Since 2005, an artist has been using the trademark stamps and type to create about 300 one-off pieces of art in New York. The Artist creates visual autobiographies of random New Yorkers on garments (usually t-shirts), I photograph each one, and then they are hand delivered to the recipient in a plain box. The work is not signed and the artist has never asked any of the recipients of their opinions.
I wanted to support the project because it really carries on the spirit of why the trademarks were originally used:
The art is personally associated to the person who ultimately sees it;
The art promotes the appeal of creativity over mass production;
The art questions why copyright laws are still as illogical as they were back in 1842 and why nobody seems to care. If someone wears the t-shirt the art is barely protected at all, but if they frame it for the wall, it is fully protected as a piece of painted art. That the recipient decides what copyright protection the art is granted, rather than the artist, is ridiculous;
The art promotes the concept of original ideas, even using 130 year old stamps, rather than the current norm of design “inspiration”, which is just a genteel way of describing copying.
I like it and appreciate being able to show you some examples here, even though the artist would rather remain anonymous and does not create them by request.
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