Chaz Bojorquez, also known as the Godfather of Cholo-style graffiti has a new show in LA, Jan 31st.
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The large, black Old English letters, highly abstracted and carefully designed, reveal strength and control. Besides just looking at the surface, this is an image that demands to be read and understood. These inscriptions achieve incredible sophisticated aesthetic heights and disclose the concerns of the neighborhood.
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"L.A. gang graffiti writings are called 'Placas' (plaques, symbols of territorial street boundaries), and are pledges of allegiance to your neighborhood. Its letter face has always been called 'Old English' and is always printed in upper case capital letters."
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The Placa is written in a contemporary high advertising format, with a headline, body copy, and a logo.Placas are written with care to make them straight and clean. They are flushed left and right or words are stacked and centered. Rarely are they ever done in lower case free-script, or other than in black letters.
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This squarish, prestigious typeface was meant to present to the public a formal document, encouraging gang strength, and creating an aura of exclusivity.
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