adam
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Posts โข 74
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May 2007
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Eine - what is the appeal?, by adam on Mar 23, 2010 16:16:42 GMT 1, This is a genuine question not a troll so appreciate it if you take it in the spirit intended... 
I know Eine is well-respected and collectable, and that defining the pleasure of art is personal and sometime impossible but I am genuinely baffled by the appeal of his art. I consider myself to be fairly broad-minded and open to new concepts and I am an appreciator of many of the street artists on here but I found myself wondering why someone would frame eg a large letter E on their wall. Maybe they look better in sets or combinations?
While his art is certainly not offensive to my eye (hey he creates some nice fonts that make sense for publishing etc) but can you Eine fans describe what you like about it and the message, if any, you derive from it? Just wondering what I am missing.
Thanks, and once again this is not a criticism of the artist, more of my own critical faculties. I am genuinely interested in understandnig the appeal to those who buy and collect his art.
This is a genuine question not a troll so appreciate it if you take it in the spirit intended... I know Eine is well-respected and collectable, and that defining the pleasure of art is personal and sometime impossible but I am genuinely baffled by the appeal of his art. I consider myself to be fairly broad-minded and open to new concepts and I am an appreciator of many of the street artists on here but I found myself wondering why someone would frame eg a large letter E on their wall. Maybe they look better in sets or combinations? While his art is certainly not offensive to my eye (hey he creates some nice fonts that make sense for publishing etc) but can you Eine fans describe what you like about it and the message, if any, you derive from it? Just wondering what I am missing. Thanks, and once again this is not a criticism of the artist, more of my own critical faculties. I am genuinely interested in understandnig the appeal to those who buy and collect his art. |
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spirit
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August 2007
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Eine - what is the appeal?, by spirit on Mar 23, 2010 16:54:10 GMT 1, Here's what I reckon.... Put simply, graffiti is a letter based art form. Eine's take on this is to use type based letterforms rather than freehand ones. In doing this he has created his own unique and strong style. You can't mistake an Eine shutter for anyone else's work.
As far as messages in Eine's street pieces goes they tend to comprise of a certain word in a certain location - like "SCARY" or "VANDALISM". The way and place that the word is used make you question the meaning of the word itself - for example having a massive "SCARY" written under the bridge probably makes it less scary than it was before - it might even make you smile.
I see the single letters as more like tags (unusually nice ones) than anything else...
Here's what I reckon.... Put simply, graffiti is a letter based art form. Eine's take on this is to use type based letterforms rather than freehand ones. In doing this he has created his own unique and strong style. You can't mistake an Eine shutter for anyone else's work.
As far as messages in Eine's street pieces goes they tend to comprise of a certain word in a certain location - like "SCARY" or "VANDALISM". The way and place that the word is used make you question the meaning of the word itself - for example having a massive "SCARY" written under the bridge probably makes it less scary than it was before - it might even make you smile.
I see the single letters as more like tags (unusually nice ones) than anything else...
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Eine - what is the appeal?, by Daniel Silk on Mar 23, 2010 17:00:39 GMT 1, Team 22 Crew C: Ohne Titel (Ben Eine) - Leuphana ARTotale
Team 22 Crew C: Ohne Titel (Ben Eine) - Leuphana ARTotale
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Eine - what is the appeal?, by Daniel Silk on Mar 23, 2010 17:02:08 GMT 1,
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Eine - what is the appeal?, by Daniel Silk on Mar 23, 2010 17:03:02 GMT 1,
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Eine - what is the appeal?, by Daniel Silk on Mar 23, 2010 17:05:44 GMT 1,
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Eine - what is the appeal?, by Daniel Silk on Mar 23, 2010 17:08:19 GMT 1,
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adam
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Posts โข 74
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May 2007
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Eine - what is the appeal?, by adam on Mar 23, 2010 22:28:02 GMT 1, Interesting thoughts spirit and that makes a lot of sense, although doesn't make me warm to the art as I find tags to be nothing more than vandalism that gives a bad name to talented graffiti artists. Videos are also illuminating (thanks Silky although my German is a bit rusty) - so Eine in his own words has no message and nothing to say. And SCARY was ironic because people find graffiti scary? Does not really resonate with me as I don't find it in the least bit scary - 90% annoying / 10% creative IMHO.
I thought the collage on the building looked very good though - colourful and striking, but again with no depth or consequence.
I shall research more of his stuff though as I am still curious whether it has any merits other than simplicity and colour. I think it is effective on a large wall but still fail to see the apeal of paying ยฃ350 for the word Hell on black paper on my wall 
thanks to both again for the unjudgemental responses and further education
Interesting thoughts spirit and that makes a lot of sense, although doesn't make me warm to the art as I find tags to be nothing more than vandalism that gives a bad name to talented graffiti artists. Videos are also illuminating (thanks Silky although my German is a bit rusty) - so Eine in his own words has no message and nothing to say. And SCARY was ironic because people find graffiti scary? Does not really resonate with me as I don't find it in the least bit scary - 90% annoying / 10% creative IMHO. I thought the collage on the building looked very good though - colourful and striking, but again with no depth or consequence. I shall research more of his stuff though as I am still curious whether it has any merits other than simplicity and colour. I think it is effective on a large wall but still fail to see the apeal of paying ยฃ350 for the word Hell on black paper on my wall thanks to both again for the unjudgemental responses and further education |
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spirit
Junior Member
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August 2007
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Eine - what is the appeal?, by spirit on Mar 23, 2010 22:48:55 GMT 1, "I find tags to be nothing more than vandalism that gives a bad name to talented graffiti artists"
Most of them are but that's why I said Eine's were unusually nice ones...
"so Eine in his own words has no message and nothing to say"
He was referring specifically to the piece in that video when he said that - it was in the context of the relevant authorities saying he could't write this and couldn't write that so he ended up writing nothing at all - just random letters
"And scary was irony because people find graffiti scary? Does not really resonate with me as I don't find it in the least bit scary"
Well I hadn't really thought of that but possibly I suppose - I think it was more to do with the actual location being scary - have you seen where it is?
"I thought the collage on the building looked very good though - colourful and striking"
Me too! - is any more really required?
"but again with no depth or consequence"
Agreed. The dude just loves letters. If you're looking for deep and meaningful you'd be better off looking elsewhere...
"I find tags to be nothing more than vandalism that gives a bad name to talented graffiti artists"
Most of them are but that's why I said Eine's were unusually nice ones...
"so Eine in his own words has no message and nothing to say"
He was referring specifically to the piece in that video when he said that - it was in the context of the relevant authorities saying he could't write this and couldn't write that so he ended up writing nothing at all - just random letters
"And scary was irony because people find graffiti scary? Does not really resonate with me as I don't find it in the least bit scary"
Well I hadn't really thought of that but possibly I suppose - I think it was more to do with the actual location being scary - have you seen where it is?
"I thought the collage on the building looked very good though - colourful and striking"
Me too! - is any more really required?
"but again with no depth or consequence"
Agreed. The dude just loves letters. If you're looking for deep and meaningful you'd be better off looking elsewhere...
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adam
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Posts โข 74
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May 2007
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Eine - what is the appeal?, by adam on Mar 23, 2010 23:06:34 GMT 1, agreed sir
- nope, where is that location? he just says on a bridge
- agree, nothing else necessarily required on a large scale like that, I don't yet find that appeal translating into a much smaller print I guess
- do you own any of his works?
thanks again for the input
agreed sir
- nope, where is that location? he just says on a bridge
- agree, nothing else necessarily required on a large scale like that, I don't yet find that appeal translating into a much smaller print I guess
- do you own any of his works?
thanks again for the input
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spirit
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August 2007
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Eine - what is the appeal?, by spirit on Mar 24, 2010 0:47:27 GMT 1, Yes - I have a pair of Eltons and a Circus print in my office - some of the first prints I bought and still some of my favourites.
Found this short article which I think you will find worth a read - it adds a little insight into what he does and why...also shows the scary piece
www.typegoodness.com/2009/11/eines-urban-letters/
Yes - I have a pair of Eltons and a Circus print in my office - some of the first prints I bought and still some of my favourites. Found this short article which I think you will find worth a read - it adds a little insight into what he does and why...also shows the scary piece www.typegoodness.com/2009/11/eines-urban-letters/ |
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adam
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Posts โข 74
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May 2007
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Eine - what is the appeal?, by adam on Mar 24, 2010 17:59:45 GMT 1,
See I appreciate the impact of the big pieces on walls, very striking and effective although I get a but with artists who say their work says nothing but just attempts to raise questions
anyhow took a look at that nelly duff site and decided the prints still do nothing for me, the warhols just look spooky, home sweet home would be embarrassing to have on my wall and the eltons look quite pretty at least, although I find little merit in them (other than hanging them in my daughters room to help her learn the alphabet)
Ho hum, well thanks for the interesting views and links - just one to put in the "not for me" bucket 
See I appreciate the impact of the big pieces on walls, very striking and effective although I get a but with artists who say their work says nothing but just attempts to raise questions anyhow took a look at that nelly duff site and decided the prints still do nothing for me, the warhols just look spooky, home sweet home would be embarrassing to have on my wall and the eltons look quite pretty at least, although I find little merit in them (other than hanging them in my daughters room to help her learn the alphabet) Ho hum, well thanks for the interesting views and links - just one to put in the "not for me" bucket |
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spirit
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August 2007
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Eine - what is the appeal?, by spirit on Mar 24, 2010 18:02:51 GMT 1, the eltons look quite pretty at least, although I find little merit in them (other than hanging them in my daughters room to help her learn the alphabet)
lol - I wouldn't recommend them for that - note the missing "W"
the eltons look quite pretty at least, although I find little merit in them (other than hanging them in my daughters room to help her learn the alphabet) lol - I wouldn't recommend them for that - note the missing "W" |
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European Bob
Artist
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February 2007
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Eine - what is the appeal?, by European Bob on Mar 24, 2010 21:21:41 GMT 1, i think if you lived in east london you would get a better sense for things, just walking around and seeing how many shutters he has hit is untrue. ben gets a lot of respect from me for what he does and what he has done for the scene in whole. for me he is up there along side the banksy,
thats just me tho
i think if you lived in east london you would get a better sense for things, just walking around and seeing how many shutters he has hit is untrue. ben gets a lot of respect from me for what he does and what he has done for the scene in whole. for me he is up there along side the banksy,
thats just me tho
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