Skid Robot: Art on Skid Row

Anonymous artist Skid Robot, based in Los Angeles, aims to bring a sense of luxury to the streets of Skid Row, a 54-block section of LA infamous for its rampant poverty and large numbers of rough sleepers.

Skid Robot transforms blankets and sheets into canopy beds, wheelchairs into thrones, and an empty space into a pile of money. He does this to inspire, to show what could've been but never was, but still could be.

When asked whether he saw his art as somewhat exploitative, using homeless people as props, he responded saying that he wanted to bring attention to an invisible group in society, stating that he never does his art and goes - he asks for permission first from the individual whose abode it is, speaks to the individual(s) asking them what they would like him to get for them next time he visits.

"I'm drawing attention to a human being who more often than not is looked at as nonexistent," he told the Huffington Post. "I hardly think that is using them to my benefit."

I found this to be a very interesting way of bringing light to the homeless without exploiting or objectifying them, I felt that his intentions were to bring a regality to these individuals' makeshift homes, making us question why making a change isn't as easy as painting it. 

You can see more of his work on Instagram and Tumblr. Info from this article.