A lot of people are up in arms, because the MOCA‘s new director Jeffrey Deitch had a commissioned mural by Italian street artist BLU buffed. The mural was created for an upcoming “Art in the Streets” exhibition, but was taken down due to the sensitive anti-war message it portrayed. Politics aside, I think having a mural buffed before the show even opens is a perfect testament to the fragility of street art.
While it sucks it happened, it happens around the world every day. Amazing work is buffed before anyone beyond the artist has seen it. Under bridges, down alleyways and on roof tops. At least this BLU mural was documented, and will be a part of the MOCA event in printed materials and of course around the internet on blogs.
Will this buffing start a bigger dialog with politicians and art critiques about the value of street art? Probably not. But will this upcoming show? More than likely. And thankfully this buffed mural will be a part of that story. Context is everything.
Photo & story via the La Times via Artfagcity.
While it sucks it happened, it happens around the world every day. Amazing work is buffed before anyone beyond the artist has seen it. Under bridges, down alleyways and on roof tops. At least this BLU mural was documented, and will be a part of the MOCA event in printed materials and of course around the internet on blogs.
Will this buffing start a bigger dialog with politicians and art critiques about the value of street art? Probably not. But will this upcoming show? More than likely. And thankfully this buffed mural will be a part of that story. Context is everything.
Photo & story via the La Times via Artfagcity.