Style Wars by Noc 1981

Henry Chalfant captured this image of ‘Style Wars’ by Noc, documenting a moment in the history of graffiti. It looks like a cacophony of colour and wildstyle lettering, painted with spray paint, a medium that allows for quick, bold gestures. I can only imagine how it might have felt for Noc to create this on the side of a train. There is something immediate and improvisational about the execution, a dialogue between the artist, the surface, and the ever-moving context of the city. The textures range from smooth gradients to rough, drippy lines, each mark telling a story of its own. I am struck by how graffiti exists outside the confines of traditional art spaces, making art accessible to anyone and everyone. It's a constant evolution, each generation building upon the foundations laid by those who came before. These artists are in continuous exchange, inspiring each other's creativity. Painting is an embodied expression which embraces ambiguity, allowing for multiple interpretations.