Style Wars

Style Wars was entertaining to watch and reminded me of the many conversations I had with people regarding 'bombing' or what's now called 'tagging' and why it should be considered art. What this film did was take the practice of bombing back to its roots. One of the most validating comments was made by a French woman who was at the gallery show and voiced that it was "sad" that the bombing was not vibrant anymore, that bombing was a kinda of trademark travelers enjoyed being able to experience. In the beginning of the film the kids in the subway expressed that this act in a way kept them from drugging and committing dangerous crimes which was the norm in their urban neighborhoods. Yes there was a white kid here and there from an upscale neighborhood but the bombing culture was rooted in the hood.

The subways with their pristine white paint were not representative of the city and its people. New York City has an abundance of culture a diverse community and the bombed trains expressed that, gave it some flava'. Sure Taki 183 was not a great artist but he set a foundation that eventually turned into an art practice. Some of the work those kids put out there were as respectable as any painting in a gallery. Yes this is government property, but in reality ownership could be but an illusion.

The idea that these kids were expressing their ownership is less important than being able to create something that extends outside their neighborhoods. Less concerned with 'owning' or marking a train it seems it was simply rewarding to see work that they created, something that they were good at and could be proud of. Eventually, perhaps nowadays you will see bombing that has a political, economic or social theme. But in my experience this is less frequent in the United States compared to other particularly third world countries. In Guatemala an artist/activist Daniel Hernandez Salazar used photography to create an image that eventually became symbolic image of the thirty-six years of the violence during the civil war. The image was transfered onto public spaces in abundance and created hope for the people who had lived so long in fear. This type of work is more similar to the artist called Banksy. Bansky's work is poetic, subtle and beautiful but also carries deep rooted messages which can be interpreted and give hope the same as Salazar. In each of these examples the site is important although in some cases less political and more social.

To call them a powerless demographic would be incorrect. The reason why urban culture has been so oppressed and poisoned is because they are so powerful. Take for example the influence it had on suburban middle class 'white' kids. Exploring tombs has to be more interesting and exciting then mowing the lawn or finishing your math homework. Who wants to be politically correct all the time, how boring. What attracts middle and upper class kids to this culture is the passion these artists have. Some tag because thats really all they have to be passionate about. They couldn't and many times still can't compete in the business or academic world because it is geared to not accept them and their beliefs, lifestyles and influences. For example when the major Koch is talking about what "productive" things these kids could do other than bombing, he of course refers to grabbing brooms and sponges and 'contributing' to a society that would respect that. If the culture of hip hop was built by a bunch of white kids he would have said something like... they could be in college or use their artistic gifts in advertising or marketing. Some food for thought.

Lets compare the artists who sketched out their pieces, and took pride and time in their work vs. that jerk that went along spraying lines, squiggles and other amateur crap. Jealousy, I'd even go as far as to say supremacy became apparent watching this man deface visually appealing work with some half-ass scribble. Quality over quantity is always correct. It made me angry that he had the nerve to cover good work with no talent an obvious hatred. The rule of appropriated art is you have to do it better than the first guy, not scribble some crap to destroy ones value and pride. Its like the brats that tagged on the mural downtown Tucson on The Chicago Store building. These kids didn't compliment the work, if they had I'm sure it would be appreciated;they mocked it with their sorry attempts at 'representing'. "Yeah, I vandalism, but I did something to make your eyes open up, right? So what are you talking about it for?" the quote can be literally taken and to critics give way to arguments that the work is graffiti and nothing more, or you can interpret the word here and ask yourself... is vandalism ok as long as it is visually stimulating? I would have to say yes. If we allowed only the rich and the powerful to dictate what went up in our cities we would have more situations like this...(click here) AZ Elementary School Mural Altered.

Urban culture is exciting it's the unknown, the other. While the same men say stupid things like "if they are Middle Eastern they can't be trusted" and "it pisses me off when I see on the news an accident involving illegal Mexicans that we have to provide medical attention for" when asked who he found most attractive in Hollywood... Salma Hayek slips out (Lebanese/Mexican woman). I shook my head and observed, some people are just not worth your breath. Black/Latin cultures have paralleled each other either collaborating or competing they have fueled more creativity and more pride; ultimately more production. Particularly in the arts, culture is a fundamental contribution to great work. It's no secret that music and dance have a special place for people of color; salsa, rap, breakdancing, cumbia, reggae... lets face it, it's just more fun than ballet.

It's exciting for these bombers to be able to hold a show and sell works, its rewarding and productive... it's art. This is not selling out or going mainstream, this is utilizing your talents to create a living. Do I believe that the work looses it's intensity when it is taken from a public space to a gallery or canvus? No, it changes but the change can add to the work also. Work in public space is wonderful and powerful, but often ultimately illegal. What the gallery can provide is exposure that could lead to a commission or grant, you never know. The important thing here is to have an open mind even if it's not your thing. I don't dress like a skater or draw emo sketches, but I sure will go to show and have a look. What wasn't noted in the documentary were all those people to enjoyed having a look at those trains while they were down in those dungeons heading to their office jobs of sterile white walls and cubicles. I bet they would have enjoyed laying their eyes upon those bombs rather than the Benson and Hedges advertisements, wouldn't you?