Street Art and Graffiti: A Vibrant Expression of Urban Culture and Transforming Urban Landscapes
Introduction
Street art / graffiti has indeed become a very powerful, and celebrated (and often controversial) means of expression worldwide. Born from underground culture, these art forms have grown into identified artistic movements of discussion on public space, creativity and social comment. Discussing the history and importance of street art is also an interesting way to help students appreciate how modern culture shapes itself in cities.
The History And Evolution Of Graffiti; From Tags To Art
However, graffiti has existed since ancient times and there is documented evidence that even the ruins of Pompeii have been ridden with them as well art found on Egyptian monuments. But the artistic style has its roots in cities like Philadelphia and New York, where modern graffiti emerged as we know it today — namely during an upsurge beginning mostly in the 1960s-70s. Initially began as no more than the “tag” or signature that artists would leave on walls, almost a marking of territory akin to blood graffiti in gang territories these simple markings quickly became larger and more colorful works of art. Prominent artists, such as Taki 183 and Cornbread, are often considered the pioneers of Graffiti art being used to converge both personal or political messages through public spaces.
Street Art : Grownup Graffiti
Graffiti is focused on text while street art embraces a wider range of visual arts forms from stencils, wheat pasting and murals amongst others. Artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat & Keith Haring began utilizing public spaces to produce art that was more in-line with popular culture starting sometime during the 1980s. Street Art in contrast to graffiti form of expressions which had no status attached with it and could appear very rebellious or vandalistic, Street art is officially acknowledged as a legitimate talent. This changed the way street artist could interact with their environment and community, allowing them to venture off into previously restricted or unexplored themes in new styles of creation.
The Aesthetics of Urban Art
Street Art and Graffiti Serve As Aesthetic In Urban Space Bringing Ideas To Life_In many cases, cities are grey environments which could use a good visual transformation — they love their colours. Vibrant, detail-rich and in larger than life dimensions make them stop by walkers to interact with the art. Creating pieces that reflect the local culture, history, and architecture allows street artists to tailor their work for a regional audience. The integration of art and environment in urban settings adds personality to a space that invites people with creativity.
Graffiti and Street Art Controversies
Street art and graffiti are also contentious, gaining popularity along with the criminalisation process. Practice, posits a world where the line between vandalism and art is very blurry indeed making these efforts to seek place in our order of legal process with murky ethical considerations. Even though graffiti can be interpreted as a defacement of public property, it remains an important and valid form of expression for some. Cities all over the world have reacted to graffiti in different ways, from those allowed it as public space art, while others create strong anti-graffiti laws. Those narratives of the art forms that exist entirely in public interest-mainly graffiti and street artists-are said by this tension between them street artist going up against authorities.
Street Art Goes Commercial
The mainstream popularity of street art has brought commercialization. Brands/corporations are now getting involved with street artists to turn them into advertising campaigns, sulking the boundary between art and commerce. However, while this serves to offer street artists completely new platforms and a larger audience it also puts the authenticity of their work into question. A few manage to avoid it, feeling that commercial success robs street art of the anti-establishment values they so value…still others see it as catering to a different crowd and means for survival.
Street Art Festivals And Legal Walls
As a reply for the problematic characteristics of street art many cities have built legal spaces in which artists can do their thing. This provides a platform for the artists to colour as they please without having any concerns with being fined or anything. They give birth to a variety of street art worlds that pop up across the globe – from Berlin’s East Side Gallery, in Melbourne along Hosier Lane,… Street art festivals the likes of Linwood Walls in Miami (USA) and Upfest in Bristol stroke international artists, audiences to celebrate urbanity’s uniqueness & inventiveness.
Conclusion:
From their gritty roots as underground movements, street art and graffiti have grown to occupy a unique place in the world of contemporary mural making and urban intervention on an international scale. They are the shadow of social and political phenomena, they give color to city lights. While it will never be easy for street art, and graffiti faces an always-growing list of reasons to love or hate them as time goes on… they also now have no other option but a life full vibrations that their cities live.
Written By: Musaffa Mushtaq
