Mount Rushmore Hits Los Angeles
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Because Los Angeles is such a sprawl, the whole city is a blank canvas ripe for creation — making the west coast one of the world’s most vibrant urban art centers. Sure, the place might be a seemingly endless shopping mall built within recent history; but street art adds culture to cement buildings, beauty to an otherwise uninspired setting.
La Brea is a long street that slowly creeps up into the hills of Hollywood. Often congested, it’s famous for the hot dog stand with a never ending line, Pink’s, and, not surprisingly, a street art scene. This is the street where Mr. Brainwash had not one, but two of his satirical art shows. And this week, La Brea welcomed Eduardo Kobra, a Brazilian street artist who traveled to Los Angeles to celebrate our independence with a large-scale Mount Rushmore mural.
The mural is in his usual style — fragmented and colorful, yet cohesive and wonderful. After his recent contribution to New York City’s famous High Line, we’re happy he gave their rival city something to boast about. Staying true to the original look, yet tweaking it with an exciting edge, this American homage is a beautiful representation of the way America has changed since those rocks were chiseled in South Dakota between 1927 and 1942. America today is more multifaceted, and Los Angeles is at the center of the cultural melting pot.
“My intention is to provoke and delight, with bright colors, showing once again that art and democracy remain fundamental to art and life as a whole,” says Kobra about the piece. This proud symbol of our country is revered internationally, and Kobra’s artistic celebration of democracy is more than a delight, it’s a treasure.
For more information about the artist, visit his website.
