The word "graffiti" is often associated with vandalism. However, for modern street artist Eltono, graffiti is just another word for art. That's because Eltono's work can be found painted onto buildings and walls, in the same places one would expect to find graffiti. But don't be fooled -- Eltono's work is more than just graffiti -- it's modern art.



Eltono, Spanish for "the tone", is an artist who is known for painting a uniquely geometric and abstract version of a tuning fork as graffiti. Eltono, beginning in Madrid in 1999, has spread his work all over Europe, South America, and Korea painting buildings, walls, rail sides, and any other surface you can find in a modern city.

Unlike most graffiti artists, Eltono's art is subtle and understated. In fact, if his work isn't pointed out to you, it's likely you'll miss it. Eltono does this on purpose -- his art is a statement against the strident and overly-colorful street art that is commonly associated with the word "graffiti" here in the United States.

Eltono's art is different partially because his technique is different. Rather than using spray paint for his work, which can be imprecise and typically force an artist to work in rounded shapes, Eltono uses plastic paint and masking tape to create his art. This technique allows him to create perfectly straight lines and geometric shapes, contributing to his unique style.

The art that Eltono creates seems to draw attention to obvious differences on a city surface. Imagine, for example, a brick wall with boarded over windows, where each board is of a different wood. Or imagine a building that has been made of brick, wood, and steel. Eltono will mark these surfaces and draw attention to the discrepancies.

Once Eltono has discovered his canvas, he will paint a variety of geometric shapes and straight lines to draw illustrate the inherent discrepancies of the surface. But his work is in sharp contrast to graffiti because it is so subtle, and this characteristic may be the reason Eltono has received wide international recognition.

Good art is always thought-provoking, and Eltono's work is no exception. For instance, is his use of geometric shapes a comment on the banality of modern urban architecture? Is their a political statement involved with his work? Perhaps most importantly for the artist, will his chosen media keep him from achieving notoriety because it is often associated with vandalism? Whatever the case, only time will tell. But one thing is for certain -- Eltono's work is definitely interesting.