Graffiti and Street Art - your thoughts?

[Dasa]

Inspired by discussions in this thread, I'd like to know what people think of graffiti and street art. Art or vandalism?

I obviously love it, and think it is an important part of any cities urban fabric. For one, it provides a character for the city - I really hate sanitised cities like Singapore.
I think one thing critics of graffiti (in particular) would do well to realise is that graffiti artists are genuine artists. They aren't lowlifes who go around looking for things to destroy and they don't deface buildings just for the sake of it.
Another point in defence of graffiti artists is that the real quality graffiti isn't in prominent places. Graffiti artists generally like to take the ugly places that no-one notices (dirty lanes, railway bridges etc) and practice their art there. They generally don't go and ruin a brand-new building or anything like that - unless they're merely taggers, who I have no respect for. Anyway, some examples of quality graffiti and stencil art from around Melbourne (probably the best city for this stuff in Aus):

Graffiti






Stencil Art




...and a link to an amazing piece (too big to post):
http://users.bigpond.net.au/dasa/graffiti/joinup1.jpg

[archie mac]

The stuff you are showing in fine even art, but most of it is an eye sore, they should make the little so and so's lick it clean.

[James90]

Stencil art ****es me off. I love street art.

[andyc]

Eternity, anyone?

[cameeel]

It's needless vandalism, paint on a canvas like everyone else if you're that desperate to express your 'inner artist'

[GotSpin]

Depends where you do it and its content.

[_Ed_]

That's very good, it looks great. Not sure if you'd feel the same if it was your wall though.

[Dasa]

Originally Posted by _Ed_

That's very good, it looks great. Not sure if you'd feel the same if it was your wall though.

Haha, well I'd welcome graffiti on my house. Anything to brighten up dreary suburbia.

[Prince EWS]

The stuff you posted is great.

If all graffiti was like that, I'd be all for it. However, I have NEVER seen graffiti in Sydney that actually looked good. 99% of graffiti is just pointless tagging, which is un-neccessary and just downright annoying.

[James90]

Tagging and stencil art really does suck. Like, who can't do that! However I think genuinely good pieces are great and worth admiring

[Top_Cat]

I think it's pretty clear from his initial post that Dasa is talking about the LEGAL stuff, guys. He even said so;

"They aren't lowlifes who go around looking for things to destroy and they don't deface buildings just for the sake of it."

Comments like "What if it was your wall?" and the like are irrelevant to the discussion because he's only talking about the art which is painted legally and with permission.

Myself, it's cool. I don't have a passion for it but it's certainly a valid form of expression (not that I'm an authority on what's 'valid'). It's quite garish and exaggerated but that's the point. It's not a subtle art form; it's part art and part social commentary. Good stuff, particularly the green castle.

[sledger]

as long as its legal then yeah i think its good art as long as the content isnt in bad taste, if its illegal though then its pretty stupid imo, after all the yobs who put it up will be scrubbing it off as part of some penalty imposed on them by the courts.

[Slow Love™]

I've got nothing that much against it if it's somewhat decent. It can have a tendency to make a cheap neighbourhood look even cheaper if it's tacky, though.

Not really my thing in terms of art - it's too cartoony for my tastes. Given the wide canvas available (when it comes to walls, sides of building etc) I wouldn't mind seeing something more inspired by Heironymous Bosch or Pieter Bruegel than anime or Electric Boogaloo...

[FaaipDeOiad]

There's some quite lovely street art around my area. Certainly doesn't bother me in the slightest, it's better than a blank wall with peeling posters.

[Dasa]

Originally Posted by Top_Cat

I think it's pretty clear from his initial post that Dasa is talking about the LEGAL stuff, guys. He even said so;

"They aren't lowlifes who go around looking for things to destroy and they don't deface buildings just for the sake of it."

Comments like "What if it was your wall?" and the like are irrelevant to the discussion because he's only talking about the art which is painted legally and with permission.

Myself, it's cool. I don't have a passion for it but it's certainly a valid form of expression (not that I'm an authority on what's 'valid'). It's quite garish and exaggerated but that's the point. It's not a subtle art form; it's part art and part social commentary. Good stuff, particularly the green castle.

Yeah I was referring generally to legal stuff. However, a lot of graffiti is technically illegal (i.e. the owners haven't expressed their consent for it) but people still 'allow' it. The best stuff (around the back lanes of Melbourne) isn't usually 'legal', but no one gives a hoot about these places so graffers can do as they please.

Originally Posted by FaaipDeOiad

There's some quite lovely street art around my area. Certainly doesn't bother me in the slightest, it's better than a blank wall with peeling posters.

I don't even mind the peeling posters...I like urban grit - adds character to a city IMO.