Have You Spotted The Fake Subway Tiles?

Photo by The Real Janelle

Stained glass, mosaics, tiled penguins... there's a lot going on underground (in fact, here's an entire guide to all the subway art you can find throughout the system). But this piece, well, wins. What a simple yet accurate reflection on the current state of city agencies and their budget woes. Sure, it's a minimalist approach, but it says so much. Just look at the edges—dirty and peeling, staring back at straphangers, as if mocking them for paying $89/month for this. For giant, fake, peeling tiles.

We've contacted NYC Transit to find out more about WTF the deal is with these sticker tiles. How often do they get replaced, and does a new layer just go on top? So many unanswered questions! We'll update if we get any answers—but as with the many provocative works of art, this may have to be left open to interpretation.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Carlson in Arts & Entertainment on May 17, 2010 10:29 AM

Comments [rss]

xgeyiph772

Never understood NYC Transit's fascination with bathroom-tiled walls in stations. Yes, many were originally built with tiles in early 1900s, but stations are not landmarked and can be updated with newer materials that don't fall of the walls like 3" tiles do. How about taking them off and applying plastic or metal covers (the station at 34th St on the 6th Ave line for example). Easy to clean, easy to remove in one piece, no so susceptible to water damage, and much more modern looking. All these tiles may explain why NYers treat their subway like a toilet. Many stations that are not maintained properly look like filthy bathrooms.

chinaski5

To me it looks like the tiles are real, but there is a brown peeling sticker around the edges.

kl@w

ding ding.

whitecastlerock

I don't give a shit. As long as the fucking trains run they could staple shag carpeting to the walls...

kane

I'm with you on that one.

colonelcasey

Isn't that just old water damage?

valeriob

Looks like preliminary testing to see how well advertisements will hold up there.

That's the only way to make up for the budget gaps due to decades of severe mismanagement.