Are you a Blockhead? Sauce and I have to admit, we were sucked in hook, line and sinker when it came to The Block Sky High (and past series!). Maybe it’s because our house is in desperate need of renovation, or that as a public artist Sauce is always looking at new visual ideas and trends. Maybe it’s the scripted drama and the (non)reality t.v. Who knows why we’re glued to our set; Sauce and I watch The Block, like there is no tomorrow. So, when last night’s episode aired, of course we watched it.
The excitement was high and drama was promised, but Sauce and I noticed in the background of the factory, something which was distracting from the chaos of renovating. There was ‘graffiti’ in the background which looked prescribed. We couldn’t help but noticing it looked more of a mock up of what graffiti might look like if producers had commissioned a few kids to paint a wall. Which essentially, isn’t the biggest crime of the century. It even makes for exciting t.v. but… As the episode continued it was clear, the artwork was going to be exploited, and was used as another trendy statement piece.
Again, the exploitation of graffiti art is not the end of the world, however when you make a living from the industry, it can be frustrating at the very least to have major corporations and brands taking over a subculture for their own financial gain. If graffiti art was required for the styling of the room, there are plenty of aerosol artists who could have painted the couple’s walls. How much more interesting would the room look if the artwork was seamlessly blended throughout the entire room?
On Facebook, we have stared an album, where we have images of graffiti gone wrong. We’ve called it #bangontrend since it is all about looking good and not about the art, not about the artists. Next time you see a pretty girl modeling the latest fashions in front of a graff piece, send us a flick! Not only are we standing up for the graffiti culture, it’s about the moral rights of an artist.
