One isn't born a street artist. This is made clear by Kaiaspire.
Kai is the son of Jungle Nutz who bequeathed Kai a prime wall on the family owned building just off Melrose. The big white canvas of a wall was a haven for street art and was always changing with fresh new art from some of the worlds top street artists. (earlier feature on wall http://melroseandfairfax.blogspot.com/2010/06/artists-like-flies-to-picnic.html )
When Kai assumed control of the wall he buffed the wall and kept it clean from other artists. In just under a year Kai has put up two massive installations on the wall--Marlboro themed 'Morons' and Blackberry themed 'Save Yourself'.
I've always felt that art is anything that gets people to view things in a different way. But Kai's work seems to aim for art while missing the mark completely. His installations are simply a mish-mash of tired cliche's slapped together like a high school art project. Yes Marlboro and Morons both start with 'M', does that make it art?-- MelroseandFairfax doesn't think so. Kai's work does not cause the viewer to see something in a new way as much as it tells them how he feels about something-and even that is unclear. Apparently people who smoke are morons and people who use a blackberry need to use caution? or something? Whatever. Viewing Kai's work is less looking at art and more like listening to an old person complain.
It is what it is, but recently Kai ventured off the parents porch and started putting up stickers and wheatpastes in the streets. The thing is, even though Kai was born into a family of street art, it is clear Kai has absolutely no idea what street art is about.
Kai has wandered around a few blocks close to the studio slapping stickers and wheatpastes over anyone. I have said it before, true artists make art. Hacks and haters try to make a name going over true artists and using that for leverage. The complete and haphazard manner that Kai has gone over all kinds of artists shows the true nature of where Kai is coming from--but his complete lack of awareness and knowledge of how the streets work is really fascinating--especially given Kai's 'street art' heritage. If Kai didn't like people painting on his family wall, well welcome to the world of street art where half the artists in the city will be aiming to cap his work.
With work that is so bland and uninspired, it is interesting that Kai chose a name like Kai-aspire. Hopefully he keeps aspiring to make something better because as of now Kai is packaged in his own label--Moron.
