David Guetta and Nicky Romero’s ‘Metropolis’ music video may hold some merit within the post-graffiti community. The visual possesses artistic value after having appointed street art partisan, Mr. Brianwash, as its director.
It opens up with the pertinent message: “Art cannot be criticized because every mistake is a new creation.” Throughout the video, common street art tactics are employed to reinforce its meaning. Spray cans and buckets of paint make multi-colored splashes in the air (like something you might see at a Blue Man Group show). A turntable is used to create spin art. Paint is splattered on walls and wheat-paste posters cover up public domains. Street signs are altered and transformed to carry new meanings (“Love Construction Ahead and “Don’t STOP Music”). Television sets, a symbolism for mind control, are demolished with baseball bats. Because while some art involves creation, others may thrive on destruction. If we were to take anything away with us from this video, it’s that “Art is for everybody.” And music, our dominant form of art, is a unifying medium that reflects the common voice of the community.