I Love Zoo York by Ali 1981

Henry Chalfant captured this image of Ali's "I Love Zoo York" using photography, as a record of something ephemeral and illicit. The spray paint work is playful and bold, with a clear love of New York shining through. The texture of the train car itself is key. The photograph lets us see the dirt and grime, giving it a real sense of place, a definite here and now. The paintwork seems built up, layer upon layer, echoing the improvisational nature of artmaking itself. I like the way the 'O' of Zoo is half one colour, half another, the off-white contrasting with the red in a dynamic way. This reminds me of Futura 2000, and the way his paintings on canvas are like the ghost of graffiti, a memory of movement and street life. There’s a sense that art is about capturing something fleeting, maybe even forbidden, and holding onto it. It's a reminder that art thrives in unexpected places, fueled by the energy of exchange and reinvention.