Op-art: Wiped Out

Graphis, May/Jun 2002 by Blechman, Nicholas

Nicholas Blechman "Every morning I take the subway to work. If during this commute, surrounded by advertising messages. I get through half The New York Times (messages on newsprint), I consider myself lucky. Once at work I read my email (more messages) and write replies (still more messages). After that I check my real mail (messages), and listen to my answering machine (voice messages).

According to recent studies, the average American comes into contact with about 30 to 40 brands by 10 o'clock in the morning. This relentless accunulation of messages is creating an information crisis. As a graphic designer and illustrator contributing to publications like The New York Times, and as a former art director for The New York Times Op-Ed page, I'm keenly aware of my role in the creation of all these useless messages. The image created for Graphis (pg. 11) is born out of that awareness and the anxiety it creates."