Graffiti in China

Click on My Camera to see more images.  Above is from a 2am with Shanghai based graf artist who writes SEAF.  If you are going to take in an arts and culture scene, you must take it in from high and low...and sideways. 

Chinese graffiti writers are just sort of finding their "aesthetic" voice.    The fine art scene has been studying western contemporary art diligently for the last ten years, and seem advanced compared to kids in the states.  However,  the street art scene has not been made as academic...and is like a gangly 14 year old facing puberty. 

It was cool to see SEAF writing in Chinese characters, versus derivative NYC based western style graf.  Also, interesting to consider the game of "cat and mouse" with "authorities"-- which has a completely different meaning than other parts of the world.  It does seem that there are in fact "Graffiti Safe Zones"-- almost like skate parks, where kids can go and paint.  SEAF knew a ton about me and my history, despite language barriers-- the power of the internet, even in government regulated China in undeniable and is making the world a very,very, very small village.

Comments

[chris]

Hey Marc, i know youre a busy dude but they havent announced the winner of the Knux design contest on complex.com yet and i haven heard anything back from the email i sent asking about it.

You know whats up?

-Chris