Street Kids Series 001 2013

Editor: Here we have Aboudia's "Street Kids Series 001," created in 2013, using mixed media and collage. It's visually chaotic, yet the bright colours give it a strange sort of energy. What do you make of this piece? Curator: What strikes me immediately is Aboudia's utilization of readily available materials – the collage elements, the seemingly impulsive application of acrylic paint. This approach elevates the everyday to the status of art. Consider the socioeconomic implications. How does the artist’s process mirror the resourcefulness and resilience of the "street kids" depicted? Editor: I see what you mean. The materials are almost…disposable, yet he's creating something lasting from them. Curator: Precisely. The contrast between the "disposable" materials and the lasting image prompts questions about value. What does it mean to create art from materials considered valueless by the dominant culture? Also, consider the labour involved in creating something that mimics street graffiti. Is it really 'graffiti art' if created in the studio instead of on a public surface? Editor: So you're saying it’s about more than just the finished product; it's also a statement about the materials themselves and how they're being used. The idea of taking something considered 'low' and transforming it into something 'high'. Curator: Exactly. Aboudia subverts the traditional hierarchy of art, forcing us to reconsider the power dynamics inherent in art creation and consumption. How might our perception of the work change if we knew more about where the collage elements came from? Were they scavenged? Bought? Donated? Editor: It’s like each layer—the collage, the paint—tells a different story about production, value, and the artist's own choices. It makes you consider the conditions in which the art was made. Curator: It highlights the socio-economic landscape reflected in Aboudia's materials and methods. Editor: Thanks, this gives me so much more to think about in terms of materials, labour, and value!