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A Geometric Twist On Graffiti: 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 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.
Eltono, whose name is Spanish for “the tone”, is best known for painting a geometric representation of a tuning fork on buildings, rail sides, or any surface you would find in a modern city. His work first began in the city of Madrid in 1999, but it can now be found in cities all over Europe, South America, and Korea.
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.
Eltono’s work is created using a technique that is completely different than that of his contemporaries. While many street artists use spray paint to create rounded shapes and art without straight lines or corners, Eltono uses a combination of plastic paint and masking tape to create uniquely geometric shapes and straight lines.
Eltono’s art can be found on buildings and walls that exemplify difference. For example, a brick wall with boarded up windows, with each board being a different grained wood, is a canvas for Eltono. Or perhaps a building that is haphazardly composed of steel, brick, and lumber would be marked. These scenes are his canvas.
When Eltono finds a surface he likes, he will create a collection of geometric shapes and straight lines that will highlight the surface’s natural differences while at the same time contrasting the typical graffiti one would expect to find. His emphasis on subtlety has undoubtedly made his art easier to recognize, and it may be part of the reason he is known the world over.
Good art is always thought-provoking, and Eltono’s work is no exception. For instance, is his use of geometric shapes a comment on the banality of modern urban architecture? Is their a political statement involved with his work? Perhaps most importantly for the artist, will his chosen media keep him from achieving notoriety because it is often associated with vandalism? Whatever the case, only time will tell. But one thing is for certain—Eltono’s work is definitely interesting.