playing for keeps

urbn artfct delves into the hustling heart of New York's '90s underground, offering a visual homage to the epicenter of a decade that reshaped urban culture for the entire world. This series explores the artifacts and narratives that defined street life, capturing the ceaseless motion and resilience of New York. Through contemporary reinterpretations of era-defining relics—coats worn by time, sneakers hanging from power lines, and payphones adorned with graffiti tales in graffiti—viewers are invited to immerse themselves in the street culture of the era, seeing each urban detail as a visual representation of self-expression and survival.

These symbols, once hidden markers of the city's underground pulse and territorial claims, now stand as crucial chapters in New York's evolving story, showcasing the creativity and ingenuity born from street culture's challenges. Beyond simple nostalgia, urbn artfct taps into the iconography of '90s street life, embodying the counterculture that challenged and transformed urban aesthetics. Growing up on the West Coast, the artist, 0009, was captivated by New York's '90s culture, drawn to its vibrant hip-hop, expressive graffiti, and the raw hustle of street life. Influenced by the vivid imagery found in magazines and the lyrical storytelling of hip-hop, these elements are woven into the collection, presenting a nuanced reflection that places hustle and resilience at the core of '90s New York identity.

urbn artfct breathes new life into '90s artifacts, infusing them with contemporary relevance and complexity. This process isn't only about looking back; it's about reimagining, reinterpreting, and recontextualizing the symbols and narratives of '90s street life for a modern audience. Utilizing AI for this reinterpretation allows for the exploration of alternative perspectives and narratives within the raw energy of '90s NY street culture, creating a unique and modern style that goes beyond homage and nostalgia.

Prints:
Collectors can purchase a signed archival pigment print of their piece from the artist by connecting your art-holding wallet after the mint to wovn.xyz.