All About: Graffiti
As we’ve all seen in most large cities and towns across the globe, random names and letterings are painted on public walls. This, we know as graffiti. When produced like this within public places it can be seen as vandalism, with the odd exception to murals that usually have relevancy or historic meaning to its location.
Defining graffiti can be said as ’writing or drawings scribbled, scratched or sprayed illicitly’. This stems from its mid 19th century origin ‘graffio’, Italian for ‘a scratch’.
Graffiti has many purposes, to explain a story, to explain politics, culture, art, places and good or bad events in society in an artistic form. Of course, not all graffiti can be viewed as art. Many cities with ‘gang culture’ have used graffiti as a mark of territory, ownership and pride with this type being illegal. The illegal side adds an adrenaline rush to those who graffiti on the side of bridges, next to train tracks and in open public spaces as they know they’re not meant to do it.
RECOGNISING GRAFFITI…
• Sometimes Anonymous
• Fresh and Colourful
• Rebelliousness
• Spontaneous
• Interpretable
STREET GRAFFITI IS BORN TO BE EPHEMERAL… UNTIL IT’S FRAMED
Graffiti on the street is created with the knowledge that it won’t last very long, especially when produced upon busy public spaces. However, some Graffiti becomes part of the landscape, if it encompasses the community’s feelings, beliefs or a specific meaningful message. The line between vandalism and art has been crossed by numerous artists who embed messages and feeling into their work, compared to the work of individuals who tag with organisational messages.
ICONIC GRAFFITI ART…
I bet you can name the first artist on the list because of his iconic and well anticipated creations. But, the world has some great Graffiti artists who produce iconic pieces, that when they pop up becomes an attraction in themselves. Below, is a brief selection of some of the world’s greatest and most respected artists.
Banksy – English
Vhils – Portuguese Roa – Belgian
Lady Pink – Ecuadorian Eduardo Kobra – Brazilian
GRAFFITI IS GRAFFITI FOR A REASON, RIGHT?
Framed and presented like any other forms of art, graffiti has meaning behind a usually colourful or striking piece of work. The motivation behind graffiti is usually unique and this is the main reason for preserving and framing some iconic pieces.
