Jumat, 11 Mei 2012

It's war! Marc Jacobs cashes in after graffiti artist vandalises his store

It's war! Marc Jacobs cashes in after graffiti artist vandalises his store

By Olivia Fleming

PUBLISHED: 17:52 EST, 11 May 2012 | UPDATED: 18:18 EST, 11 May 2012

Marc Jacobs has hit back against street artist Kidult after he vandalised the designer's store earlier this week.

In retaliation to his store's defacing, Marc Jacobs is selling a T-shirt printed with a picture of the crime scene for $698 - and one was sold this afternoon, according to a saleswoman.

The French artist, who has previously vandalised Celine, Hermes, and Louis Vuitton, lashed out at the amused designer over Twitter, sparking a social media war.

Vandal: Graffiti artist Kidult spray painted the word 'Art' across the front of Marc Jacobs' SoHo boutique and proudly tweeted photos of his work

Vandalised: Graffiti artist Kidult spray painted the word 'Art' across the front of Marc Jacobs' SoHo boutique and proudly tweeted photos of his work

Kidult used a fire extinguisher filled with bright pink paint to spray the word ART over the front of Marc Jacobs' SoHo boutique on the same night as the Met Gala.

He then proudly tweeted the next morning: 'I think I did some ART?' which was accompanied by an image of Marc Jacobs employees scrubbing the graffiti off the store.

Not to be outdone, Marc Jacobs managed to turn the subversive and damaging art on its head, also tweeting: 'Art by Art Jacobs,' with a picture of the scene.

Feuding: Marc Jacobs hit back against the subversive art tweeting: 'Art by Art Jacobs,' with a picture of the scene

Feuding via Twitter: Marc Jacobs hit back against the subversive art tweeting: 'Art by Art Jacobs,' with a picture of the scene

Appropriating the tag for its own marketing purposes, Marc Jacobs International took it one step further by capitalising on the graffiti artist's own (illegal) work.

Next to a photo of a pink T-shirt printed with Kidult's storefront tag, the fashion label tweeted: 'Available now for $689. Signed by the artist, $680.'

Cold war: In retaliation, Marc Jacobs is selling a T-shirt printed with a picture of the crime scene for $698

Cold war: In retaliation, Marc Jacobs is selling a T-shirt printed with a picture of the crime scene for $698

Angry that his art is being used for money-making purposes, Kidult and his fans hit back via Twitter.

The artist tweeted to Marc Jacobs: '??? LET'S PLAY, but we don't play the same rules!'

Genius? Always controversial Marc Jacobs is being praised for his creative quick thinking

Genius? Controversial Marc Jacobs is being praised for his quick thinking

Shortly afterwards, one of the graffiti artist's loyal followers also tweeted to the designer.

He wrote: 'SHAME on you, YOU COPY @therealkidult to make money with it, capitalist thieve [sic].'

However, many have come forward supporting the designer, praising his savvy marketing team for swiftly taking the upper-hand, instead of falling victim to the subversive, and illegal, work of art.

Essentially one brand versus another brand, Jacobs' appears to have come out on top in the war, with many people labelling him a 'genius' on Twitter for his team's quick creative thinking.

While many believe in supporting the underdog, rather than capitalist enterprises, this social media war has seen the artist's subversion of a conglomerate using attention-seeking destruction, back-fire.

However, others have speculated that the duo have been working together, using the tag as a grand publicity stunt.

Either way, the witty and provocative discourse highlights what the Observer called, the 'absurd commoditization' of street art.

Here's what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.

The comments below have not been moderated.

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Does this person call himself an "artist"? Looks like vandalism, pure and simple.

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Good on Marc Jacobs. Whilst the graffitist may have political statements and opinions he wants to express that gives him no right to do so on someone else's business/property.

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The real crime here is that he is charging $698 for a t shirt.

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Why isn't this person arrested?

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