Wk3 - Activity - Graffiti Writing
Using spray paint is a lot harder than it looks, or maybe I just suck at it haha. Anyways, this was my first experience using spray paint and doing "graffiti writing" so it doesn't look that great, but hey I still did it. I have a lot of respect for graffiti artists that make their graffiti look really great. Watching the documentary didn't really change my attitude towards graffiti, but it did give me a lot of insight into the minds of graffiti artists and how they think. I still think that, while some graffiti looks nice, I'm not a big fan of seeing it in places like subway cars and other places where it's illegal to do graffiti. I'd prefer if graffiti was done in legal areas or if the graffiti was paid to be done. I see graffiti writing as art, speech, but also vandalism. The graffiti does look really cool and sometimes it does carry a message, but it's usually done in illegal areas. I think the most important thing for graffiti writing is that it's done legally. Graffiti does look cool, but having it everywhere makes it look trashy.
Wk3 - Artist - Revok
Revok
About the Artist
Jason Williams, also known as Revok, is an artist and graffiti writer. Born in 1977 in Riverside, California, Revok started writing graffiti at a young age, inspired from his dad's collection of 60's and 70's album covers, comics, and his interest in skating. He is a member of the Seventh Letter, a famous west coast collective of artists and Mad Society Kings, a famous graffiti crew. Revok started out with graffiti writing, but after getting in trouble with the law numerous times, he stopped graffiti writing and focused on studio artworks.
Formal Analysis
In Revok's newer pieces, he incorporates a lot geometric figures in his abstract pieces. In the picture on the right, there are 2 larger diamonds joined together and a smaller yellow diamond outlined in the cross-section of the 2 diamonds. The diamonds are filled with straight lines with what seems to be a cross or plus sign in the middle of all 3 diamonds. The straight lines are black and white with very little space in between each of them, giving it a sort of rough texture.
Content Analysis
Revok's newer works of art are influenced by the desire to keep away from being in legal trouble. His newer art pieces are definitely inspired by his experience with graffiti. Graffiti takes the letters of words and puts an artistic spin on it, but letters, in essence, are very geometrical. His newer art pieces are also very geometrical, insinuating the theme of progress or change. To a person not experienced with graffiti, it could look very jumbled and messy, similarly to some of Revok's abstract pieces. I believe Revok wanted to continue writing graffiti, but since he is unable to do so, he transformed his graffiti into a different form, which can look similar to graffiti but without the words.
Synthesis/My Experience
I can sympathize with Revok on the notion that his style of art that was with him since adolescence was taken from him. I, also, admire the fact that instead of giving up, he found a way to transform graffiti into a different style of art that he can be proud of. His newer art gains plenty of inspiration from his earlier days of graffiti writing, which I think is important. I think it's great for people to branch out and try new things, but I also think that staying close to your roots is arguably more important. Revok was great at graffiti writing and his newer pieces of art is a step in the right direction for him in his journey of newfound art style.
About the Artist
Jason Williams, also known as Revok, is an artist and graffiti writer. Born in 1977 in Riverside, California, Revok started writing graffiti at a young age, inspired from his dad's collection of 60's and 70's album covers, comics, and his interest in skating. He is a member of the Seventh Letter, a famous west coast collective of artists and Mad Society Kings, a famous graffiti crew. Revok started out with graffiti writing, but after getting in trouble with the law numerous times, he stopped graffiti writing and focused on studio artworks.
Formal Analysis
In Revok's newer pieces, he incorporates a lot geometric figures in his abstract pieces. In the picture on the right, there are 2 larger diamonds joined together and a smaller yellow diamond outlined in the cross-section of the 2 diamonds. The diamonds are filled with straight lines with what seems to be a cross or plus sign in the middle of all 3 diamonds. The straight lines are black and white with very little space in between each of them, giving it a sort of rough texture.
Content Analysis
Revok's newer works of art are influenced by the desire to keep away from being in legal trouble. His newer art pieces are definitely inspired by his experience with graffiti. Graffiti takes the letters of words and puts an artistic spin on it, but letters, in essence, are very geometrical. His newer art pieces are also very geometrical, insinuating the theme of progress or change. To a person not experienced with graffiti, it could look very jumbled and messy, similarly to some of Revok's abstract pieces. I believe Revok wanted to continue writing graffiti, but since he is unable to do so, he transformed his graffiti into a different form, which can look similar to graffiti but without the words.
Synthesis/My Experience
I can sympathize with Revok on the notion that his style of art that was with him since adolescence was taken from him. I, also, admire the fact that instead of giving up, he found a way to transform graffiti into a different style of art that he can be proud of. His newer art gains plenty of inspiration from his earlier days of graffiti writing, which I think is important. I think it's great for people to branch out and try new things, but I also think that staying close to your roots is arguably more important. Revok was great at graffiti writing and his newer pieces of art is a step in the right direction for him in his journey of newfound art style.