“I have never seen such a god damn group of selfish, eager hogs” –President Lyndon Johnson on the Billboard Industry
Over a year ago I interviewed for this documentary about visual pollution. In my research as an artist over the past 12 years I have learned more than most would ever care to about public space, graffiti laws, the advertising industry, and the ugly underside of marketing. I haven’t seen this film yet, but I’m glad to see the message making it’s way out with voices from within and without the industry.
It premieres at IFC Center in New York next week on November 5th.
About the “This Space Available” Film
“Billboards and commercial messages dominate the public space like never before. Can we reverse this visual pollution? This Space Available looks at diverse activists from the worlds of advertising, street art, and politics. Influenced by the writing of Marc Gobé ( Emotional Branding ), his daughter Gwenaelle directs with tremendous verve in her depiction of New Yorkers and others around the world who want to reclaim the integrity of their cities against an onslaught of visual pollution.”
Read more at ThisSpaceAvailableFilm.com
Trailer
Clips
Steve Lambert talking about an illegal billboard
Jordan Seiler organizing the whitewashing of illegal ads
Jordan Seiler
One Comment
I live in Sao Paulo, and we had this law called Cidade Limpa (clean town) that forbid all kinds of ads in public space – outdoor, buildings, buses, etc… many commerces even had to facelift their facades if they had logos or displays over a certain size.
I still think this city is ugly, but I hope Sao Paulo is an example to be followed at least in the visual-pollution department :)