a critique of commodification
http://gothamist.com/2007/06/26/the_splasher_sp.php
[…]
“The Point is to Produce Ourselves, Rather Than Things That Enslave
Us”: “In New York City, during the summer of 2006, a group of co-
conspirators and provocateurs began a program that confronted a
cultural realm which revealed a content of commodity recuperation
behind the facade of pseudo opposition. By challenging what the
experts term ’street art’, our actions have, in turn, uncovered an
alliance between the coercive force of the state and the “creative
class” of the artist. We began these series of actions as a critique
of rationality. The present and banal methods of confronting the
prevailing social order through street art have become rotten and
rigidified into methods of commodification. We identified certain
works that we felt emphasized the basis of our criticism and
subsequently destroyed them with splashes of paint. Alongside the
remnants we left wheat pasted texts that offered no more than a
vulgar and audacious insult that was never meant to be anything close
to a thorough critique. To further exemplify the disrespect we felt
for the work and its creator, we arrogantly mixed the wheat paste
with shards of glass… we disturbed their cozy little scene (they)
denounced us for our “negativity” and “elitism”… it matters little
if our opponents mock us or insult us… the essential thing is that
they talk of us and preoccupy themselves with us… To be honest, our
work was never forseen to receive as much recognition as it did… we
can assure everyone that not only are we in larger numbers than you
think, but we are comprised of both men and women.”
[…]