Art Unseen: The Underbelly Project (PHOTOS)

The Huffington Post     First Posted: 11/02/10 04:03 PM ET   Updated: 05/25/11 07:10 PM ET

The art world is abuzz about an exhibit that neither spectators nor buyers are able to see. The Underbelly Project, one of the largest exhibits of street art ever shown, is located in an abandoned New York City subway station.

Curated by street artists PAC and Workhorse, the illegal project has been in the works since 2008. The 103 contributors are known only by pseudonyms, however the New York Times revealed that

More contributors were American, among them well known names like Ron English (whose most recent work has been priced at up to $200,000), Swoon and Revok.

The project was on display for one evening and photographer Luna Park was kind enough to share her photos of the art with the Huffington Post.

The subterranean environment will not be kind to the work and some of it is already starting to degrade:

The curators destroyed the equipment they had been using to get in and out of the site. "We're not under the illusion that no one will ever see it," Workhorse said. "But what we are trying to do is to discourage it as much as possible." He stressed that any self-styled explorer who found the site and attempted to enter it would be taking a real risk.

Check out the beauty that lurks below:

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The art world is abuzz about an exhibit that neither spectators nor buyers are able to see. The Underbelly Project, one of the largest exhibits of street art ever shown, is located in an abandoned Ne...
The art world is abuzz about an exhibit that neither spectators nor buyers are able to see. The Underbelly Project, one of the largest exhibits of street art ever shown, is located in an abandoned Ne...
 
 
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
anastasiabeaverhousen
Time wounds all heels
05:01 PM on 12/11/2010
I like this photo viewer SO much better than that other one.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Max Shaw
My micro-bio is no longer empty.
05:02 PM on 12/08/2010
Are we allowed down there yet?? No?? GD it....I almost would rather not have known about it. This is totally unfair.
05:35 PM on 12/07/2010
commercialized street art, again.
amazing how no one likeed it in the 70's-early 90's.
now that it can be found within the pages of the NYT, it's heralded.

stay inside, out of the cold. and dont even think of saying "i wanna learn how to do that"
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Max Shaw
My micro-bio is no longer empty.
05:01 PM on 12/08/2010
The problem is actually is NOT commercialized. Although done by some famous street artists, theres nothing commercial about it. You cant buy it..there are no reproductions and its already eroding. This was some time ago and the problem is, is that no one is actually allowed down there to look at it. They already arrested over 20 people who have tried..Probably more since they first starting reporting the arrests.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
ValdaDeDieu
Author: NOCTURNE, BLOODPACT, DEATH MISSION TRILOGY
05:25 PM on 12/07/2010
Amazing work...
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Dave Harpe
Was young, now old.
03:42 PM on 12/03/2010
Real humans love art, and will do it even in really adverse conditions. Not so our leaders, who only love money and power. Some of them actually hate art, and outlaw it as soon as they can. Persians, for example are fantastic artists, but it's very hard to find good art in present day Iran.
07:00 PM on 11/25/2010
Yes. Really good. Loved that flag.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Max Shaw
My micro-bio is no longer empty.
04:01 PM on 11/12/2010
Does anyone want to go with me? I already have the bail money all set up...lol.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
gtoddyt5
03:44 PM on 11/30/2010
As long as you've done all the preparation, I'm in.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
mag68
06:07 PM on 11/10/2010
lovely.
06:23 AM on 11/08/2010
This project is so damn fake. These hipsters got to go! I think it was summed up right over here:
http://hosteighteen.com/blog/?p=188
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
WasteNJ
All Out Of Bubble Gum.
01:48 PM on 11/08/2010
You're right, you must be a writer.

MSK represented, but MSK crew are always in front of a camera, just look at the movie "Infamy". Either way, good call and link. Fanned #1.
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dmgoss
Sapere Aude
08:04 PM on 11/20/2010
Required reading before anyone comments any further about "reclaiming space for art."
09:52 PM on 11/03/2010
Not usually into art installations, but I like the idea of a "gallery" that is more conceptional, more mythic, than actual.
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08:05 PM on 11/03/2010
www.marxistglue.com STREET ART SHOW THAT JUST HAPPENED IN L.A.!! WESTCOAST STAND UP!!!!!
05:24 PM on 11/03/2010
Congratulations on reclaiming the site for art. There is so much abandoned or empty real estate in the city which could provide temporary art space, studio space, craft workshops - the list is endless. Such projects bring life back to the site and the audience that is attracted helps support all the local business. We need a city backed initiative to support such programs. Manon Slome, Co Founder and Curator, No Longer Empty. Go to our website or FB page to see what we do.
lastpost
see biography
06:14 AM on 11/03/2010
“We Own The Nightâ€
But it is considered highly unlikely, that we will ever make all the payments for government.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Balzac
02:22 AM on 11/03/2010
Nice.
12:41 AM on 11/03/2010
http://blog.vandalog.com has some great pics too. including a little more from artists like TRUSTOCORP.
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
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12:49 AM on 11/03/2010
I went to that link and bookmarked it - thank you for the comment
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
WasteNJ
All Out Of Bubble Gum.
01:45 PM on 11/08/2010
Solid link man, Fanned #1.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
ceccm
Obama 2012
02:11 PM on 11/08/2010
frank?