SUPPORTING ARTISTS WHO INSPIRE SOCIAL CHANGE

This print commemorates the film 'Style Wars' from 1983. The film honored and documented the entirety of Hip Hop culture and included a large slice of graffiti art which was presented in a very positive light, contrary to the distressed response of the political climate. Young artists such as MC’s, DJ’s and B-Boys, Case/Kase 2, Skeme, Kondi and Shy 147 were highlighted and their music and art was taken seriously.  Simultaneously, the then mayor of New York, Ed Koch, was adamantly against what he saw as public vandalism sprayed across public buildings, buses and subway cars.

 

This work depicts all of the players in this arena and it portrays both sides of the controversy in minute detail. The film recounts the early history of NYC subway outlaws and was awarded the Grand Jury Prize for a Documentary at the Sundance Film Festival. The actual artwork was executed by Skeme, who was also a major character in the film, and he signed each of the 100 prints in the run along with Henry Chalfant, the producer.  

 

This is an iconic work of which there are only 100 in existence.   

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"Anybody who wants to understand what hip hop is all about needs to see a movie called Style Wars." -KRS-One

 

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