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A couple of weeks ago, cleaners painted over this Banksy mural worth an estimated £300,000.
It’s not the first time, either. It made a good story, but it also raised the question of how an ordinary person can tell the difference between commissioned art and talented vandalism. Some of the amateur artists are so good, they turn an urban landscape into a delight. But the best pieces are liable to be covered over, either by wall cleaners or by other graffiti artists. Lucky for us, they are often photographed first. Amazing graffiti, after the jump.
This graffiti-covered building in Queens allows painting by permit, so it has become a gallery of urban art.
I love graffiti with a sense of humor. This wall is from Acro, found in the extensive gallery at Robots Will Kill.
Folk art graffiti in the Ukraine, from a collection at English Russia.
Peeta, a grafitti artist from Italy, is also involved in photography, sculpture, and painting on canvas. See more of his three-dimensional works featured with this interview.
Bonom and Lork created a series of dinosaur skeleton pictures that seem to move when viewed from a moving train at Etterbeek Station in Belgium. See the dino in action at Google Video.
The group named DOMA created this style of street art in Beuno Aires, Argentina.
Metelkova Mesto is the historic art section of the Slovenian capital Ljubljana, and home to lots of artistic graffiti.
I can’t find anything about this image, except that it may be in Canada. Can anyone shed more light on it? I really like it.
This video records the process of creating graffiti, which is more involved than you’d think, given the clandestine nature of the project.
You can find lots of amazing graffiti from around the world and information on graffiti culture at Art Crimes.
Comments (15)
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posted by Beth on 5-3-2007 at 8:55 am
I love artful graffiti like the examples above. It makes blight and bare walls look better (not that I would want it on my house.)
It is the tagging that I cannot stand. Some kid takes 25 seconds to ‘write’ his tag so that he can brag that he has marked more places than anyone else. That is not art, it is vandalism.
posted by n2y2 on 5-3-2007 at 9:41 am
n2y2 I hate artful graffiti like the examples above.
They’re just so easy to like, and so easy to understand.
Kids just take 25 seconds, they download an artsy-fartsy character from the internet and print it on sticker and easily get up, without fines or fear of being arrested.
I love tags, lettering, and vandalism.
I love the graffiti that surprises the people, that is ugly, that’s not supposed to be there!
best regards,
ale.
posted by ale [fatbombers] on 5-3-2007 at 10:04 am
Oooo I love graffiti. Shepherd Fairey, who has been moving further away from graffiti, is still my favorite artist. He is the one behind OBEY-GIANT.
I see his shirts all the time (I am actually wearing one right now) and I asked the people wearing them if they know about the artist (to this day no one has answered ‘yes’) Check out his work at obeygiant dot com
posted by Isaias Torres on 5-3-2007 at 11:49 am
ale:
Look at the examples provided. They express something, provoke thought and/or have a wow element. By my definition it qualifies as art. (with the possible exception of that last video clip)
Tagging, is merely spray painting the same signature in as many places as possible. It is repetitive and unimaginative. I find no artistic value in it. Tagging is no different than a dog marking every bush and tree it passes. Since the owner or the government must spend resources to repair the damage, I place it in the same class as window smashing.
You say you like ugly things that are out of place? Perhaps we are making a mistake disposing of our weekly refuse? We should just let it be on the curb.
Respectfully,
-n2y2
posted by n2y2 on 5-3-2007 at 12:03 pm
Try the ekosystem site. It’s .org. Graffiti art from all over the world including a forum. ekosystem.org May find what you are looking for. I’m a big fan of real graffiti art — not vandalism.
posted by dippyella on 5-3-2007 at 12:12 pm
Grafitti art is great. I was in some European city last year (Krakow, maybe?) and saw a good one of the Pope. (The dead pope, not the new one.) Pope-fitti, anyone?
posted by Pointy-Hatted Geek on 5-3-2007 at 6:40 pm
The 3d graffiti art is amazing, and the one in Acro made me giggle a little. It’s nice to see that some people are using the graffiti medium to invoke art and creativity rather than just tagging a wall just ’cause it’s frowned upon.
posted by heather on 5-4-2007 at 12:37 am
I have to agree with n2y2. Further I think that when the catch these taggers they should be given the sentence of however much community service it takes for them to clean up their mess.
posted by jb4375 on 5-4-2007 at 8:09 am
I love graffiti art it’s different and expensive those cans can add up. No one is dying or so when graffiti is done is just expressing themselves, people who do it aren’t bad people. Everyone who opposes against it I would love to see them attempt it. I’m sure their perspective would change.
posted by lnz0r on 5-5-2007 at 11:04 pm
f**k all of you. you want art go to the gallery. graffiti is from the street and so are the creaters. these walls are our walls to destroy.
take cope for example, that foo can do his shit so good he can do that shit like a bomb or a tag but all you jock its his “art” shit.
graffiti is vandalism and thats the ways it gots to stay. thats what keeps that shit alive.
posted by mereoner on 1-18-2008 at 12:34 am
As someone who works for a public parking facility I’m required to remove graffiti from walls that have been spray painted. As someone who was involved in the art world for almost 10 yrs. creating abstract art I understand the need to create and express yourself but I must tell you that the amount of environmental damage that is done to the air,water and peoples lungs who have to clean graffiti off walls is quite substantial. Last night I removed six graffiti spots off a public wall and used almost two cans of extremely toxic and environmentally damaging solvent. When I was still painting I sometimes used organic/natural paints to make my art. Although I don’t endorse public graffiti art because it’s illegal and generally done on other people’s property without their consent I realize that artists will most likely continue to create graffiti art. I want to suggest that graffiti artists seek out alternative methods of creating their art that does not destroy/damage the environment through using natural/organic paints or even smaller works of art. Better yet seek out new ways to create and express yourself through writing, speaking and alternate forms of art…for example..found art objects etc. that are less damaging to air, water, and people and doesn’t’ involve illegal activity which can lead to arrest and loss of your freedom and also can offend and enrage property owners who wish to keep their walls clean. Would you want someone painting on your home, apartment or vehicle without your consent or agree that it’s ok to promote such activity to youth who can then be arrested and have their future employment opportunities ruined because of an arrest record. Graffiti art is a public endorsement of MAKING graffiti art and all the troubles that it can bring. Your in a sense telling others that what you do is ok and others should join you, this is very appealing to youth and draws them in. We should be careful about what we endorse, we don’t want to lead others into a path of trouble or reckless behavior that may be damaging to them or others because then we damage ourselves and have to bear that moral responsibility and the price that that entails. I hope this does not offend or is out of line but I feel the need to express my opinion and hope that you will give thought to what I’ve said.
P.S.-a blank wall can be a beautiful work of art that represents peace and serenity…does anyone remember minimalism? Sincerely, Devin B.
posted by Devin Baker on 3-26-2008 at 1:33 pm
I live in Ireland. Up in Northern Ireland, in Belfast, are some of the most striking murals I have ever seen. There are walls that support the Republic (who would like the island to be on sovereign nation) and others that support the crown (Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom).
They aren’t limited to the Troubles, as the war between the north and south is known. Many make comments on world politics.
Wikipedia: Northern_Irish_murals
There are links to the other sites with great pics there.
posted by Kate on 5-13-2008 at 5:56 am
I respect your opinion (though I may not agree) Devin, however, I must say that Minimalism is one of the worst art movements in history– and for me it represents much more of the machismo and standoffishness of the artists who created it, than it does peace and serenity. But that is entirely another argument!!
There was a professor at City College in San Diego that would go around town putting her business card next to graffiti she liked. The artists ended up enrolling in her graphic design classes, and now they’re doing work for top design firms. These people are incredible artists.
One of the best things I saw was a (really crappy) mural commissioned by the city of “good deeds” people in the community do…one of the images painted on the wall was a group of people painting over graffiti. Oh the ironies of ironies.
posted by Lauren on 5-13-2008 at 1:27 pm
Portland, Oregon spends over 2 million dollars per year in graffiti removal. It is sad to think about what that money could go to if people weren’t writing their stupid tags on private property.
posted by shane on 5-13-2008 at 10:50 pm