Modern Street Art And The Artist Eltono

The word "graffiti" is often associated with vandalism. However, for modern street artist Eltono, graffiti is just another word for art. That's because Eltono's work can be found painted onto buildings and walls, in the same places one would expect to find graffiti. But don't be fooled -- Eltono's work is more than just graffiti -- it's modern art.

The name Eltono is Spanish for the phrase "the tone", and undoubtedly that name was chosen because the artist enjoys painting a representation of a tuning fork on the surfaces of the modern cityscape. His work, which is geometric in nature, can be found in cities all across Europe, South America, and Korea. The artist known as Eltono began by painting his trademark tuning forks in Madrid, Spain, starting in 1999.

Unlike most graffiti artists, Eltono's art is subtle and understated. In fact, if his work isn't pointed out to you, it's likely you'll miss it. Eltono does this on purpose -- his art is a statement against the strident and overly-colorful street art that is commonly associated with the word "graffiti" here in the United States.

Part of the reason that Eltono's work is so different from other street artists is that he uses a different technique. While many of his contemporaries use spray paint, which usually renders art that is bulbous and rounded, Eltono uses plastic paint and masking tape. These materials allow him to create art that is linear and geometric, making his work stylistically unique.

The art that Eltono creates seems to draw attention to obvious differences on a city surface. Imagine, for example, a brick wall with boarded over windows, where each board is of a different wood. Or imagine a building that has been made of brick, wood, and steel. Eltono will mark these surfaces and draw attention to the discrepancies.

Once Eltono has discovered his canvas, he will paint a variety of geometric shapes and straight lines to draw illustrate the inherent discrepancies of the surface. But his work is in sharp contrast to graffiti because it is so subtle, and this characteristic may be the reason Eltono has received wide international recognition.

As with all good art, Eltono's work is thought provoking. Is their a political statement about urban growth and renewal? Is his use of geometric shapes intended to reinforce or challenge the design of a modern city? While Eltono's work certainly deserves your attention now, will his work receive the attention it deserves in the future, or will he be cast aside because his art form is often associated with vandalism? Only time will tell.

Article Source: http://www.articlemonk.com

Author Jason Lancaster enjoys reviewing and discussing modern Latin art. Jason has a Latin Musica website featuring Tonos. To see more about Eltono, visit his website Eltono.com.
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