0.125oz - A Brooklyn Story on Cannabis Design

Artist Manifesto

First of all, let me say this: Fuck the bags.

We are here to celebrate creative designs, not to glorify trash lying on the streets. But hey, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, right? Well, that pretty much sums up the whole story right here.

The journey starts on the streets of Brooklyn. I usually love to walk around looking for something or someone to photograph. After a while, I got a little bored with the same repetitive path to my work every day. I began to glance at the garbage and abandoned items I could find on the sidewalk as if they were compositions created by an external force, a story placed here for a purpose by a multitude of different people.

I was amazed by all the ridiculous things you could find: a lot of broken furniture, spoiled food, stolen packages left behind, items from drug use, dead animals, and among these, a great number of cannabis pouches that were absolutely eye-catching with their shiny designs and colorful packaging.

Over the span of three years, on the cusp of cannabis legalization, I collected more than 1,000 bags on the streets of Brooklyn, specifically in its northern neighborhoods: Williamsburg, Bushwick, Bed Stuy, Greenpoint, and Ocean Hill. Some of them were brand new, as if they had just been discarded, while others seemed to have been sitting there for a very long time, decaying. After carefully collecting and cleaning them one by one, day after day, I decided to photograph and classify these numerous bags of Brooklyn delicacies.

Over the span of three years, on the cusp of cannabis legalization, I collected more than 1,000 bags on the streets of Brooklyn

I started to amass a pretty decent collection, and I envisioned publishing this as an archival work to document the time when cannabis became legal and began to dominate New York City. I mean that period when convenience stores and other smoke shops started to appear on every block, displacing delis and corner stores. It took me some time to find the right title for this archival work.

I had several options, some more relevant than others, but I couldn’t make up my mind. Finally, it happened. The book would be named after the weight of an average bag: 0.1250z.

The 0.125oz project comprises a photo book, a photo magazine, and an immersive exhibition at the Galerie A+E – 9 Rue des Arquebusiers, in Paris. This project became a labor of love, a testament to a specific time and place, capturing a cultural shift through the lens of discarded cannabis bags.

 

The Making of 0.125oz: A Deeper Dive

The making of 0.125oz was not just about picking up trash; it was about discovering and celebrating the evolution of urban culture and design. Each bag told a story, not just about its origin but also about the streets and neighborhoods of Brooklyn. The bags varied in design from minimalist to extravagant, each reflecting the brand’s attempt to stand out in a competitive market. These designs ranged from sleek, professional-looking packaging to colorful, almost psychedelic patterns, pop culture references, showcasing a range of artistic expressions influenced by the growing acceptance and commercialization of cannabis.

The Cultural Impact of Cannabis Legalization

Cannabis legalization in New York was a monumental shift, and its impact was felt in every corner of the city. Suddenly, cannabis was no longer a taboo; it was a burgeoning industry. This shift was reflected in the packaging of cannabis products. What was once hidden in plain brown mylar bags was now flaunted in vibrant, eye-catching designs. This change in packaging mirrored the larger cultural shift towards normalization and acceptance of cannabis use.

Suddenly, cannabis was no longer a taboo; it was a burgeoning industry

Cannabis shops began to pop up all over Brooklyn, transforming the landscape of the city. These shops were not just places to buy weed; they became cultural hubs, lounges, each with its unique aesthetic. The packaging of cannabis products became an extension of the brand’s identity, much like wine labels or craft beer bottles. This evolution in design marked a significant shift in how cannabis was perceived and consumed.

The Exhibition: A Celebration of Urban Creativity

The immersive exhibition at Galerie A+E in Paris produced by the agency Favoreat Design was aimed to transport visitors to the streets of Brooklyn. The centerpiece of the exhibition was a mural composed of 300 cannabis bags, each meticulously arranged to create a visually stunning mosaic. This mural was more than just a collection of bags; it was a statement about the intersection of art, commerce, and legislation.

The exhibition also featured an immersive art projection on a cannabis plant; a technic brought by Studio BK, one of the leader in the immersive video mapping. 

This exhibition included photographs of the bags in their natural environment, juxtaposed with images of the changing urban landscape. The photographs highlighted the contrast between the old and the new, the discarded and the cherished, the illegal and the legal.

Vincent Pflieger AKA Streetadelic: The Artist Behind the Project

Vincent Pflieger, the artist behind 0.125oz, is known for his ability to find beauty in the mundane. His work often focuses on the overlooked aspects of urban life, transforming everyday objects into pieces of art. With 0.125oz, Streetadelic has created a body of work that not only documents a significant cultural shift but also challenges our perceptions of art and value.

0.125oz is more than just a photo book or an exhibition; it is a reflection of a changing city and a changing culture.

Streetadelic’s meticulous approach to collecting, cleaning, and photographing the cannabis bags demonstrates his commitment to his craft. Each bag was treated with the same care and attention to detail as a piece of fine art. This process of transformation, from discarded object to art object, is central to Streetadelic’s work and to the message of 0.125oz.

Conclusion: A New Chapter in Urban Art

0.125oz is more than just a photo book or an exhibition; it is a reflection of a changing city and a changing culture. It captures a moment in time when cannabis became legal, and with it, a new form of urban art was born. Through his work, Vincent Pflieger has not only documented this shift but has also elevated the discarded to the level of art, challenging us to see beauty and value in the most unlikely places.

As the cannabis industry continues to grow and evolve, so too will the art and culture surrounding it. 0.125oz is just the beginning of this new chapter in urban art, a testament to the creativity and resilience of Brooklyn and its people.

 

The project instagram is @0.125oz

The photographer page is @streetadelic

Vincent Pflieger, also known as Streetadelic, is a documentary photographer originally from Paris, now based in NYC. His journey into photography began in 2014 when he picked up his father’s old analog camera, sparking a passion for capturing street scenes in his everyday surroundings.

Since then, Vincent has exclusively shot on film, drawn to vibrant colors and the unique way people interact with their environments. His first black-and-white series, featuring the Paris subway, was published by Vice, and he has since expanded his work with various projects in NYC.

You can find his photography featured on platforms like Fubiz, Konbini, iGnant, or Time Out.