The Subconscious Art of Graffiti Removal

Graffiti removal: the act of removing tags and graffiti by painting over them.

Subconscious art: a product of artistic merit that was created without conscious artistic intentions.

It is no coincidence that funding for “anti-graffiti” campaigns often outweighs funding for the arts. Graffiti removal has subverted the common obstacles blocking creative expression and become one of the more intriguing and important art movements of our time. Emerging from the human psyche and showing characteristics of abstract expressionism, minimalism and Russian constructivism, graffiti removal has secured its place in the history of modern art while being created by artists who are unconscious of their artistic achievements.

Production of The Subconscious Art of Graffiti Removal took approximately six months and was completed in January 2001. Shooting was done primarily in Portland, Oregon and other pacific northwest locations. The piece was shot in both 16mm film and digital video, and post-production was completed with desktop editing and animation software.

  • Narrator: Miranda July
  • Bicyclist: Tasha Christensen
  • Cinematography, editing, and sound design: Matt McCormick
  • Computer animation: Topher Sinkinson
  • Original ideas: Avalon Kalin
  • Written and directed: Matt McCormick

Awards and screening summary:

    The Seattle Art Museum- 03
  • The Sundance Flm Festival- 02
  • The San Francisco Int Film Festival- 02 *grand prize for best short film
  • The Ann Arbor Film Festival- 02 *best short film/life work award
  • The New York Underground Film Festival- 02
  • South X Southwest Film Festival- 02
  • The New York Film Society at the Lincoln Center- 02
  • ResFest- 02
  • The Portland Art Museum/Northwest Film Center- ‘02
  • Black Maria Film Festival- 01 *first place
  • Viper Festival (Basil Switzerland)-01
  • Media City Film Festival (Windsor Canada)- 01 *grand prize/best of fest
  • Cinematexas Film Festival (Austin Texas)- 01 *audience choice award
  • Taos Talking Picture Festival- 01
  • Microcine Festival (Baltimore)- 01 *best documentary award
  • The Chicago Underground Film Festival- 01

Additional honors:

  • ‘Top 10 of 2002’ - Art Forum magazine
  • ‘Top 10 Avant Garde Films of the Year’ - The Village Voice
  • Regularly aired on The Sundance Channel.

Please see the ‘press’ section for reviews.

Video copies of “The Subconscious Art of Graffiti Removal” are available for purchase through Peripheral Produce (www.peripheralproduce.com)

Screening copies may be acquired through Canyon Cinema (www.canyoncinema.com)

Watch excerpt
6 minutes / 12.4MB
Requires Quicktime