Streetwise 2 - Territory Taken
By Kiwi ana
11 March 2008
There's a new street artist in town and he's taken over Reg's alley way wall. I feel like I'm documenting a dramatic struggle for territory. The actors in our hip street rumble are never seen, it is only their canvas that reveals the evidence.
Who knows where REG is now? Gone are his stylish gold framed images. Only the frayed edges of his red wallpaper remains. Mukus and his band of spray-can bearing merry men have arrived. Their work is cheerful in pinks and purples with accents in orange and green.
There is still clear inspiration from Winehot, the very trendy and upmarket winebar around the corner from this alley way. A large piece closest to the bar named Moet is covered in bubbles reminiscent of the methode champanois it is named for.
Further into the alley way are works more self indulgent. A cheeky, blonde figure holding a can could be one of the artists' self portrait. Still no malice here, the figure congenially holds his thumb in the air gesturing a positive spirit to his beholder. This figure stands proud directly on the spot where REG previously had 'hung' his masterpiece 'The Singer'.
Mukus and his band seem to carry on with the Soul-like influences. 'Boney' (or is it Bones? I haven't decided) is definitely styled on the Soul of the late Seventies and early Eighties. I can't look at this image without the sounds of Barry White running through my head. Stripes, Stars and Hearts are icons in this funky piece.
Nearing the end of the alley way is a truck seemingly pulling these images out into the light of day. It is clear Mukus sees this as his ground. His tag appears two or three times on this wall and also a huge street marking type signature appears on the driveway itself.
Mukus is here and REG is long gone. I wonder where? I hope REG makes it to design school one day. I feel however that Mukus and his boys could really make it in animation or graphic design. Their talent is just as present.
In my minds eye I see scenes from the movie. Mukus and his boys make the alley way their own. It is a place to hang each night. Hillarity and kindred spirit prevail throughout the scenes. The camera zooms close into the bubbles of Moet and pulls back to watch a lonesome figure in a suburban street. The lone young man slopes through a gate at dusk and shyly knocks on the glass door. A woman in her forties pulls aside the scraps of net curtain that cover the glass, her eyes brighten at the sight of the disheveled young man. She opens the door and pulls him into an embrace then pulls back to scold him. "Where've you been young Reggie? I've been looking for you so long I gave up looking! Given up on the street have you? We're good enough for you now eh? Come on then, I'll fix you some food."
As the door closes the sound of an empty spray can dropping on an alley way can be heard in the distance. Young male voices echo.
Streetwise 2 was brought to you by the citizens of Morningside, Auckland and the capable lens of a Fuji Finepix F10.
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