck a dick. Want a pay rise? Suck a dick. Someone else to pay the rent? Suck a dick. Dick-sucking is what makes the world go a-round.
The thing is, it's not like it's difficult to suck that dick. That dick slides in so easily you won't even feel it. Anyone that smokes (I used to be one) knows that you don't even realise you've put the tobacco giants cock between your lips until they've come in your mouth and you're taking it out! It's that easy to drop to your knees and gobble.
It's also easy to say no. It just takes integrity. I recently took part in a wall painting project. At first I was going to say no, then I realised that it was an opportunity for me to say something about a situation (I knew that the majority of other artists wouldn't, and I thought it was important someone should) A week later I was asked to be interviewed about it for a newspaper. Once again my initial reaction was to say no, but realised it was an opportunity to put forward the thing I wanted to say to a wider audience than would see the wall. After the interview the newspaper photographer asked to shoot my portrait. That for me is the moment I'm asked to put the dick in my mouth. I don't write my name on my work, and I don't let people photograph me. I want people to see things I paint and thing about those things I'm talking about in the piece, not about me. So I said no. No photographs. I pushed that dick away, so have missed out on some kind of personal benefit, fame or riches or something. But I kept my integrity intact. I can look at myself in the mirror and not feel like I'm looking at a sell out.
Shit, I don't know where I'm going with this. Maybe I'm asking all other artists to have some integrity. Maybe I'm asking all other humans to have some integrity! Maybe it's this simple lack of integrity that has turned street art into something mocked by Guardian journalists.
Anyway, I got to go wash the dishes (which is not really a chore, but another part of my keeping my integrity intact. I said I'd do it, so I will)
Watch out for that dick, kids!
That street in Bristol that's just been painted looks like a horror film where bad fairground art has gone out of control and taken over. It's a fucking hideous mess. The bare concrete looked 100 times better.
ReplyDeleteStreet art used to be about finding something hidden and interesting, now you can't seem to escape it...it screams in your face, 30 storeys high, jarring your senses and blighting the landscape with gaudy cartoon shit tackiness.
Vandalog is even running a competition on his blog to find the tallest street art mural. Quality isn't even an issue any more...it's all about size.
Street art has become a council-sponsored blight on our communities. The most radical and beautiful wall is now the one that's left blank, one where we can project our own thoughts and meanings, without being dictated to by some middle-class hipster prick ramming their neon coloured kiddy art down our throats.
Sometimes comments remind me why I started up this blind alley, thanks.
ReplyDeleteyes! hidden and interesting! what happened to that eh? those were the days...
ReplyDelete