Piece 1984

Cope2 made this piece using spray paint on a train car, probably sometime in the late 20th century. The soft blue letters, with their swirling outlines, feel like a breath of fresh air against the grime and grit of the subway car. You can almost hear the hiss of the spray can as he lays down these lines, a quick, fluid gesture that claims this space as his own. The texture of the paint, layered and drippy in places, contrasts sharply with the smooth, weathered metal beneath. Look closely, and you’ll see how the artist plays with light and shadow, using subtle variations in tone to give depth and volume to the forms. The way the paint catches the light, creating a kind of shimmer, reminds me of a Rothko, but with an added dose of street energy. This piece makes me think of Keith Haring, both artists transforming public spaces into canvases for their own unique visions. And isn’t that what art is all about, anyway? Taking something ordinary and turning it into something extraordinary, something that makes us see the world in a whole new light.