Bronco
* lives and works in Berlin, Germany
* graffiti, stencils, posters, placards, and many other mediums
Berlin artist Bronco is not only an established part of the urban art scene in Germany’s capital, but probably also its most famous and talented phrasemonger. As such, Bronco for the most part causes a stir with oversized slogans that are painted, sprayed, affixed, or placarded, which not only incite a grin or cause us to hesitate – they also conquer the streets, reactivating this space for communication.
For many years, Bronco has been wandering through Berlin as the “unofficial section of the Wall Street Journal” – using not a magazine or a newspaper but rather the street itself as the medium for expressing himself on the topic of urban art, but also for addressing socio-relevant discourse. Art should not merely be visually perceived but instead animate its audience to think critically, to react, to reflect, and to allow oneself to be activated and to respond. Of central focus in the usually black-and-white placards is language. By invoking language, Bronco succeeds, despite plain design, in throwing out into public space bold slogans that are, for one, provocative or amusing yet at the same time also always clear and very well thought out. An decisive feature differentiates Bronco’s placards from the conventional ones we see for advertising or elections: they expect nothing of their viewers. They aren’t trying to sell anything. And: their content is always ambiguous, thus giving the public the option of ascribing one’s own special meaning and also of reflecting and even responding.
Part of Broncos concept for the project on the facade of the Karstadt Lüneburg as part of the Leuphana ARTotale was an accompanying radio broadcast. Broncos ARTotale photos from Lüneburg are on Flickr.
