Art or property damage? Both? What should we make of the graffiti we encounter in our day-to-day lives? Are graffiti artists bringing to life sterile urban environments, adding creativity and colour to otherwise run-down areas? Or are they making cities appear dangerous and crime-ridden, unwelcoming and ruled by street gangs?
When it comes to graffiti, two fundamental rights are in conflict with one another (as is evident in the various court cases against the artists). The courts must weigh the freedom of expression against the right to own property. The damage caused should not be underestimated; the Federal Association of German Housing and Real Estate Companies has estimated an annual price tag of 500 million euros to remove unwanted graffiti daubed across Germany in just one year. On the other hand, a 2016 study suggests that street art can raise property prices in a neighbourhood (and having the famous graffiti artist Banksy doodle on your wall is apparently the “jackpot”).
What do our readers think? First up, we had a comment from Karolina, who is convinced that art is always an expression of a culture’s identity. So, what is graffiti saying? What kind of identity is it expressing?
To get a response, we spoke to Alessio B., a graffiti artist from Italy. What would he say to Karolina’s comment?
It differs from artist to artist. Speaking for myself, it is definitely an extension of my person. I do graffiti for the desire to communicate and because it makes me happy, and I think of making other people happy when they see my art (and distracting them from their everyday problems for just a moment). This inspires me to continue painting walls.
To get another perspective, we put the same comment to Yasha Young, director and curator of URBAN NATION, a museum for contemporary urban art in Berlin. What did she think?
Every artist always has their own individual approach to their work. Graffiti is always an expression of the individual artist, and individuality is always in the foreground; the ‘tag’ – the name or pseudonym of the artist – is central to this. On the other hand, passersby often cannot read the graffiti; they perceive it as graffiti or a work of art, but they cannot recognise the individuality, because they cannot read what is written. Graffiti has its own language, which is used by those who work in the scene. At the same time, however, individuality prevails in graffiti as well as in all art forms, and that must self-evidently be so.
Next up, we had a comment from Milen describing how graffiti in his hometown of Sofia is often used to spout hate speech and discrimination against the Roma. Many people would, unfortunately, recognise Milen’s description of crude, abusive graffiti in their own town or city. What should we think of this, and does it have an impact on whether we view graffiti as art?
Also, this form of expression has been around for a long time. For example, in ancient Rome, graffiti in the form of spells against Caesar were found on walls. We should not think that all graffiti is the same. Graffiti has much more to do with a community than with hatred or violence. Just as with everything in life, there are individuals who use certain things to spread their hateful slogans… We should consider very carefully whether individual expressions of creativity are really representative of more than one person, let alone a particular group or an entire art form.
What would graffiti artist Alessio B. say?
Is graffiti art? Or is it vandalism? Are you happy to see urban environments transformed in colourful and creative ways? Or does it make a city look run-down and dangerous? Let us know your thoughts and comments in the form below and we’ll take them to policymakers and experts for their reactions!
IMAGE CREDITS: (c) / Alessio B.
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Depends on the work and the place.
A good graffiti in an authorized or free space can be art.
Only basic tags or a graffiti in a non-authorized place it’s vandalism.
Sometimes, a great graffiti can be art (by the qualiti of work) and vandalism (because of the plave where it is).
What does it mean “in an authorized place”? Street art has to be free art, is about transgression and breaking the rules. If you have to get the permission to paint a wall, is no more free art and no more real street art.
Since ancient times, human existence has been recorded on murals. From cave painting to street art, people have been using walls as a means to communicate and leave a sign of their own existence. Graffiti can be considered as a mirror of our society.
So, if a society demands a ban on graffiti, is like demanding a ban on free communication and expression. Will you accept to be forced to ask permission and to be denied permission to speak? Would you call it democratic?
To me, Graffiti is one thing, free art is another. Sometimes can be both.
When I said “authorized place” I meant “not explicitly forbidden”.
There should be some consciousness when you paint a wall. Can be a beautifuk piece of art, but if it’s in a monument (for instance), it’s vandalism. Of course there are lots of free walls where you can paint, you don’t need to go to a specific forbidden place under a sign saying “do not paint in this wall”.
Dead right I can demand that you don’t express yourself by writing “I was here”(tag) on my door or the wall of my house. You can write ‘I live here’ on your own house the same way as cavemen drew on their own walls. I bet they didn’t go into another family’s cave to do so… Honestly, equating free speech to scribbling on other people’s property is ridiculous.
IT IS ART
not really
Sometimes art sometimes vandalism…
i agree
France is interesting about it’s art
Some buildings, walls and underpasses are allowed to be painted and rotate art every couple of months
Some spots are randomly filled with art and left that way because it looks good
Some towns specifically commission art, like Angoulême has a comic festival every year and walking through the town, you’ll see random comic characters here and there
Poitiers has a couple of shops that commissioned art for the metal roll down thing that indicates the store is closed up tight … One has to do with chocolate, another to do with time and watches
I love it
You still get the idiots tagging anything and everything, those are obnoxious and disrespectful… They are there just because someone could and did, there’s no art to them and take away from the surrounding area or make road signs difficult to read
In Paris there are areas where random art shows up, it adds something vs the negative association I have with taggers
Art. Of course
Arte
Real art which is thought provoking often stems from a rebellious fire so Graffiti can certainly be more awe inspiring and stirring than a commercially painted work painted to merely cover a bare wall space
Of course it’s art.
It is vandalism, and should be penalized. Large majority are ugly and without any artistic value. Is it to the “artist” jugement to decide which facade deserves being vandalized?
How much toxic chemicals in the painting and in the products to clean the facades?
There should be concrete wall deserved to this, or specific (well structured) projects.
But not all graffiti is vandalism! Some graffiti is made to be art, to portray a point, to provoke a certain feeling. But I feel that when it comes to taggers who just paint to paint, and often are negative about their work, it is definitely vandalism.
It Is ART
If it was put there without permission of the owner of the building it is vandalism.
Arte sicuro… visti dal vero ancora più belli !!! Questi in Padova è davvero carino !!!!
Bello
I think people should start separating the waters and stop mixing up graffiti with street art! One has nothing to do with the other. For a moment they have crossed paths but one thing is graffiti which most of the people simply hate because its close relation with vandalism. Another thing is street art which everybody loves. Only after you separate these 2 and define them properly you can start over this debate. People is to confused about what is what and what I see is graffiti’s history bieng written wrong.
Depends on the graffiti, if it has any artistic value or not.
It is vandalism unless it has been commissioned officially.
Grafitti is a means of expression. It can be both, just as plain text can be art or foul language.
Freedom of expression of one cannot infringe that of the others.
One persons art is another’s eyesore….
Appreciation of art is a personal thing, some like classics & some like contemporary and each is free to go and view what they like and ignore what they don’t. So someone forcing what they personally consider art onto the whole population of an area will never be appreciated by everyone so should not be allowed
I didn’t realise that a previous comment of mine was quoted above. Well, in terms of cultural identity what graffiti means is that big cities across the world where graffiti is found share a common identity. From then onwards you can analyse it in terms of themes, colours it uses etc… However, the mode is graffiti basically. It is not embroidery and it is not oil on canvass.
If it is sanctioned by the owner of the property it is art.
If not, it is art and vandalism.
Depends. Some people can cook and some people are shitty at that, same goes for graffiti artists.
It can be identified as a art but can also be indemnified as vandalism. I personally think it is not vandalism.
In this picture, it’s portrayed a glimpse of my town (Padova, Italy). We have paintings like this all over the city center and, trust me, it’s art. Instead of having bad words on walls, it’s better seeing paintings like this. Come and see these paintings around my town!
VANDALISM WE GOT PLENTY IN ATHENS
Art and vandalism
IT IS VANDLISM
I think graffiti is a form of beautiful art and can even improve a boring old wall.
I am a graffiti artist myself and i think it is art not vandalism
Depends on if it’s a painting, som squiggles, some swear words or a representation of a mans genitalia.
Is pick pocketing a profession lor a crime… c’mon- Just because some are better at it than others does not make it OK
One thing graffiti painters don’t understand is that you don’t become an “artist” by proclaiming yourself one – general public has to do that for you and it usually happens over a period of time aka the judgement of history.
Imagine every person who felt they’ve got something to say or show did it in public spaces: writing out poems and novels across pavements and facades, leaving sculptures in parks and street corners, playing their music anytime anyplace, projecting their amateur movies in subway stations and passageways… That would be a terrible world to live in and nobody would have it.
Well, street artists are doing just that. They’re self willingly bypassing the natural process of selection and ways of presentation or an artwork and forcing themselves and their taste to the general public.
I think graffiti is a good way to express differents points of view in a culture, for example: in my district we can found a place where young people express his art through message about importance of dreams or try to put frase with significance. Also there a amazing draw about a siren because that distric is located next to the beach and there a lot of historys about that. In other hand, I think a graffiti with out message we can consider a act of vandalism because just looks in disorder
In my point of view, graffiti represents a form of expression of our thoughts and feelings through a drawing and we can transmit messages in a non-violent way through graffiti. However, there should be spaces where these artists can expose their impressions and respect public spaces. In addition, some graffiti are pleasing to the eye and conveys a message such as bansky graffiti, so I think graffiti is art.
In my point of view the graffiti are nice because the designs decorate the walls but it´s depend on the drawings because some of this draws give a message or feeling.
I consider graffiti like vandalism because in some cases it affects or attacks someone who did wrong things like politicians. On the other hand, i consider it art too because it is the way to show or express what painters feels and also represent our culture in graphics or phrases.
For me it is both because in some cases it attacks or affects someone who did wrong things like are politicians. On the other hand, it is art because it is tha way that painters find to express what the painters feel, the situation in our country or it shows our culture.
I think it’s depends of the place. Is art if the space that the artist painting is free or available. Also, is art if it’s an awesome draw or the draw is from a recognised author.
Artists can express the way they want as long as they always have a respect for the public in general, outside the people who admire them and support their art, there are certain types of graffiti or paintings that can be shown on the streets, I think if there is any permission for some authority to paint is okay but if they do it illegally and much worse writing insults on the walls of private places is wrong, since no one would like to leave your home and that receive an insult painted on the door of your home, art can be done as long as you respect the people who appreciate it.
I think it’s depends of the place. Is art if the space that the artist painting is free or available. Also, is art if it’s an awesome draw or if the draw is from a recognised author.
Artists can express the way they want as long as they always have a respect for the public in general, outside the people who admire them and support their art, there are certain types of graffiti or paintings that can be shown on the streets, I think if there is any permission for some authority to paint is okay but if they do it illegally and much worse writing insults on the walls of private places is wrong, since no one would like to leave your home and that receive an insult painted on the door of your home, art can be done as long as you respect the people who appreciate it
I agree that graffiti is a way of expresing and developing the art, because I think that has artistic meric.
For example, araund the Main Square of Surco there streets that has bad aspect by neglect the same people and I think is in these areas where could make your art with graffiti.
From my point of view, i believe that it depends. Not all the graffiti paintings are art expressions, some of them are tags or senseless scribbles. Furthermore, there are laws that protect private property and public spaces, so, regrettably, painting a graffiti is illegal.
On the other hand, there are awesome graffiti painters deserving acknowledgement for their art pieces. A graffiti that conveys a message or represents the local culture isn’t vandalism. Sadly, it is well-known that goverments are against striking graffiti paintings about politics.
For me, the best solution is that graffiti painters should ask the properties’ owners if they could use it. Creating a contest in which the nicest paintings win a prize is a viable solution as well.
I consider it like a way to someone can express his point of view about the world through his art and use space publics to share with other people who sometimes doesn’t see it in a positive way like polices or politician and try to make it see like vandalism.
I know some business that use the graffiti to catch people and it work like institutes or restaurants. I think that we need to be able to differentiate between street arts whose graffiti painters have the ability and creative to create nice graffitis and kids who only write name of football’s club which could be consider like vandalism because it doesn’t share any message.
I think both because in some cases there are some artists who do graffiti that express a message, but there are others who only do graffiti for rebelling.
For example, in my district there is a blank wall and every time I pass by that place sometimes I think that there should be something that attracts attention and that at the same time can convey a message because it is a place where many people go and it would be incredible that someone with such creativity can make a graffiti that can show a clear message to the general public.
Graffiti is a way people can express their ideas, feelings, disagreement, etc…it is incredible how through art is possible communicate something. I know some places with great graffities, really inspairing. However, it is so disgusting when walls has names over names or phrases just for fun.
I agree in a certain way, but it depends a lot on society and the person who painted graffiti because not all people have the same perception. If graffiti were an expression of the identity of a culture, transmit a good message and the public understands it, vandalism would not exist.
Unfortunately, nowadays people often express hatred, vulgarity, evil through graffiti, so it is difficult to accept it.
I would like to see graffiti in my district that represents a culture or a thought like Banksy graffiti, avoid hate and vandalism.
I agree in a certain way, but it depends a lot on society and the person who painted graffiti because not all people have the same perception. If graffiti were an expression of the identity of a culture, transmit a good message and the public understands it, vandalism would not exist.
Unfortunately, nowadays people often express hatred, vulgarity, evil through graffiti, so it is difficult to accept it.
I would like to see graffiti in my district that represents a culture, message or a thought like Banksy graffiti, avoid hate and vandalism.
it is both
I think it’s both.
Both
Vandalism
What is art?
It is art not vandalism.
I think it is both art and vandilisam. I love hailie claridy.
IT IS ART
Is it vandalism or art it thing art.
graffiti is art
At the end of the day graffiti is what the individual believes!!!!!!!
At the end of the day, graffiti is what the individual believes!!!!!!!!!!!
its art
Graffiti is ART!!!!!
no it isn’t
Graffiti can be considered art but:
Have you ever gone on the highway and seen graffiti on the walls, some of the messages are good but not all, in fact by law it is considered vandalism. People can argue that graffiti is their get-away art, but realistically the whole reason graffiti started was for gangs to symbolize that there was a gang activity going on in that place. Gang activity can include drug dealing, smuggling illegal contents, and drinking. The signs are to as if mark territory and say, “Hey get off my property” but really they are vandalizing someones else’s property.
I t depends if they have permission or not
It is vandalism
Art or property damage? Both? What should we make of the graffiti we encounter in our day-to-day lives? Are graffiti artists bringing to life sterile urban environments, adding creativity and colour to otherwise run-down areas? Or are they making cities appear dangerous and crime-ridden, unwelcoming and ruled by street gangs?
When it comes to graffiti, two fundamental rights are in conflict with one another (as is evident in the various court cases against the artists). The courts must weigh the freedom of expression against the right to own property. The damage caused should not be underestimated; the Federal Association of German Housing and Real Estate Companies has estimated an annual price tag of 500 million euros to remove unwanted graffiti daubed across Germany in just one year. On the other hand, a 2016 study suggests that street art can raise property prices in a neighbourhood (and having the famous graffiti artist Banksy doodle on your wall is apparently the “jackpot”).
Συμφωνω απολυτα
Love it
Depends on who owns the wall
When the owner of the wall agrees, it might be art.
It is ALWAYS a much better art than modern art on museums, but yet it is ON AVERAGE (not always) too ugly to be called art :D Anyway neither the person illegally doing them and nor the “owner” of the wall can decide alone and arbitrarily how a part of a public space facade shall look like, which mean to say they are illegal. Whether it is vandalism, I think it is determined by how much effort was made to produce and maintain that building part in the original state, before the graffiti was done on it, and it is in my experience often vandalism.
Art when it is artful and not on a historic building…. Vandalism when it’s done on a historic building or landmark, and it’s not artful, rather someone’s initials, silly message or declaration-either political, sports etc… If you have it in mind to grab a spray paint and write on a wall, make sure you can paint or draw and make something aesthetically nice for the rest of us to admire, or spare us your nonsense!!
most of them are straight up vandalism
Depends, on the graffiti quality. Not all are art or even pleasant.
ART!!
i believe its art
In my opinion in a creative way graffiti is not vandalism. It’s an art which brings creative and beautifully outlook to the city. It depends on the way a person thinks.
IT IS ART
graffiti is vandalism
Its vandalism
Graffiti is art not vandalism because for example you might be passing a dull wall everyday, but one day you not even recognize it from the looks of it because it has been beautifully decorated and people only call it vandalism because people paint on there property without permission, I am just like “wow” so I am going to finish by saying that graffiti is a piece and a work of art!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Graffiti is art not vandalism because for example you might be passing a dull wall everyday but one day you not even recognize it from the looks of it because it has been beautifully decorated and people only call it vandalism because people paint on there property without permission I am just like “wow” so I am going to finish by saying that graffiti is a piece and a work of art!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It doesn’t have to be one or the other, the definitions of art and vandalism are not direct opposites therefore something artistic that devalues or destroys part of a structure is still artistic vandalism. However, certain works of street art can add to a structure not take away from it, which at that point is no longer vandalism. The problem comes when you have to decide whose opinion is valid in the decision of whether this particular piece of street art is one or the other.