Billboards for Billboards
October 12, 2007
My mate Sam over on Ghost Signs led me to the above. Auckland [New Zealand, but I'm sure you know that] is currently considering following in the Havaiana-steps of Sao Paulo and abolishing billboards.
The industry is lobbying its cause using the tools it understands best, which leads to this billboard demonstrating what the world would like without billboards to support billboards.
I think the issue here all about the balanced value exchange - people realise that there is value in their attention and resent giving it away for free, which is why street furniture is an increasingly popular outdoor vehicle.
Whereas graffiti artists simply resent being prosecuted for beautifying when the corporations are allowed to despoil.
The nature of aesthetics is by definition subjective.