Over the past month, the work of street artist Eduardo Kobra keeps popping up all over New York City. I was biking up 3rd Avenue this Sunday when I passed a new wall with his unmistakeable style at 49th Street. I hit the breaks. “Wow,” I thought, “Similar, yet so different than his other pieces.” I crossed the street to get a better look.
This piece was unveiled on September 11th, I learned later. Kobra has referred to it as “the braves of 9/11” and shares his thoughts about the work in Time Out New York. There’s little more I can add to his words and the work which pretty much speaks for itself.
The Eduardo Kobra mural makes me worry. It makes me ask questions.
Could this art be a trigger for people who feel catastrophic losses from September 11th every single day for the rest of their lives? If it is a trigger, for even one person, should it be displayed? Do we want the worst day of so many New Yorkers’ lives painted on a wall in bright colors?
18 years later, is it still too soon?
I am not the person to speak to this. I wasn’t in New York City on that day, I was not personally affected. Eduardo Kobra was not here either…I hope and imagine he must have spoken to many who were while creating this piece.
I would love to hear what they told him. I’d love to hear what you think about this piece.
Hmm, that’s a really good question. I think that the people who lost someone on that day will still have the shadow of that person over them forever. I guess they will be grateful for the efforts of the fire service on that day, too. I think the need to honour these brave men and women might be more important than upsetting people.
That’s a tough one! It’s a day that nobody is ever going to forget and for those that were involved it will always be so raw! I agree with Charlotte thoguh, I think it’s important to honour the brave!
The premise of this article is nonsense. There are too many “triggers” nowadays and too much avoidance of issues under the premise of sensitivity. It was a horrific day and a world-altering event. An artistic tribute to the loss and bravery of that day is not something that should be evaluated within the optics of “too soon.” It simply is, as are all of us. Learn to coexist with difficult things in life.
You think it’s “nonsense” to wonder how people who lost loved ones on 9/11 will feel, turning a public street corner and coming face to face with this reminder of that day, completely unexpected?
Are you someone who suffered immeasurable personal loss that day? If yes, then I accept you calling my article nonsense.
If no, you were not personally affected by the day, please don’t call it nonsense to simply consider the feelings of those who were.