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Prior to carving into New York City's architecture and facing charges of vandalism, Gordon Matta-Clark was intensely fascinated by graffiti artists. He observed how they tagged and reshaped the landscape of the city's storefronts, subways, and buses, focusing particularly on trains. This led to a series of hand-colored black-and-white prints, notable in various exhibitions. However, these prints were just a fraction of the graffiti-related photographs he took between 1972 and 1973.
Artist and writer Caleb Neelon (also known as SONIK) describes the graffiti scene of 1972 and 1973 in the exhibition catalogue. During this time, graffiti was bursting with youthful creativity and energy. Neelon notes that the period marked a shift from simple "I was here" markings to a sophisticated artistic practice with its own set of rules, rankings, and skills.
The exhibition serves as a time capsule, showcasing early works by pioneers like Snake 1, Stay High 149, All Jive 161, and RIFF 170. This collection offers a fascinating glimpse into the genesis of graffiti as a recognized art form, capturing its evolution and inner dynamics, as Gastman describes it.
This exhibit not only presents Matta-Clark’s captivating documentation of early graffiti but also highlights a significant cultural transformation within New York City during the early 70s. As Frieze Los Angeles 2024 approaches, recognizing the historical value of graffiti enriches our appreciation for this vibrant and rebellious form of urban expression.
