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This Artist Is Replacing Billboards With Pictures Of The Landscapes They’re Blocking

Coachella Valley, including its billboards, is currently experiencing a makeover as it hosts the Desert X outdoor art festival. Visual artist Jennifer Bolande took on the ambitious project of replacing billboards in the area with photos of the mountainous landscapes they blocked, and it sends an important social message.

Visible Distance / Second Sight, as the project is known, features ‘vanishing’ billboards that are designed to be seen from a moving car. When approached at the right angle, the images align and seamlessly blend in with their surroundings, emulating the famous Burma-Shave road signs from the 1950’s that sequentially formed messages when driven past. The billboards stand along the Gene Autry Trail.

The purpose of Desert X is to encourage a reconnection with the environment. Jennifer Bolande’s project takes focus off of commercial advertising and puts it on the natural beauty of Coachella valley,

More info: Desert X (h/t)

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What do you think ?

POST

Daria B 7 years ago

Feel free to throw stones, but really I think companies should take this as an example for their next advert design. ♥

17points

Jace 7 years ago

I HATE billboards. "Four states currently ban billboards: Alaska, Hawaii, Maine and Vermont. It is no accident that these four states are known for their scenic beauty."

9points

Jaclyn 7 years ago

I agree, knock them all down! We don't need advertisements on the side of the road!

5points

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Hans 7 years ago

Interesting idea. I guess we must more often think about external costs (in the economic sense). Society pays a price for blocked views, light pollution, waste water, smoing chimneys, traffiic jams etc., that is not covered by those who payed for what causes the encroachment. We lightly accept this, but we probably should not.

5points

Dinah J 7 years ago

this is some of the best culture jamming ever. way to reclaim!

2points

John L 7 years ago

How about collapsing, fold-away signs, that only come up when there are paid advertisers? Then everyone can see what is behind them.

2points

Joseph Wagnon 7 years ago

I f*****g loathe billboards. They are worst than the GOP.

1point

isa8406 7 years ago

Advertisement = satans chains on society

1point

Sofia Bellavista 7 years ago

Don't forget that God believes in advertising too: he put bells in every church

0points

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reclameshit2015 2016 7 years ago

This works so wel! For that 0.5 second that it perfectly aligns when you drive by. Let's make billboard GREAT again.

1point

Hans 7 years ago

Make them small again!

3points

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pikachu 7 years ago

good job!!!!!

0points

Sick Boy 7 years ago

It's less expensive to simply move away from the billboards to see what's behind them...

0points

Vanessa Saunders 7 years ago

Certainly a statement - states should consider the impact on the environment

0points

Notchimine Mette 7 years ago

This looks much better.

0points

Joseph Wagnon 7 years ago

This artist is the awesomest!

0points

Meep 7 years ago

Hate to be that person, but the signs won't line up once you start moving. Sorry. The idea is really cool.

0points

Alexandru Guraliuc 7 years ago

Great !

0points

Tees2Peace 7 years ago

Great idea, well done! I am bored of all the advertisemnts on the road, also they distract me a lot from driving :)

0points

troufaki13 7 years ago

Pointless to say the least. If there's no ad on the billboard (so as to serve its main purpose) why not take it down altogether?

0points

DisneyworldFAN 7 years ago

I like this idea because what happens if something interesting happens but you can't take a pic! Because of an useless ad

0points

Katie Pedelty 7 years ago

Nice but there's sometimes important messages on them…

-1point

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Daria B 7 years ago

Feel free to throw stones, but really I think companies should take this as an example for their next advert design. ♥

17points

Jace 7 years ago

I HATE billboards. "Four states currently ban billboards: Alaska, Hawaii, Maine and Vermont. It is no accident that these four states are known for their scenic beauty."

9points