Houston artist Chandrika Metivier talks about their viral TikTok moment and why they...
Chandrika Metivier has changed the 'Be Someone' sign three times. They hope their activism is indicative of their artistic career.Two weeks ago, Metivier was taking a personal safety risk on a bridge above I-45, painting the words 'No War Know Peace' in protest of the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine where the infamous"Be Someone" graffiti lived for years.
Chandrika Metivier has changed the 'Be Someone' sign three times. They hope their activism is indicative of their artistic career.Metivier has always been interested in grassroots organizing and calls to action, one of the reasons they first changed the 'Be Someone' graffiti to read 'Vote or Die' before the 2020 presidential election.
Metivier said they are fully aware of the risks of vandalizing the bridge. According to the Houston Police Department, the city does have a graffiti ordinance that treats the crime as a misdemeanor if the damage is less than $500, and a felony if damages are more than $500. A spokesperson for the Houston Police Department said that the legality of the 'Be Someone' bridge graffiti is tricky because the railway is owned by Union Pacific.