Artist posts wordless outdoor ads, knocks ‘in your face’ billboards
An artist has put his work on advertising billboards in Sutherland Shire, New South Wales.
The two pieces, one situated at Waterfall the other on the Princes Highway, are a tribute to Southwestern Australian artists Roy Kennedy and Kelton Pell, who are depicted in front of a painting by colonial artist Eugene von Guerard.
Neither billboard carries any copy.
The artist Derek Kreckler told a local newspaper: “The [works] invite people to reflect on our shared history and to imagine the possibilities of the future. Most billboards are in your face; but these works are softer.”
“People don’t have time to get the message straight away so they think about it for longer, and maybe take a second look on a following journey,” he added.
Paul McBeth, general manager of marketing at APN Outdoor, said: “The first of the seven deadly sins of outdoor creative is trying to say too much. Too often words overtake imagery. I really like the point the artist makes about the power of posters that are just visual.”
topics
APN Outdoor
I think this is pretty cool and very powerful.
And significantly more beautiful to look at than your run of the mill billboard ad.
Props!
User ID not verified.
The artist’s explanation is as wanky as those you see next to pieces of “art” in galleries. How does a photo of two blokes in front of a painting “invite people to reflect on our shared history and to imagine the possibilities of the future”? Such a wank!
User ID not verified.
njk – well said.
User ID not verified.
It clearly has a logo for APN on there..?
User ID not verified.
Knowing the artist personally I can vouch for the fact he is not a wanker as has been suggested here. A photo, or picture, can make people think of things that words might not make them think of. NJK and Anonymous, you don’t have to get involved if you don’t want to ; given this is a self funded exercise by the artist, I reckon you might be able to call that an invite if you want. Maybe you would prefer a MacDonalds billboard there?
User ID not verified.
LBS, “The artist’s explanation is wanky.” is very different to “The artist is a wanker.”
Do us a favour and don’t suggest this work is an invitation to “get involved”. You’re correct in asserting that pictures can invoke things that words cannot, but this image invokes little. As Anon suggested, the artist’s explanation is cliched puff.
User ID not verified.
BustedP, Anon and NJK’s comments suggest an expertise in how images and ads work. I wonder if they do? They certainly show attitude, but I think Anonymous’ ‘clichéd puff’ is a bit dim as a put down, too easy. Anonymous that is your tag right? Makes me wonder about these comments, there seems to be more than one ‘wanker’ here.
User ID not verified.