Graffiti, Art or Mess?

The drawings whether it is a name, symbol or an image on the public wall is called a graffiti. I love looking and analyzing them. It is self-expression anyway.

How do you find the graffiti, is it an art or a mess on the wall?

 

To me, graffiti is an enjoyable form of art. As you said, it is one of the most important art forms that let one self express. It is used to get social and political messages across as well, so it is a great way to spread your views as well!

Graffiti is controversial, yes, but to me, it is amazing if done within the legal boundaries.

 

Graffiti are writings or drawings that have been scribbled or scratched or painted on the wall oftenly within a public view. Personally I think some graffiti are arts and some are a hot mess. Most of the people use graffiti to express their feelings. Other people use graffiti to mark their territories. Usually gangs use them to warn other gangs hence making graffiti illegal.

 

Graffiti pops up boldly throughout our cities. It can make statements about identity, art, empowerment and politics, while simultaneously being associated with destruction. Graffiti has been around for thousands of years and across that span of time it has raised the same questions we debate now, Is it art? Is it vandalism?

In the first century BCE, Romans regularly inscribed messages on public walls while on the other side of the world, Mayans were prolifically scratching drawings onto their surfaces. It wasn't always a subversive act. In Pompei, ordinary citizens regularly marked public walls with magic spells, political campaign slogans and even messages to champion their favorite gladiators.

In the 5th century, a barbaric tribe known as the Vandals swept through Rome destroying the city. Centuries later the term 'vandalism' was coined in an outcry against the defacing of art during the french revolution. As graffiti became increasingly associated with deliberate rebellion and provocativeness, it took on its 'vandalist' label.

Although, graffiti is linked to destruction, it's also a medium of unrestricted artistic expression. Today, the debate about the boundary between defacing and beautifying continues. Meanwhile, graffiti artists challenge common consensus about the value of art and the degree to which any space can be owned. Whether it is spraying, scrolling or scratching, graffiti brings these questions of ownership, art and acceptability to the surface.

 

To me it depends on the content of graffiti. In the town I've grown up with there was a lot of gang activity so a lot of the time building, fences, and even houses were defaced with vulgar words or gang symbols. That kind of graffiti is a mess to me. However, any other graffiti to me would be considered art. Many of the great artists we have in society are street artists. Think of Bansky. All of his art is done on the streets and he's extremely talented. I would never call a art piece that someone put time and effort into as a mess regardless of the canvas.

 

so true, this was a good venue to express oneself without compromising any identity for security reasons. but now I am glad that artists use this as their avenue to promote themselves.

 

I am also very fascinated to those artists who do the chalk painting, I have no idea what it is called but those who paint on the street.