Submarine Channel

“I thought it was pure vandalism.” This was her opinion before Martha Cooper really understood what was going on, but once she became acquainted with some of the first spray can artists in New York she was immediately immersed in the graffiti subculture. Cooper’s area of expertise is best described as man’s interaction with (urban) environment. As an photographer and anthropologist she is especially fascinated with the various ways in which young people appropriate and personalize their surroundings. Cooper documents this converting by means of markers and spray cans in stunning pictures. A while ago Cooper was in Amsterdam and Submarine Channel’s Pretty Cool People crew talked to her about the early years of the graffiti phenomena.