Street Art: The Teenager’s Identity
Walk along 9th Avenue towards the corner 40th street in Sunset Park neighborhood and you may notice graffiti on the metal shutters that seal the stores at night. One store in particular in this area used to be a corner-store. It was recently closed, and has been put up for rent. The store’s recent situation has exposed the “art” hidden from most people. It shouldn’t really be called art, though. It is an example of the stereotypical graffiti: Simplistic black spray paint that generates a name or a tag. Its presence on the shutters exude the atmosphere of a slums or ghetto. It brings about the feeling of a desolate and dangerous place, and emphasizes the dirt and grim that is the urban cities.
The tags were likely done by teenagers who wanted to prove themselves. It is an anonymous work with more than one painter, each with its own style and color. The nature of the work may provide clues about the painter, as they are names and symbols of the artists. It is unknown whether the taggers intended for this to be temporary, but due to the owner’s financial constraints he is unable to remove it. Compared to similar works that I see on my commute, this piece is relatively safe for the artist. The artist did not have to travel on rails, in the dark, and worrying about a train approaching. This piece wasn’t always so visible, mostly it would be seen at night when most businesses are closed. Now it is a constant reminder of the dark side of the city, and the struggle for identity that teenagers seek.
I curious about how you speak of these artists as a group – do you think that they worked at the same time or is this an example of layers of grafitti over time.