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Entries in Duchamp (1)

Wednesday
Jun292011

"MOUSTACHE" MAN ARRESTED - NEW TAG WILL BE "CONTRITE"

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Last week the energetic poster defacer known as "Moustache Man" was arrested by officers of the NYPD. The inscriber of the ubiquitous swirly tag "moustache" that lately has adorned countless upper lips on advertising posters is now known as "Joseph Waldo, perp." Moustache Man is sadly in the same art/speech/legal purgatory that the much noticed then quickly arrested Poster Boy recently visited. Keep your head down Dick Chicken, the state security apparatus has its eye on you.

Gothamist reports that under pressure from authorities Waldo clearly stated his new position in relation to street art and unsanctioned anti-hype speech; "I'm sorry for my actions and have agreed to fully cooperate and never do it again." Very reasonable under the circumstances, sir.

Moustaching is not a very dickish defacement, but New York Dick is always interested in poster modifications that attempt to reclaim part of the visual culture. So even if drawing a silly stache isn't really as shocking and dicky as poking a penis doodle in someones eye, NYD seeks to document anything that is enough of an affront to make you stop and think, or get you arrested.


Whether spelled moustache or mustache (not the concern of NYD) or not spelled out at all, lip hair defacements are very common in the NYC subway system. As Marcel Duchamp showed us when he dickishly defaced a post card of the Mona Lisa, lip hair supplied against ones will is a great way to steal somethings mojo. 

Moustache Man will probably not be doing many more defacements in the New York subway system, but NYD is positive that thousands of New York's dickish denizens will continue to make graphic counter statements to ad culture. Penises, mustaches, beards, zombie eyes, devil horns, busted teeth; all seem like proper visual comments to make on an advertising poster that is just a little too much in your face. But be careful New York, don't make a spectacle of yourself, be ready to run, and if caught be really ready to apologize.