Rocio/Justin

The idea of Rocio creates a dialogue between public space, graffiti and its social significance. I began by investigating graffiti on legal walls or, in other words, graffiti in spaces where the gesture is no longer defiant, counterculture, anti establishment or the like. What social role does graffiti play in this context was my driving question. I began to explore sites of legal graffiti in Florence and began to see the same artists over and over again and the same names tagged in place in an almost self publicity act. The relation to propaganda came to mind. I started to reflect upon the anti commercial nature of graffiti and its unsalable aspects and was brought to think of a sign written in Latin upon a Triumphant Arch that reads 'Propagatori Commerci'. I created a fake wood inlay sign and attached it at the entrance to the legal graffiti walls. The idea of propaganda and commerce as linked drove me to consider other realms where graffiti could cross those lines and become something that assist commerce rather than rejects it. I have decided that the next intervention will be a faux marble inlay sign that will be posted above a chinese store in the center of town. This store has used fake marble to cover the sign above their store and I have created an image with the same material that will become their sign. This store furbishes the goods that are sold by many African Immigrants nomadically throughout the city and I have created an image for them that draws from an image of commerce in a Beato Angelico painting and from an image that references Crates philosophy of ridding ourselves of riches. The sign will be attached without permission and my hope is that the store will embrace it and it will assist them in gaining customers. For now this is my research and I am unsure as to what the final form will take. I am interested in everyone's thoughts.  I will be posting the sign at the store in the middle of the night tonight and will photograph it roughly tomorrow morning.