The “word” on the “street” is that this “graffito sticker” has been showing up around Brooklyn affixed to some of the borough’s favorite-least-favorite new speculative condominiums, among them Robert Scarano’s big big 125 N. 10 in Williamsburg. The individual behind this classic comedy gag has gone to great lengths to conceal his identity. Sort of.
He’s this guy. According to his website, which is featured prominently on the sticker, he’s a disaffected artist and critic who’s staked out a position of bold “opposition to the fraudulence of modern times.” God love him, his heart’s in the right place. Some of his stickers might be, too.
His is a vintage tactic of frontline architectural warfare— though it’s not clear that it’s ever been terribly effective. Back in the early 60’s, when life in New York was grand and architecture was not, poster-size stickers began to show up on the sides of a few particularly egregious new skyscrapers in midtown (Pan Am, esp.) bearing the legend “NEW YORK is an ARCHITECTURAL D!SASTER.” Architectural Forum, of blessed memory, claimed it was the work of an unnamed “squad of junior terrorists” working from a Greenwich Village basement. Odds are good those “terrorists” all went on to found design/build firms or else blew themselves up accidentally. But anyhow: Shine On, Angry Eel!
I love these stickers! The new condos in NYC are total pieces of junk! I hate how they look and they represent greed! Good to see people voicing their opinions on the street. Where can I get some of these?
da best. Keep it going! Thank you