Rade, Zephyr Loves Chi / Samurai 1979

Henry Chalfant made this photograph of graffiti on the New York City subway system sometime in the 1970s, using a camera. What I love here is the contrast between the ephemeral gesture of the graffiti and the relatively permanent nature of a photograph. The tags and throw-ups are pink and orange, fighting for space on the train's surface. The whole thing has this great tension between control and chaos. Take the 'S' in 'Samurai' on the bottom train. It is built from these wild zig-zags, and each form is outlined and filled with a specific colour. It’s like each letter is its own little world, bumping up against the next one. I think about someone like Cy Twombly when I see this work. He also was invested in the energy and freedom of mark-making. It is clear that art is an ongoing conversation, and these artists are all part of it, exploring different ways of seeing and experiencing the world.