Vandalism is a bit of a loaded term; people tend to think of the most brainless and ugly examples of the appropriated canvas and then extrapolate from there to condemn the entire genre. But vandalism can be beautiful, especially when what is being vandalized starts out ugly.
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Creative Vandalism |
Not satisfied, they also changed around the letters on a local feed store's marquee, making spendid anagrams like "Phone That Tip: Watch 14 Dog Rapes" out of more ordinary bargain announcements.
Vandalism can be used to make something ugly, but it can also be used to point out ugliness, or to replace it with art. The archetypical vandalism is the spraypainted graffiti, which at its best is very beautiful form of Art Sabotage indeed, and ought to be seen as a generous act of civic beautification when it occurs.
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Billboard Liberation |
Adbusters has put together a brief guide for the prospective billboard improver that they call "Adding the Blemish of Truth."
I'd be remiss not to include the beautiful Crop Circle phenomenon here somewhere. Here's art etched right on the heart of agriculture.
Check out our Art Forgery page for some related links.