Slow Death 1987

Jef Aerosol made this mural called “Slow Death” using stencils and spray paint, right there on that unassuming building. It’s like the whole thing is screaming at you, but doing it with this kind of casual, almost accidental aesthetic. Look closely, and you can see how the paint has this rough texture, and how Aerosol hasn't tried to hide it. The blue is flat, almost like a ground, and the faces, bats, and text float within this space. This rawness is part of the message, it is confrontational. That cascading line of faces, each contorted in a scream, is like a visual echo, repeating and amplifying the central theme. It's not just about dying, it's about the slow burn of anxiety, the dread we carry with us every day. Basquiat comes to mind as someone else who blended street art with profound emotional expression. In the end, art doesn't give us answers, it provokes questions and leaves room for our own interpretations.