Chaz Bojorquez: The Stencil Art of Senor Suerte
Chaz Bojorquez is a favorite street artist who has been working on graffiti since 1969. This essay analyzes the famous “Senor Suerte” art found at the museum of MOLAA. The graffiti of the Senor Suerte was completed in 1979. The art found at MOLAA is 80X60 inches. The work has been placed as part of Bojorquez exhibition.
The Cultural Significance of Senor Suerte
Bojorquez’s work Senor Suerte was a stenciled work a grinning skull, fitted in a fur coat and a fedora. It had the bony fingers crossed as a sign of good luck. The Senor Suerte can be translated to mean “Mr. Luck” The art became stenciled and adorned all over Los Angeles walls in the 1970s and was used as a sign of protection by street gangs. It acted as a sign of entity and territory demarcation but usually accompanied by Bojorquez’ signature. Bojorquez’ art was an exhibition that reflected on cultural commentary and power. The piece of image became renowned throughout the world and hung on several museums including MOLAA and The Los Angeles Museum of Art. Señor Suerte’s is an artwork that is famous in most exhibitions. According to Bojorquez’, the art reflects a combination of Latino Día de Muertos imagery and films such as Superfly and shaft. The art was also inspired by Mexican folk art. The original version of the art was a skull image smoking a joint. The Señor Suerte’ started being seen on freeways and later on the walls of the overpass. Later, the art was then taken by the local avenues where a tattoo of the image protected a person from death both in prison and in the streets. According to Bojorquez’, he viewed his work as of “Zero value” and claims that the artwork gets value when it gets incorporated into the society, and people start believing in the image. He claims that his art is inclusive and he makes the art more about us, rather than himself.
The Beginnings of Bojorquez's Graffiti
Bojorquez’ was 19 when he first wrote his graffiti. He was poor, and he could not afford spray cans. The first graffiti tag was done using squeegee and ink that collected. He wrote his name. The inspiration was that every kid was doing graffiti and they were all spraying their names. Bojorquez graffiti hallmark are the famous Gothic typefaced and Cholo style.
The Cholo Style and Mexican-American Street Art
Graffiti is a culture that was influenced by Mexican American youths in the 60s. Like other artists, Bojorquez’ did not stray far from the neighborhood. In his era, several gangs had emerged as a way of asserting their culture and maintaining control over society. Graffiti was a way of expression and as landmarks presenting territories. Bojorquez’ became the king of the “Cholo style.” The roots of the Bojorquez’ art has its source into the Mexican-American street art, and his Chinese calligraphy has a significant effect on his artistic and spiritual work.
Graffiti and Calligraphy as Empowerment
Later, Bojorquez’ view of the world changed. He believed that everyone ought to leave a mark that signifies that he belonged there. According to him, if people are allowed to promote cigarettes and alcohol legally, then people should be allowed to leave a sign of belonging. As Bojorquez’ states, graffiti and calligraphy empowered him. As Bojorquez’ blasted Señor Suerte’ on the street walls, he visited Chouinard Art Institute where he met a group of artist interested in the graffiti art. The group considered it as a fan and could only paint during the summer and then quit. To Bojorquez, it was not fun but as a sense of identity. He was uncomfortable with who he was and where he would fit in, and graffiti empowered him.
Criticism and Cultural Significance
Bojorquez' art Señor Suerte' has been featured both on the streets and in gallery collection. However, his work has been criticized that it promotes gangster in the neighborhood. However, Bojorquez claims that his work was a promotion of his Latino culture. The gangs took it as a trademark and a sign to mark territory.
Bojorquez's Unique Approach
The art Señor Suerte’ is an important part of Los Angeles history. These arts, alongside other artists work, have made the streets of LA more colorful. The art represents Bojorquez concept about a sense of belonging. His cholo style has made the art so unique such that it has been persistent in the streets for more than four decades. It has become so hard for Bojorquez to be separated from the painting Señor Suerte’. Bojorquez as an artist claims that the graffiti promotes a free spirit of an artist life.
The Successful MALOO Exhibition
MALOO exhibitions portrayed a group of artist work together. Most of the images in the show relate to each other as the art depicts graffiti as art. The show was also arranged in a manner that allows the visitors to make a connection between the arts and the reality of their life.
Conclusion
In my opinion, the show was successful. The show combined different work from other artists, and this made it easy to pick the outstanding art and do the analysis of the artist. The exhibition was also successful as it allowed interaction among the visitors as they viewed various graffiti. Also, by observing peoples reaction to the artistic work in the exposition was a sign that the show was successful.
Work Cited
:Ottoniel Campos, (2017). Street Art & The Latinos That Influenced The Culture of Writers retrieved from https://latintrends.com/street-art-the-latinos-that-influenced-the-culture-of-writers/
French, K., Meet Chaz Bojorquez, The godfather of cholo writing, Visual news [March 19, 2017]
Anonymous, Graffiti Art Icon: Charles ‘Chaz’ Bojórquez, Cultivating Culture [March 19, 2017]
