A Geometric Twist On Graffiti: Eltono

When people in the US think of "street art", they often are imagining someone who performs their art on the street. However, the street artist Eltono doesn't perform on the street -- he decorates it. Eltono, an internationally recognized street artist, has also been described as a "graffiti artist." But unlike a lot of graffiti you'll find, Eltono's work is anything but vandalism.

Eltono, Spanish for "the tone", is an artist who is known for painting a uniquely geometric and abstract version of a tuning fork as graffiti. Eltono, beginning in Madrid in 1999, has spread his work all over Europe, South America, and Korea painting buildings, walls, rail sides, and any other surface you can find in a modern city.

Eltono's work is sometimes described as graffiti, but it is unlike any graffiti that you've seen before. Eltono's art isn't loud or obnoxious like most modern graffiti, but instead it is subtle and understated. This is because Eltono's art is a statement against the strident graffiti that most of us are familiar with. In fact, Eltono's work is so unassuming that you might not notice it unless it is pointed it out to you.

Eltono's art is different partially because his technique is different. Rather than using spray paint for his work, which can be imprecise and typically force an artist to work in rounded shapes, Eltono uses plastic paint and masking tape to create his art. This technique allows him to create perfectly straight lines and geometric shapes, contributing to his unique style.

Eltono's work seems to draw one's eye to obvious discrepancies in the cityscape. For example, one can imagine a brick wall with windows that have been haphazardly boarded over by previously weathered plywood. Perhaps it's easier to imagine the side wall of a building, constructed of different types of brick, lumber, and iron. These are both common sights on a run-down block of any major city. For Eltono, these scenes are a blank canvas.

Eltono will decorate the scenes described with a simple collection of lines and shapes, drawing a sharp contrast to the typical "tagging" that one would expect to see when they think of graffiti. Perhaps his emphasis on subtlety has helped him gain the international recognition he enjoys.

Like all good art, Eltono's work generates more questions than it answers. Does Eltono work in geometric shapes to draw attention to the harsh city environment? Is their a political statement? Because Eltono's chosen medium is often associated with vandalism, will his work receive the attention it deserves? While only time will tell, Eltono's work certainly deserves your attention now.

Article Source: http://www.christiannotepad.com

Author: Jason Lancaster enjoys reviewing and discussing modern Latin art. He has a Latin Musica website emphasizing Tonos. To see more about Eltono, visit his website Eltono.com.
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