Why do people graffiti on bathroom walls, bridges, buildings, etc? And yet, some of it IS artistic…isn’t there a better place they can express themselves? - Jinx
I guess it’s the same impulse that prompts people to post to a message board, maintain blogs, &c. “Here I am! Look at me!”
Granted, this particular message board is (generally) different, but you know what I mean.
Companies have graffiti all over the place, what’s wrong with people getting into the act?
I think it is similar to other animals marking their territories.
If they redecorate their own property, nothing. Otherwise they’re vandals.
It probably varies in conscious intention, i.e. gang markings, but I’d venture it’s the human “artistic” counterpart to dogs peeing: “Hey, yowza, I was here!” “I was here and I’m horny!” “I just gotta share this about me, nyuck, nyuck, nyuck!”
Gang graffit is more deliberate. It marks territory, or at least spreads the name, fame and glory of the group around. Or so the theory goes. Mostly it’s just ugly, sad and pathetic.
Some graffiti IS well crafted, and shows some talent within the very narrow conventions allowed. Most of it is so stylized very little creativity breaks through. Sorry, but most street art is as convention-bound as the most desperate Hallmark hack or paint-by-volume “starving artist” supplying furniture warehouses.
Should there be a better training ground for the raw talent? Sure, but not likely. It isn’t valued. Forget rhetoric and bombast. If you want to know what’s actually important to a people, take a long, hard look at what’s actually supported. It ain’t art, in schools or otherwise.
Veb
modern graffiti - the stuff associated with hip hop culture - has roots in social commentary. I recommend checking out the movie “sratch” if you want to find out more about it.
Some of it has to do with reclaiming urban spaces. Some of it has to do with artists needing a venue (how often do you see Graffiti artists with exhibits at the MOA?).
Some of it has to do with wanting a collaborative venue. And yes, some of it is crap. However, if you pay attention, you’ll notice graffiti artists often respect each others space. If someone has done something truly amazing, it doesn’t get touched right away. If something blows, it is usually covered up pretty quick.
I don’t know what kind of urban center you live in, but smaller cities often have sucky graffiti simply because the art form has no momentum there. Check out major centres like New York, L.A., Toronto, and you can see some pretty amazing work