We insist, we resist, we persist, we coexist & we are pissed

Spurred on by social and environmental issues, American artist John Fekner relentlessly campaigned through the five boroughs of NYC with his ‘Warning Signs’ and later ‘Word Signs’ projects during the 1970s and 1980s. Using spray paint, he wrote out words, signs and symbols to shine a light on environments, buildings and structures which had been left to decay, creating hazardous conditions for locals. In doing so, Fekner hoped to lead city officials, agencies and residential communities to be more responsible and to take action. His work represented a distinct category from other graffiti on the streets of NYC at the time, which led public figures such as John Russell of the New York Times to comment that, “John Fekner is an artist who works not only in New York but with New York.”

When invited to join Nuart in 2017, John Fekner created this piece on a neglected wall near the bay of Stavanger. By using the decaying building, Fekner nods at much of his earlier work, continually impressing upon us a message of resistance and political action.