Alexander Antelman, a young artist from Manhattan, uses his art to raise awareness about a dangerous trend among his peers. The sixteen-year-old found his purpose in life after his own friend died pursuing the silly trend. Subway surfing attracts teenagers due to the risk and thrill involved, but they often fail to realize the dangers of such an act. Most attempt the act to gain social acceptance. Until very recently, Alexander was unbothered by the trend, but that changed when he lost his friend.

Kosse Laureano died in a subway surfing accident last year in August. The seventeen-year-old was subway surfing atop the 7 train near the Hudson Yards. The teenager could not keep his balance and fell onto the tracks. Now, his friend Alexander uses his tragic loss as a wake-up call for others.

Grieving Friend Raises Awareness About The Dangers Of Subway Surfing

Determined to raise awareness about the dangers of subway surfing, Alexander is using his creativity in a unique way. He has designed an art installation with a message that he believes will impact his peers. Oculus, a Lower Manhattan gallery, has displayed the art. He created the piece out of the photos and videos Kosse had captured of the underground. He put these photos next to the frantic messages of Kosse’s mother, which she had sent before his corpse was found. Alexander explained his motive for the piece in an interview with CBS News, saying, “I think people do these things without really thinking what their actions can lead to.”

He implores the teenagers to consider how their mothers would feel if something unfortunate happened just as Kosse did. The NYC Culture Club intentionally kept the video in the Oculus. The gallery is only a few steps walking distance from the subway. The NYPD has also begun actively monitoring the city’s subways to prevent further loss of lives.

The Rising Death Toll Calls The Authorities To Take Action

This reaction from the NYPD comes in the wake of the death of four other teenagers in 2023. Michael Kemper, the NYPD Transit Chief, in an interview with CBS News, said, “The NYPD is fully engaged in efforts to end this dangerous trend.” But, the responsibility also lies with society to stop the youth from going down the wrong path. The authorities have asked parents to speak to their kids about this dangerous trend. They believe that instead of outside entities, it should be the parents or friends to talk to the teenagers involved in this trend. Laura Hart, the NYC Culture Club’s curator, also agrees with the view of the police. In an interview with Pix11, she said, “Social media platforms are where it’s glorified, and people could be lured into thinking it’s fun to do.”

Read More: “That Was a Brother”: Subway Surfer Reveals Experience of Losing Two Friends in Absurd Quest

That is why when the opportunity came to play a role in curtailing this trend, she leaped at it. She also hopes that with a teenager speaking to other teenagers about the consequences of their actions, it will have a greater impact. No one can predict if these efforts will ultimately result. But we can surely hope so!

Watch This Story: Amid the lethal rise of ‘subway surfing’ trend another 14-year-old meets the tragic fate