Heroin Stamp Project

"In the New York City drug trade, as in many enterprises, marketing and branding is key.

The words and images stamped on packets of heroin — from the phrase “Cop n Go” to “White Fang” - serve the same purpose as a corporate logo. The images and phrases are used to brand a particular set of stamp bags, and brand a particular batch of heroin known on the streets by that stamp.

For decades these stamps have bred brand loyalties that walk a very thin line between dying and getting a good high: the most popular stamps are most often the most potent and deadly. Blown up larger than life these beautiful, fascinating and unsettling images of the stamps hint at a complex chain from supplier to dealer, the dynamics of drug markets and the story of the marketing of addiction on the streets of NYC."

Great idea for a show. Looking forward to checking it out. Read the New York Times article here.