Saw a huge mural in Philly that's just a giant QR code

I was walking through Fishtown yesterday and saw a whole building side painted as a black and white QR code, maybe 30 feet tall. Some people near me said it was cool and modern, but I thought it felt lazy, like a billboard you can't even read. Do you think using tech like that in public art is a fresh idea or just a gimmick?

3 comments

3 Comments

finleyk872mo ago

Ever see that one in Austin that just links to a crypto wallet? Feels like a missed chance to make you feel something, you know? Just becomes more internet noise on a wall.

michael5191mo ago

Wait, a QR code that just links straight to a crypto wallet? That's honestly kind of wild. I can't believe someone actually put that up on a wall in public. What were they thinking, like "hey, here's a chance to send me some money with zero explanation"? It doesn't even try to be art or make you stop and think, it's just a begging link with extra steps. People put QR codes everywhere now and it just feels lazy, like they didn't want to actually make anything memorable. How is that supposed to connect with anyone walking by?

butler.mark2mo ago

It reminds me of a QR code sticker I saw on a bus stop bench last year. Just led to a blank page with a countdown timer. Felt like the whole point was just to make you look, not to give you anything back. At least a painted mural tries to leave an impression, even if you don't like it. These things just feel like a dead end.