Art Share L.A. Artwork
Urban City Codes by Zoe Blaq
Urban City Codes by Zoe Blaq
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2024
Serigraph print
Frame not included
Food deserts, air pollutants, toxic soil, and a lack of essential resources caused by systemic inequalities continue to significantly challenge marginalized people. The abandoned 30-floor skyscraper in downtown Los Angeles, a destination for graffiti artists, epitomizes one of the many scarcities that impact people of color. The housing crisis, a pressing issue, is severe for these communities. Like many luxury dwellings rising throughout Los Angeles, the three vacant towers are unaffordable to the masses and have sat vacant for years while the number of unhoused individuals has increased equally.
Historically, graffiti has not just been a form of art but a powerful tool of protest. In this case, the artist sees this visual intervention as a creative means to challenge societal norms and address inequalities.
Floating on Cotton: Freedom Maps, Trade Routes and City Codes
Floating on Cotton: Freedom Maps, Trade Routes, and City Codes offers an exploration of migration and trade through the lens of art and environmentalism. The exhibition draws on Zoe Blaq’s extensive experience with urban gardening and food justice, connecting these themes with the histories of colonialism, resistance, and global movement. The work explores how maps, trade routes, and city codes have shaped and continue to shape the experiences of people across the world. Zoe’s art aims to provoke a dialogue on freedom and identity in the context of contemporary struggles, while encouraging the healing power of collective creation.