“The Splasher” is an anonymous individual (or individuals) that defaces famous works of street art in New York. Over the past several months, he/she has destroyed pieces by Shepard Fairy, Swoon, Momo, WK Interact, and Neck Face - among others - with big splashes of paint.

Often following the defacement of a famed piece, “The Splasher” leaves wheat-pasted manifestos stating that street artists are tools of capital whose “art is a representation of the most vulgar kind: an alienated commodity.”

Although we enjoy street art and would never condone its destruction, perhaps there is some relevance in this art vandal’s statements. For example, the talent-less scribbles of Neck Face are now used to sell anything from sneakers to skateboard decks, and Shephard Fairy’s stickers and wheat-pastes have marketed Obey’s clothing line exceptionally well!

Sadly, NYC street art has become more about who the artist is and not what they create - the exact opposite of its original intention. The result: loads of hype but very little creative innovation. In order to shake things up, along comes “The Splasher” and some famous pieces get capped.

“The Splasher” is exactly what NYC street art needs - a good wake up call! Graffiti writer’s murals get capped all the time, yet no one says a thing. Why should the work of celebrity street artists get any preferential treatment? Instead of fighting back by putting up more pieces, getting more creative, and further innovating - there just seems to be a lot of whining. At the end of the day, all this whining does is develop a distinction between high and low street art - which most real artists would claim to be avoiding anyway, as street art emerged to counteract museum mentality.

“Beef” like this is good! It wakes people up, and gets them talking. In many ways it fuels progression and keeps things fresh. Welcome to the streets, where it is and always will be “survival of the fittest.”

“Warning: The removal of this document could result in injury, as we have mixed the wheat-paste with tiny shards of glass.”

More images can be viewed here.