Swoon

SWOON

Swoon is an American, New York based street artist who does these utterly amazing and very intricately detailed life size portraiture prints and cut-outs. Her gorgeous alias represents the idea that creativity and dedication together have the power to question the notions of impossibility and inevitability. Swoon's artwork is typically found on the streets of NYC, and the story behind this choice to use the city as a canvas, is a rather inspiring and meaningful one. During her studies at the infamous Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, Swoon began to feel restrained by the future a career in art would typically map out for her. Swoon wanted to create change. She wanted her art to be seen and enjoyed by everybody, not just those rich enough to afford to see it or buy it. And furthermore, she wanted her art to be right out there in the world. An active, proud, and important part of it, instead of being confined to definitive spaces.

Swoon's decision to wheat paste her art to the abandoned, derelict and forgotten places found around the city was also a liberating experience. It alerted her to her burgeoning and as yet unreleased potential to be able to instigate physical and emotional change, no matter how small. For me personally, I find that insight so interesting because normally when I look at street art, I judge it by how well the image is done. I don't normally probe further and question the image, nor do I consider what it means to the artist, and why they've chosen to put that image there in the first place. I think it's really interesting to understand the motives and intentions. It makes you appreciate both artist and artwork much more, as does it remind you of the power of art, something which is increasingly overlooked in today's society. Art is liberating, empowering, emotive, complex, rich, expressive, thought provoking and so very important.

I personally love street art the most because it's so real. As Swoon says, it's a part of the world. It's unrestricted and unbound. It's the most purest form of expression, and it has the capacity to reach millions. It's a gift, a message, a declaration, a symbol from one human to another. It's intended for the eyes of everybody. It's a way of uniting the physical world, both natural and manmade, with the metaphysical notions contained within it, such as society. Street art is a meeting of the two. Swoon has also gone on to say how her art has been a means of connecting a community together, as has her growing fanbase and acclaim allowed her to pioneer the movement of female street artists and highlight the need for equality.

I think Swoon is just incredible. I loved her art the first time I saw it, but now that I have a better understanding of the meaning behind it, and Swoon's identity and intentions as an artist, I love it even more (if that was even possible). So take a look, dear readers, and see what you think and do some swooning for yourself...

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