Curatorial notes
Taki 183's 'Untitled' work is made with spray paint on a New York City subway map. In the early 1970s, TAKI 183, a young Greek American from Washington Heights, began writing his name all over the city, sparking a cultural phenomenon. This piece is rooted in that history. Here, the city map becomes a canvas for the assertion of identity and presence. The act of tagging, born from the streets, speaks to a desire to be seen and acknowledged, especially for those on the margins. Taki said, "It was the most excitement you could have without getting into serious trouble". The subway map, a symbol of connection and transit, is overlaid with the artist's tag in bold strokes. The graffiti disrupts the planned order of the city. It marks a personal narrative onto the impersonal grid of urban space. Ultimately, the work embodies a raw, visceral energy, reflecting the spirit of a generation claiming its space in the city. It invites us to consider how identity is formed and expressed in the urban landscape.
