Given that its illegal nature is so important to so many graffiti writers, I’ve wondered whether or not legitimation would destroy the craft. Of course, there’s no way to tell. But, my site-centric view of graffiti suggests perhaps not. Consider this collaboration between Gaia and Nanook:
Photo: Andy Milford.
It’s part of a Living Walls Albany project and is legit. I note that this isn’t graffiti in the ‘classic’ sense; it’s not directly derived from the NYC-Philly ‘axis,’ though the echoes are strong in the stripes juxtaposed with the portrait.
What’s gone is the vandalism and all that that implies. But it’s still very much a site-centric work. As Gaia’s caption explains:
Portrait of Gov Nelson Rockefeller and Sven Lukin's wall painting, Untitled. This particular work, amongst many other masterpieces, is on exhibition underneath the Empire State Plaza and apart of one of the largest Modernist art collections available for public view. Clearly inspired by the glimmering Brasilia, Rockefeller and Corning masterminded the 98.5 acre marble and steel Plaza according to Wallace Harrison's design. After 17 years of constructions, this massive project was finally completed in 1976 and now sits squarely in direct contrast with the sleepy, historic capitol that is city of Albany.
And that’s what paramount, site-centricity, site-specificity. And then, ephemerality. How long will this last?
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