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Posted Mar. 27, 2008, 4:30 p.m. ET
Skullphone Speaks!
By David Hershkovits
Finally caught up with Skullphone and had a quick conversation about the brouhaha that's been stirred up by his tag popping up on 10 digital billboards around LA. Skullphone would neither confirm nor deny Wired's report that the billboard time was purchased from Clear Channel. The firestorm began when the story was originally reported on Supertouch. I had reported that sources had told me that it was indeed a hack. Here are some sound bites from my conversation with Skullphone
"The art of hacking I know nothing about. What is hacking? What is art?"
"People thought Bob Dylan sold out when he went electric. I guess people weren't ready for it."
"To me it's American art. The (now digital) billboard on the side of the highway."
"'Skullphone digital billboards.' It was a logical fit."
"Once again, it’s a matter of semantics. What does it mean to hack the system. Is getting people to think for themselves hacking?"
"Skullphone has a right to be there."
Comments
my rethinking art teacher would call his work cliche....! but I suppose it is suppose to be..?
Posted at 8:27 p.m. ET on Mar 27, 2008 by randy Focazio
Gee Skullphone, you have really opened my eyes with your billboard ad buy! I've never really thought for myself before, until I saw your logo!
Posted at 5:55 p.m. ET on Mar 28, 2008 by Marsh
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
rich kid talking shit! love it........what a dildo
Posted at 6:45 p.m. ET on Mar 28, 2008 by richie
Can we maybe get a little more of this conversation? these disjointed phrases make no sense whatsoever.
Posted at 7:17 a.m. ET on Mar 30, 2008 by Smacky_Wolf
this photo is awesome. was this hacked?
Posted at 9:13 p.m. ET on Mar 30, 2008 by Brian
This is a terrible idea. Very poor, maybe he if he invested his parents hard earned cash in some books and read up on art instead of creating dire pish and embarrassing out of context quote's he might get somewhere but I truely doubt it. It's not even cliche. Kill yourself or marry Britney and do a bigger version or something ZANIE.. *#&@#*()&$@#$&(@#&!
Posted at 6:32 a.m. ET on Apr 01, 2008 by His dads wallet and vigra cheque..
When you have to pay for your shabby artwork to be displayed on a billboard, portraying yourself as a "hacker" or "modern-American-digital-graffiti-artist" and then come clean about it, thats when you know you will never be successful. The fact is, there is nothing subversive about this. Take a look at Ron English and Shepard Fairey, who truly were trying to make a statement by posting their messages with out cost, aside from their occasional ticket or bail. I mean seriously, the straightforward literal imagery provided does nothing for me.... WEAK SAUCE
Posted at 8:40 a.m. ET on Apr 01, 2008 by edork
What a poseur! Please tell Skullphone to say it was all just an April Fool's joke. Otherwise he's just another vanity gallery artist and no longer respectable in the street.
Posted at 4:24 a.m. ET on Apr 02, 2008 by mr.turkle
Skullphone never claimed that he hacked these billboards, supertouch reported that they where hacked. Which was an easy misconception to make based on the the guerilla nature of his work before this stunt. Also, this opens up a great discussion about those that have the means can make their own voice heard on such a large scale. "The individual as a marketing corporation". And oh yeah Edork, you missed the point completely. Skullphone doesnt want to "do anything" for you. I think Skullphone attempted to open peoples eyes that space is for sale and that anyone can buy it. Just think of all the people that saw this billboard that have no idea about skullphone or even slightest concept of why and what art is today.
Posted at 10:02 p.m. ET on Apr 02, 2008 by MES
this was just a paid add for his skateboard decks and t-shirts, trying to look like a hack of a "street artist". in the end he discredited himself, but sold his skullphone products to some stupid kids. this is just guerilla marketing, NOT art!
Posted at 2:58 p.m. ET on Apr 06, 2008 by tobi
do we know how much his traffic or tee shirt sales went up as a result of the billboards?? hasnt he just used it to get people to his site to buy merchandise, in apparent support of anti-capitalism or subversion...!!?? the revelation will surely reduce these figures....!!!
Posted at 5:49 p.m. ET on Apr 29, 2008 by hill
skullphone ist rad!
Posted at 11:13 p.m. ET on May 31, 2008 by benny ill
I agree with MES. Art is supposed to be questioned and cause controversy. That is what Skullphone has done. When John Lennon and Yoko Ono posted up there "War is over if you want it" signs nobody seemed to care if those giant ads were paid for or not.
Posted at 12:12 p.m. ET on Jul 21, 2008 by mm
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