THELO PLISIMO

description: green graffiti activist proposal

artist: Alexandra Stratou, Stella Konstantinidis

materials: repurposed plastic floor, belt, repurposed water bottle, dishwasher sponge

year: 2014

The work «θέλω πλύσιμο» (thelo plisimo: I need cleaning) is green graffiti: an invitation to citizens to take action demanding a cleaner and more sustainable urban environment. It works as a kit of parts that includes the necessary equipment (stencil, cleaning cloth, detergent) to mark the squalid abandoned surfaces that need attention. On the stencil, the phrase «θέλω πλύσιμο» imitates the handwriting of a finger on dusty glass, referring to the same phrase written on windows of dirty cars to remind the owners it’s time to take their car to the laundry. Following the same logic, the cleaned phrase on a dirty pavement, wall, or other urban surface, should serve to expose the owner or agency responsible for its decadence, in the hope it will address the problem.

The kit of parts is designed as urban gear to be worn over clothing. By wearing «θέλω πλύσιμο» urban gear one subscribes to a lifestyle: a collective effort to upgrade the urban environment and to maintain it in a pleasant state.