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Truth Tag 1

[original image viaTruth]

A Polish artist working under the pseudonym “Truth” creates what is perhaps best described as architectural graffiti — minimal, abstract forms made of polystyrene which he (or perhaps she) then attaches to buildings. The objects are intended to respond in some way to the architecture upon which they are installed, but while I appreciate the work, the relationship between object and building is obtuse at best. I do, however, find the idea of architectural graffiti insanely compelling. Taken as a criminal act, it gives strange new life to Adolf Loos’ immortal—and sometimes immoral—1908 essay, “Ornament and Crime,” in which he describes ornament in terms not far removed from how many people think of today’s graffiti. “The man of our time,” says Loos, “who daubs the walls with erotic symbols to satisfy an inner urge is a criminal or a degenerate.” That Loos, what a character. Inspired by this slightly meandering train of thought, I thought about reversing Truth’s juxtapostion between the clean, modern, geometric forms of the “graffiti” and the industrial, often heavily patinated buildings that he seems to prefer.

Truth Tag 2

[original image viaTruth]

And why not give these interventions a purpose? Lighting or seating, something that uses, and perhaps even subverts, a familiar architectural language to illegally embellish the surrouding context as well as the building itself. To test these ideas, surely than can be no better canvas that Mr. Loos’ restrained masterpiece, the Villa Mueller.

080610_loos-lantern.jpg

[original Villa Mueller image via flickr photographer Patrick McHugh]

Improving a Loos

[original Villa Mueller image via flickr photographer p2an]

We can only hope that Loos is rolling in his grave. The idea of “vandals” sneaking around at night carrying backpacks full of sconces, plaster water fountains, and industrial strength adhesive is incredibly appealing to me. We need more (creatively-inclined and only slightly artistically malicious) architecture vandals “intervening” where they see fit; “building” wherever they can.

· polish graffiti sculptures by truth [Design Boom]