Description
40 years… the age of reason ?
Urban Art, Street Art, Graffiti… There are many terms and trends to define these forms of creation, often ephemeral, in public spaces and on walls of course, but also in abandoned factories, on subway trains… These practices have long remained on the limits of legality, as Gérard Zlotykamien, a pioneer in this field, tells us, many works have disappeared or are doomed to vanish.
Today, more than 40 years after these heroic times, things are changing. The gigantic frescos are painted with the agreement, and often the financing of public authorities, street artists go from the streets to the studio, enter the galleries and, more modestly, the museums and institutions. Demonstrating a promising transition to adulthood, as long as the passion and creative freedom of the early days don’t fade away. Judging by the rich work of historic urban artists, such as Michel Pietsch (Cren), and those of the younger generations, such as Rime or, more recently, Rouge, there is really nothing to worry about. Besides, it is in this flourishing universe that pictorial art’s emerging masters are being revealed.
URBAN’s vocation is to become the spokesperson for this transition to adulthood. In a way, from the streets to the museum. To this end, we will devote, from now on, a double issue to these contemporary artists and those who support them, reaching 200 pages of pure art, for your pure pleasure.
Spread the word about URBAN if you like reading it as much as we like making it.
Gabrielle Gauthier et Christian Charreyre
Editors in Chief
