Danny Cortes’ New Mini Masterpiece Is A Nostalgic Nod To The Subway
It appears plenty of us have a penchant for 1989, including Bushwick artist Danny Cortes.
The revered creator of miniature models took a step back in time by crafting a pint-sized 35-year-old subway station, an ironic choice for a system that’s seemingly trying to move forward.
But there’s something about New York in the ’80s that the Brooklyn native wants to keep alive in his work.
“The stations had a rough, raw energy, with flickering lights, worn-down benches, and a sense of chaos,” he tells Secret NYC. “There was a kind of unpolished authenticity that I loved, even though the system was far from perfect.”
Graffiti-clad tiles and steel staircases coated with dirt and grime might not seem ideal when appropriately sized, but feels like perfection when crafted into a handheld piece of art — just ask Cortes’ followers.
The subway station — Times Square 42nd Street, to be exact — received hundreds of thousands of likes on Instagram and is already sold out, but will be available for a limited-time preorder within a few weeks.
Though the work is tiny in size, the attention to detail is quite the opposite.
“I work piece by piece, taking inspiration from my memories and the culture of that time, so the final product feels like a snapshot of New York in 1989,” Cortes adds.
He began by letting old images jog his memory, building the framework of the model, then adding layers of paint and weathering effects to make it a throwback. To add to the late-’80s charm are recreations of Back To the Future and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids movie posters — two of the creator’s favorites.
“These movies became iconic for me, and I still love them to this day” he says. “They’re timeless, just like those memories of New York City’s subway system in the late ’80s. That’s why I chose to incorporate that year in my piece — it’s a reflection of a special moment in my life and the cultural markers of that time.”
But time does have a way of marching on, though Cortes’ collection serves as a great reminder of the city’s “soul, struggles, and evolution.”
“You don’t see the same kind of street art or the old, nostalgic ads that once gave the stations a unique, lived-in feel,” he adds. “In a way, the subway has evolved just like the city itself — it’s more polished, but some of that old New York grit is missing.”
Keep that spirit alive by following Danny Cortes‘ next moves in the art world and paying a visit to a few NYC exhibits.
Now, stand clear of the closing doors, please.
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