Vivid Matter Collective Showcases Newest Work “Subway Cypher”, Celebrating 50 Years of Hip Hop

The Vivid Matter Collective partnered with Friends of Waterfront Seattle to create an immersive art installation to honor the origins and legacy of Hip Hop culture called “Subway Cypher”. The piece is located in Occidental Park, and you can check it out until September 29th. 

“Drawing inspiration from the iconic boombox and subway cars, Subway Cypher symbolizes the raw energy and urban creativity that characterized the early days of hip hop,” VMC said in their artist statement. “It serves as a tangible embodiment of the movement, encapsulating the spirit of a bygone era while offering a contemporary lens through which to explore its legacy.”

“Hip Hop is energy, it’s vibes, it’s the driving force for all of us to continue to do what we do,” Seattle artist and Converge Media host Takiyah “TDUB” Ward said. “To be able to do this work and share it with the city is one of the tenants, and we’re trying to represent the best way we can.”

The piece was created on the surface of a shipping container by legendary graffiti artist Sneke One and aims to bring viewers into the streets of New York City where Hip Hop was born.

“I wanted to embody the elements of hip hop with graffiti,” Sneke One said. “I was trying to think of a way to have this container be the vehicle for graffiti. The train was the conduit to get people from the Bronx river to Brooklyn or Queens.”

Rapper Perry Porter, who also created a portrait of Missy Elliot which is on display within the container, was present at the opening and shared his thoughts on the power of the moment.

“This is like a second birthday,” Porter said. “I love this and I love my people.”

You can see the art in the video above and make sure to check out the piece at Occidental Park until September 29th. The next activations of the Subway Cypher include the VMC Skill Shop Exhibition September 1st. Make sure to check out their page for more details.

Photos by Seattle photographer Jordan Somers on behalf of Converge Media