Cliff Tribute 2001

Editor: Tracy 168's "Cliff Tribute," created in 2001 using mixed media, has a real comic book vibe to me, from the Ben-Day dots in the background to the cartoon character looking out over what I assume is graffiti. What do you see in this piece? Curator: This image hums with symbolic energy! The graffiti itself – a vibrant eruption of form – speaks to a very specific act of claiming space. But look closer: consider how the subway car, the stage for this rebellious expression, is also a shared space, a space of transit and potential connection. Does the character act as a surrogate for the artist perhaps, marking their territory and identity? Editor: That makes a lot of sense. I hadn't really considered the subway car itself as symbolic. Curator: Indeed. Subway graffiti, particularly from the late 20th century onwards, became this visual battleground, a silent language understood by those within its culture. What stories do you think those colourful shapes might be telling? What shared experiences or social critiques might they be alluding to? And how does that figure, ripped straight from pop culture, amplify or distort those meanings? Editor: I suppose the character gives it a less serious tone. Like it’s playful vandalism or something… Curator: Exactly. It introduces an element of accessibility, perhaps, a familiar face amidst the chaos. A cultural bridge inviting outsiders into this very insular, vibrant world. How powerful is the act of repurposing existing imagery, like those familiar characters or cartoonish halftone shading, to then construct new narratives? Editor: That’s a perspective I hadn't really thought of before, about it acting as a bridge. So, on the surface it may seem like simple vandalism, but it speaks volumes about urban identity and community? Curator: Precisely! It is about layering meaning upon meaning. Now when you view this piece, will your reading of those images evolve to reveal cultural connections or symbolic meanings for you? Editor: Absolutely, I'll never see graffiti the same way. Thanks!