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Who's buying street art - The Guardian..., by Agent Provocateur on May 12, 2009 10:40:00 GMT 1, Not sure if this has been posted before, but just found it on The Guardian's website. The categories are quite interesting!
Here's the link www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2009/apr/29/street-art-buyers
And the full article...
Urban art? Keep it on the street
Graffiti has officially upgraded to street art and it has the price tags to prove it. But who actually buys it, asks Ruth Jamieson
Last week Inkie's charity auction of street art raised over £35,000 for Great Ormond Street hospital. Elsewhere in the capital, the Andipa's Banksy exhibition is asking punters to cough up anywhere between £4,000 to £1m for a work. Where the former is wisely cashing in on a still-increasing trend for a good cause, the latter is merely cashing in on those not wise enough to know better.
By definition, street art is produced for outdoor, shared spaces – its public context a crucial element of the work. Icons of social control like policemen, the monarchy and CCTV are the butt of visual one-liners. They're a cute – but ineffectual – two fingers to the authorities, reminding the Man that the space belongs to the people as well as to him.
Rather obvious, but mildly amusing street art leitmotifs of the Queen in a gas mask, a policeman lobbing flowers, rats carrying briefcases, are all very well on a street corner, but why would you want to take one home? What's the point? There is no need to visually "reclaim" that space: it's your home. Ideas that are intended to be understood in the time it takes to walk around a street corner are surely too superficial for your living room wall. You're hardly going to learn more about art and life by gazing at yet another take on a Che Guevara portrait, are you? So, who is driving the commoditisation of what is essentially graffiti? And why? It may have graduated to street art – with the price tags to prove it – but let's take a look at who's buying it ...
1. The boy-man. He's 40-plus but he rides a skateboard to work, knows his XX Teens from his The xx, and has decks in his bedroom. He's blissfully unaware that if you can afford to pay the silly sums commanded by street art, you are officially too rich to be street. He and his mates buy up Banksys the same way their mums bought Monet tea towels.
2. The corporate banker. Whoever said you can't buy cool was probably under-investing. After a hard week doing his bit to melt the economy, Mr Young Banker heads to London's last uber-club, Fabric, to pick up a beautiful young thing to unwind with. In the darkness of their sweaty environs, they don't notice he's "a suit", but in the cool, hard light of his Old Street apartment they may. But, whack a bit of D*Face in the bathroom, hang some Pure Evil above the bed and the cool credentials are apparently safe.
3. The canny restauranteur. He's hoping to distract trendy diners from substandard grub. The menu says organic. The walls say "you may be paying £25 for a posh fishfinger sandwich but you are still Jenny from the block because look, there's an actual bit of the block hanging from the walls". Complete the look with ironic takeaway carton crockery and music loud enough to drown out dissenters' cries of "a 14-year-old with an Asbo can spray paint better than that".
4. Bitter speculators. Those that missed out on the first wave of this (non-) subversive-graffiti-turned-nest-egg thing. I was at a party in 2000 where they gave away Banksys. Foolishly I declined, not wanting the hassle of taking it home on the tube. Idiot. I try not to think about how much it might be worth today. Investors have watched the value of a Banksy rise with his celebrity and, not wanting to miss out again, are putting their money where the urban art is. We recommend they look to artists such as Massive Attack's 3D, who paints post-apocalyptic portraits and Goldie – yes the musician – who mixes stencil work with energetic scrawl and paint dribbles. There's also Eine, who subverts children's book imagery to comment on CCTV (an anti-CCTV attitude comes fitted as standard with street artists, by the way. Supposedly because they believe in freedom. Presumably also because it hinders them in their work) and Agent Provocateur, a stencil man who specialises in macabre clowns with a nihilistic, doom-driven palette.
5. Ex-subversives. You're no longer a member of the Socialist Workers Party; you're a member of a wine club instead. You don't even live in the city any more, having made a run for the countryside as soon as Jack and Emily hit school age. But, in your heart, and on your mantelpiece, you'll always be one of the people. When your new cheese and wine chums come around, the street art on the walls not only illustrates your subversive roots but demonstrates your moral and political superiority. Everyone is too polite to point out that you may love Banksy's One Nation Under CCTV mural, but you also have a camera installed to watch over the BMW in your driveway.
Not sure if this has been posted before, but just found it on The Guardian's website. The categories are quite interesting! Here's the link www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2009/apr/29/street-art-buyersAnd the full article... Urban art? Keep it on the street Graffiti has officially upgraded to street art and it has the price tags to prove it. But who actually buys it, asks Ruth Jamieson Last week Inkie's charity auction of street art raised over £35,000 for Great Ormond Street hospital. Elsewhere in the capital, the Andipa's Banksy exhibition is asking punters to cough up anywhere between £4,000 to £1m for a work. Where the former is wisely cashing in on a still-increasing trend for a good cause, the latter is merely cashing in on those not wise enough to know better. By definition, street art is produced for outdoor, shared spaces – its public context a crucial element of the work. Icons of social control like policemen, the monarchy and CCTV are the butt of visual one-liners. They're a cute – but ineffectual – two fingers to the authorities, reminding the Man that the space belongs to the people as well as to him. Rather obvious, but mildly amusing street art leitmotifs of the Queen in a gas mask, a policeman lobbing flowers, rats carrying briefcases, are all very well on a street corner, but why would you want to take one home? What's the point? There is no need to visually "reclaim" that space: it's your home. Ideas that are intended to be understood in the time it takes to walk around a street corner are surely too superficial for your living room wall. You're hardly going to learn more about art and life by gazing at yet another take on a Che Guevara portrait, are you? So, who is driving the commoditisation of what is essentially graffiti? And why? It may have graduated to street art – with the price tags to prove it – but let's take a look at who's buying it ... 1. The boy-man. He's 40-plus but he rides a skateboard to work, knows his XX Teens from his The xx, and has decks in his bedroom. He's blissfully unaware that if you can afford to pay the silly sums commanded by street art, you are officially too rich to be street. He and his mates buy up Banksys the same way their mums bought Monet tea towels. 2. The corporate banker. Whoever said you can't buy cool was probably under-investing. After a hard week doing his bit to melt the economy, Mr Young Banker heads to London's last uber-club, Fabric, to pick up a beautiful young thing to unwind with. In the darkness of their sweaty environs, they don't notice he's "a suit", but in the cool, hard light of his Old Street apartment they may. But, whack a bit of D*Face in the bathroom, hang some Pure Evil above the bed and the cool credentials are apparently safe. 3. The canny restauranteur. He's hoping to distract trendy diners from substandard grub. The menu says organic. The walls say "you may be paying £25 for a posh fishfinger sandwich but you are still Jenny from the block because look, there's an actual bit of the block hanging from the walls". Complete the look with ironic takeaway carton crockery and music loud enough to drown out dissenters' cries of "a 14-year-old with an Asbo can spray paint better than that". 4. Bitter speculators. Those that missed out on the first wave of this (non-) subversive-graffiti-turned-nest-egg thing. I was at a party in 2000 where they gave away Banksys. Foolishly I declined, not wanting the hassle of taking it home on the tube. Idiot. I try not to think about how much it might be worth today. Investors have watched the value of a Banksy rise with his celebrity and, not wanting to miss out again, are putting their money where the urban art is. We recommend they look to artists such as Massive Attack's 3D, who paints post-apocalyptic portraits and Goldie – yes the musician – who mixes stencil work with energetic scrawl and paint dribbles. There's also Eine, who subverts children's book imagery to comment on CCTV (an anti-CCTV attitude comes fitted as standard with street artists, by the way. Supposedly because they believe in freedom. Presumably also because it hinders them in their work) and Agent Provocateur, a stencil man who specialises in macabre clowns with a nihilistic, doom-driven palette. 5. Ex-subversives. You're no longer a member of the Socialist Workers Party; you're a member of a wine club instead. You don't even live in the city any more, having made a run for the countryside as soon as Jack and Emily hit school age. But, in your heart, and on your mantelpiece, you'll always be one of the people. When your new cheese and wine chums come around, the street art on the walls not only illustrates your subversive roots but demonstrates your moral and political superiority. Everyone is too polite to point out that you may love Banksy's One Nation Under CCTV mural, but you also have a camera installed to watch over the BMW in your driveway.
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Who's buying street art - The Guardian..., by doublehelix on May 12, 2009 10:54:05 GMT 1, I think 'disingenuous' would be a good word to describe the article.
I think 'disingenuous' would be a good word to describe the article.
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Who's buying street art - The Guardian..., by Agent Provocateur on May 12, 2009 11:02:15 GMT 1, Not exactly good with words, but I think Guy Denning's comment at the bottom of the article is saying the same thing doublehelix.
Not exactly good with words, but I think Guy Denning's comment at the bottom of the article is saying the same thing doublehelix.
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Bram
Artist
Junior Member
Posts • 2,815
Likes • 286
November 2007
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artyfarty
New Member
Posts • 121
Likes • 1
March 2007
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Who's buying street art - The Guardian..., by artyfarty on May 12, 2009 11:16:10 GMT 1, Spot on article. Sims up a large slice of what is going on rather well.
Spot on article. Sims up a large slice of what is going on rather well.
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Who's buying street art - The Guardian..., by Agent Provocateur on May 12, 2009 11:16:48 GMT 1, Doh! Cheers bram, really didn't think it had been posted
Doh! Cheers bram, really didn't think it had been posted
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dynamixx
New Member
Posts • 650
Likes • 1
August 2006
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Who's buying street art - The Guardian..., by dynamixx on May 12, 2009 11:20:53 GMT 1, It is a suspiciously detailed attempt to analyse the urban art market, not sure if Ruth Jamieson is the outsider she implies and wouldn't be at all suprised if she's dabbled in the dark art of collecting herself. You certainly come accross a lot of 4s.
The Guardian have taken an interesting route since scoring the main printed interview with Banksy, way back when. After that, publishing that Charlie Brooker article certainly isolated them from one or two exclusives. Think Santas Ghetto 07 - they were pretty much the last to know, so worth bearing in mind maybe their arts team is made of one or two "Bitter speculators" in relation to one of the art world's current hottest talents.
Have to question such rigid boxes of collectors too. If I buy a Seen painted subway map because I want something to represent my love of graffiti, and because I grew up being inspired by New York graffiti culture, which changed the course of my life, which one am I Ruth?
Sometimes it's far too easy to hate on things. It's about time the Guardian moved on
It is a suspiciously detailed attempt to analyse the urban art market, not sure if Ruth Jamieson is the outsider she implies and wouldn't be at all suprised if she's dabbled in the dark art of collecting herself. You certainly come accross a lot of 4s.
The Guardian have taken an interesting route since scoring the main printed interview with Banksy, way back when. After that, publishing that Charlie Brooker article certainly isolated them from one or two exclusives. Think Santas Ghetto 07 - they were pretty much the last to know, so worth bearing in mind maybe their arts team is made of one or two "Bitter speculators" in relation to one of the art world's current hottest talents.
Have to question such rigid boxes of collectors too. If I buy a Seen painted subway map because I want something to represent my love of graffiti, and because I grew up being inspired by New York graffiti culture, which changed the course of my life, which one am I Ruth?
Sometimes it's far too easy to hate on things. It's about time the Guardian moved on
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Who's buying street art - The Guardian..., by Daniel Silk on May 12, 2009 12:17:21 GMT 1, Good stuff! ;D
Dont think I fit into any of those groups
Good stuff! ;D Dont think I fit into any of those groups
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achtungbono
Junior Member
Posts • 1,093
Likes • 156
May 2008
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Who's buying street art - The Guardian..., by achtungbono on May 12, 2009 14:02:21 GMT 1, The Guardina reallyu is a simpering sneery unoriginal cod left fucksheet of the highest order.
a shit smeared toilet of a paper, suitabile for wiping ones spotty arse on.
The Guardina reallyu is a simpering sneery unoriginal cod left fucksheet of the highest order.
a shit smeared toilet of a paper, suitabile for wiping ones spotty arse on.
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Who's buying street art - The Guardian..., by Daniel Silk on May 12, 2009 14:04:44 GMT 1, The Guardina reallyu is a simpering sneery unoriginal cod left f**ksheet of the highest order. a s**t smeared toilet of a paper, suitabile for wiping ones spotty arse on.
hmmmm yeah ok
The Guardina reallyu is a simpering sneery unoriginal cod left f**ksheet of the highest order. a s**t smeared toilet of a paper, suitabile for wiping ones spotty arse on. hmmmm yeah ok
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Who's buying street art - The Guardian..., by slowmo on May 12, 2009 14:07:17 GMT 1, Come on then Ruth, brave enough to post to tell us who you are? This story is clearly sourced from this forum.
Come on then Ruth, brave enough to post to tell us who you are? This story is clearly sourced from this forum.
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neale
Junior Member
Posts • 1,585
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December 2008
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Who's buying street art - The Guardian..., by neale on May 12, 2009 20:33:04 GMT 1, The Guardina reallyu is a simpering sneery unoriginal cod left f**ksheet of the highest order. a s**t smeared toilet of a paper, suitabile for wiping ones spotty arse on.
stop holding back, tellthem what you really mean ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
The Guardina reallyu is a simpering sneery unoriginal cod left f**ksheet of the highest order. a s**t smeared toilet of a paper, suitabile for wiping ones spotty arse on. stop holding back, tellthem what you really mean ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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jrasbo
New Member
Posts • 79
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April 2009
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Who's buying street art - The Guardian..., by jrasbo on May 12, 2009 20:36:50 GMT 1, Well I am no longer buying as I already have enough and it is nice to have a balanced collection and not just all street type art..
Well I am no longer buying as I already have enough and it is nice to have a balanced collection and not just all street type art..
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bert
New Member
Posts • 674
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August 2007
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Who's buying street art - The Guardian..., by bert on May 12, 2009 21:44:06 GMT 1, Article made me laugh, maybe a bit of relief that I don't fall into any of those! A pretty (intentionally) humerous, and at times, perceptive article.
Article made me laugh, maybe a bit of relief that I don't fall into any of those! A pretty (intentionally) humerous, and at times, perceptive article.
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Cocteau 101
Junior Member
Posts • 3,483
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January 2007
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Who's buying street art - The Guardian..., by Cocteau 101 on May 12, 2009 22:21:51 GMT 1, To paraphrase Steve Laz, a lot of the artists we collect have only been on the street / down the fuckin street to buy a pint of milk. Who gives a fuck who's buying street art? The rather preaching tone of the article is particularly annoying.
To paraphrase Steve Laz, a lot of the artists we collect have only been on the street / down the fuckin street to buy a pint of milk. Who gives a fuck who's buying street art? The rather preaching tone of the article is particularly annoying.
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nah
New Member
Posts • 822
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April 2009
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Who's buying street art - The Guardian..., by nah on May 12, 2009 22:27:34 GMT 1, Sounds pretty spot on to me, shame about the cringeworthy rundown of artists at the end of 4 (wonder where they got those names from, hmm)
Sounds pretty spot on to me, shame about the cringeworthy rundown of artists at the end of 4 (wonder where they got those names from, hmm)
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Who's buying street art - The Guardian..., by Guest on May 12, 2009 22:31:55 GMT 1, Well I am no longer buying as I already have enough and it is nice to have a balanced collection and not just all street type art..
stamps?
Well I am no longer buying as I already have enough and it is nice to have a balanced collection and not just all street type art.. stamps?
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dynamixx
New Member
Posts • 650
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August 2006
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Who's buying street art - The Guardian..., by dynamixx on May 12, 2009 23:24:28 GMT 1, Sounds pretty spot on to me, shame about the cringeworthy rundown of artists at the end of 4 (wonder where they got those names from, hmm)
True that, she could have just as easily chosen the likes of Parla, Neate, Os Gemeos, JR, Slinkachu etc, somehow think they'd be a little harder to be so dismissive of collecting though.
Sounds pretty spot on to me, shame about the cringeworthy rundown of artists at the end of 4 (wonder where they got those names from, hmm) True that, she could have just as easily chosen the likes of Parla, Neate, Os Gemeos, JR, Slinkachu etc, somehow think they'd be a little harder to be so dismissive of collecting though.
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jamesreeve5
Blank Rank
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September 2012
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Who's buying street art - The Guardian..., by jamesreeve5 on May 12, 2009 23:51:59 GMT 1, I noticed there were quite a few people who said they didn't fall in any of the categories listed.
I'll add the last personality type on there for her:
6. The Fanboy. They might not have been the first person they know to like Banksy, but they sure as Hell like him more than anyone else. "Silky," "POW," and "F5," are part of their everyday lexicon, and they will spend hours debating the merits of an Artist's proof over a Printer's proof if given the chance. Luckily for the rest of us, their favorite watering hole is usually in cyberspace, which gives them the two-fold benefit of thinking that they are actually socializing, while simultaneously checking for drops on POW or new collage releases by Bast. Print folders are a must for these types because there is only so much wall space in a studio flat. Don't bother asking to buy one of their Faile pieces at current market prices though; it's not that you are offering less than they paid for it, it's that they are just in it for the love of the art. They do however have half a dozen or so Nick Walkers that they would love to get rid of at 5 times the cost because "the wife just can't stand them". The fanboy is always male, and he usually doesn't actually have a wife.
All in good fun.
I noticed there were quite a few people who said they didn't fall in any of the categories listed.
I'll add the last personality type on there for her:
6. The Fanboy. They might not have been the first person they know to like Banksy, but they sure as Hell like him more than anyone else. "Silky," "POW," and "F5," are part of their everyday lexicon, and they will spend hours debating the merits of an Artist's proof over a Printer's proof if given the chance. Luckily for the rest of us, their favorite watering hole is usually in cyberspace, which gives them the two-fold benefit of thinking that they are actually socializing, while simultaneously checking for drops on POW or new collage releases by Bast. Print folders are a must for these types because there is only so much wall space in a studio flat. Don't bother asking to buy one of their Faile pieces at current market prices though; it's not that you are offering less than they paid for it, it's that they are just in it for the love of the art. They do however have half a dozen or so Nick Walkers that they would love to get rid of at 5 times the cost because "the wife just can't stand them". The fanboy is always male, and he usually doesn't actually have a wife.
All in good fun.
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Who's buying street art - The Guardian..., by Guest on May 13, 2009 0:01:19 GMT 1, LOL you forgot to add, most of them are called James.
LOL you forgot to add, most of them are called James.
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jamesreeve5
Blank Rank
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September 2012
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Who's buying street art - The Guardian..., by jamesreeve5 on May 13, 2009 1:04:28 GMT 1, LOL you forgot to add, most of them are called James.
Hey! I take offense to that! I've never bothered with Nick Walker prints!
LOL you forgot to add, most of them are called James. Hey! I take offense to that! I've never bothered with Nick Walker prints!
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Deleted
Posts • 0
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January 1970
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Who's buying street art - The Guardian..., by Deleted on May 13, 2009 1:27:08 GMT 1, LOL you forgot to add, most of them are called James. ;D do you know me? Are you watching me? I don't like to be called boy, but most of the rest is spot on, call me fanman
LOL you forgot to add, most of them are called James. ;D do you know me? Are you watching me? I don't like to be called boy, but most of the rest is spot on, call me fanman
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jamesreeve5
Blank Rank
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September 2012
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Who's buying street art - The Guardian..., by jamesreeve5 on May 13, 2009 6:31:30 GMT 1, LOL you forgot to add, most of them are called James. ;D do you know me? Are you watching me? I don't like to be called boy, but most of the rest is spot on, call me fanman
haha... yea, some of it describes me too. I think I can see a little bit of myself in a few of those categories actually.
LOL you forgot to add, most of them are called James. ;D do you know me? Are you watching me? I don't like to be called boy, but most of the rest is spot on, call me fanman haha... yea, some of it describes me too. I think I can see a little bit of myself in a few of those categories actually.
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Pure Evil
Artist
Junior Member
Posts • 1,338
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December 2006
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Who's buying street art - The Guardian..., by Pure Evil on May 13, 2009 10:52:21 GMT 1, "But, whack a bit of D*Face in the bathroom, hang some Pure Evil above the bed and the cool credentials are apparently safe."
f*cking awesome i love it.. I have a pure evil hanging above my bed i feel such a c*nt...
This article rules... its like when Aphex Twin did a piece about the clichés of ambient music : whale noises / over using the recording of the moon landing over tracks... tuvan throat singers... etc
"But, whack a bit of D*Face in the bathroom, hang some Pure Evil above the bed and the cool credentials are apparently safe."
f*cking awesome i love it.. I have a pure evil hanging above my bed i feel such a c*nt...
This article rules... its like when Aphex Twin did a piece about the clichés of ambient music : whale noises / over using the recording of the moon landing over tracks... tuvan throat singers... etc
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darrenrapley
Junior Member
Posts • 1,858
Likes • 229
June 2008
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Who's buying street art - The Guardian..., by darrenrapley on May 13, 2009 10:58:07 GMT 1, "But, whack a bit of D*Face in the bathroom, hang some Pure Evil above the bed and the cool credentials are apparently safe." f*cking awesome i love it.. I have a pure evil hanging above my bed i feel such a c*nt...
Looks like the Guardian have their next quote straight from the horses mouth! lol
"But, whack a bit of D*Face in the bathroom, hang some Pure Evil above the bed and the cool credentials are apparently safe." f*cking awesome i love it.. I have a pure evil hanging above my bed i feel such a c*nt... Looks like the Guardian have their next quote straight from the horses mouth! lol
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K-Guy
Artist
New Member
Posts • 112
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September 2008
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Who's buying street art - The Guardian..., by K-Guy on May 13, 2009 15:43:32 GMT 1, Pretty cheap journalism in my view. I reckon Ruth Jamieson should immediately sack herself and take up a post at Hello, OK or Nuts magazine?
Pretty cheap journalism in my view. I reckon Ruth Jamieson should immediately sack herself and take up a post at Hello, OK or Nuts magazine?
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BlightSociety
Art Gallery
New Member
Posts • 124
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June 2008
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Who's buying street art - The Guardian..., by BlightSociety on May 13, 2009 17:29:39 GMT 1, "Rather obvious, but mildly amusing street art leitmotifs of the Queen in a gas mask, a policeman lobbing flowers, rats carrying briefcases, are all very well on a street corner, but why would you want to take one home? What's the point? There is no need to visually "reclaim" that space: it's your home. Ideas that are intended to be understood in the time it takes to walk around a street corner are surely too superficial for your living room wall. You're hardly going to learn more about art and life by gazing at yet another take on a Che Guevara portrait, are you?" - Ruth Jamieson, The Guardian
The Guardian. Missing the point since 1713.
This entire article could be shortened to “street art is rubbish and anyone who buys it’s a mug”.
Wrong on both counts Ruth
"Rather obvious, but mildly amusing street art leitmotifs of the Queen in a gas mask, a policeman lobbing flowers, rats carrying briefcases, are all very well on a street corner, but why would you want to take one home? What's the point? There is no need to visually "reclaim" that space: it's your home. Ideas that are intended to be understood in the time it takes to walk around a street corner are surely too superficial for your living room wall. You're hardly going to learn more about art and life by gazing at yet another take on a Che Guevara portrait, are you?" - Ruth Jamieson, The Guardian
The Guardian. Missing the point since 1713.
This entire article could be shortened to “street art is rubbish and anyone who buys it’s a mug”.
Wrong on both counts Ruth
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dynamixx
New Member
Posts • 650
Likes • 1
August 2006
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Who's buying street art - The Guardian..., by dynamixx on May 13, 2009 17:35:43 GMT 1, Come on then Ruth, brave enough to post to tell us who you are? This story is clearly sourced from this forum.
No question that she has already or will come accross this thread. Hi Ruth! Anyone up for a Q&A?
Come on then Ruth, brave enough to post to tell us who you are? This story is clearly sourced from this forum. No question that she has already or will come accross this thread. Hi Ruth! Anyone up for a Q&A?
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achtungbono
Junior Member
Posts • 1,093
Likes • 156
May 2008
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Who's buying street art - The Guardian..., by achtungbono on May 13, 2009 17:36:38 GMT 1, ha
2 posts in a row that I agree with
ha
2 posts in a row that I agree with
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