Today, when
I was going to school, I saw lots of graffiti on the walls. I personally
thought that it made the walls look bright, but there are several people who
would disagree, and regard it as vandalism. My feature article is about the
role of graffiti in modern art, and I am going to talk about modern art,
graffiti, the history of graffiti, graffiti as a form of expression, the fine
line between a fresco, mural and graffiti, and lastly, how people feel about
it. So read on to find out!
Introduction to modern art and graffiti
What is modern art?
It is a type of art that denotes the style and philosophy of that era. Firstly, it was
usually done during the 1860s to 1970s. Secondly, modern artists include Van Gogh, Paul
Cezanne, Paul Gaugin and Georges Serat. Thirdly, Jean Metzinger and Maurice de
Vlaminck revolutionized modern art with multi-coloured, expressive landscapes
and figure painting.
Types of modern art
There are many types of modern art, each having its own style
and philosophy. Some examples are frescoes, murals, fauvism, and
synchronism. Firstly, fauvism is the style of Les Fauves, a group of
twentieth-century artists. Secondly, synchronism is an art movement founded by
Stanton MacDonald-Wright and Morgan Russel.
What is graffiti?
We are now plunging into the heart of my topic- graffiti. Let
us start with the definition- a term used for drawings that have been
scribbled, scratched, sprayed or painted. Also, graffiti
ranges from simple written words to elaborate wall paintings
History of graffiti
Although graffiti is a
modern art, its roots are back in the Palaeolithic age.
Where was the earliest graffiti found?
The
earliest graffiti was found in Palaeolithic caves. Firstly, these depicted
important events, such as scenes from the hunt and wars. Secondly, graffiti was
found in the Greek city of Ephesus. This was the first known example of modern
graffiti in the world. Also, graffiti was seen in the Temple of Poseidon.
How were spray paint cans invented?
We
all recognise spray paints as one of the components of graffiti. But have you
ever wondered about the person who came up with this brilliant idea? Well,
there was a man named Edward Seymour, who was looking for a way to demonstrate
aluminium coating for paint radiators. So
he mixed paint and aerosol in a can
with a spray head. But his wife suggested putting it in a makeshift spray gun,
like the one used for deodorizers.
The golden age of graffiti
From
the time Edward Seymour invented them, spray paint cans were used for graffiti.
One such time was the Golden Age of Graffiti. Firstly, it was at this time that
the NYC subway graffiti was created, the most famous in the world. Secondly it
helped in mixing local traditions with styles in new ways. Finally, graffiti
artists used to battle each other for the famous title – The King of All Lines.
Graffiti as a form of expression
Graffiti is a very useful
tool when it comes to expression of things….
Social Expression
People
do this when they have a social message to spread. Take, for example, the segregation
of Christians in Belfast, Northern Ireland. There is literally a solid wall
between two streets, so the different types of Christians have no way to
communicate. Thus, they express themselves through graffiti, painting the wall
between two streets. Graffiti is also done to promote AIDS awareness, and an
artist called Keith Haring did as much. Sadly, he died from AIDS himself at a
very young age.
Political Expression
This
is done when artists want to portray a national crisis. The work of Mathangi
Arulpragasam (more commonly known as M.I.A) shows just that. Firstly, she
depicted the Sri Lankan civil war through her graffiti. The reason she did so
was because in a war, nobody could express themselves through speech. In
addition, graffiti is also done to promote tourism. The Employees of Karnataka
Tourism have painted the walls to promote their company.
Personal Expression
When
graffiti artists have a strong opinion about something, they express it through
graffiti. Some artists who do this are Banksy, the world’s most notorious
artist or artists, and Pixnit, who, like Banksy, prefers to hide her identity.
Nowadays, there is a new graffiti trend on social media – the graffiti hair
trend.
The fine
line between a fresco, mural and graffiti
Did you know that
there is a very fine line indeed between a fresco, mural and graffiti?
Fresco
Firstly, a fresco is a technique of mural painting done on
wet lime plaster. Secondly, it is always something to do with or related to
Christianity. Thirdly, the word ‘fresco’ coms from the Italian word ‘affresco’,
which means fresh. In a fresco a rough under layer is added to the painting,
called the ‘arricio’. Most artists usually paint their composition on the
arricio. One of the most famous fresco painters was Michelangelo.
Mural
It is a form of modern art that is painted or written
directly on walls or ceilings. Firstly, murals were found in Chauvet Cave,
Ardeche, Southern France, which dates back to 30,000 BC. Secondly, murals were
also found in Egyptian tombs, which date back to 3150 BC. In the middle ages,
murals were done on dry plaster in which case they would require a binding medium
or material. In those days, they would use egg, glue, or oil.
Graffiti
To begin with, we all know that could be writing or drawings
that are done illegally. So how are they different from murals and frescoes?
For one, frescoes and murals are not done illegally, whereas graffiti is. Also,
a fresco must be religious, and graffiti can be anything – a message, a
warning, or an opinion. In addition, murals require a binding medium, but
graffiti doesn’t need one.
Graffiti – An art or vandalism
People think differently about different
things, in this case graffiti.
Nayantara
I think it
is a bit of both, because at times it can brighten the dullest of walls, but it
can also be a horrible offence to a particular person. Not to mention that it
is strictly illegal because it is done on someone’s private property.
Dhawal
I think it
is a bit of both, because it depends where it is done. If it is done without
consideration of whether it would fit in with the surroundings, it is regarded
as vandalism. But when it is tastefully done, it can enhance the landscape
quite considerably.
Ekta
It depends,
because if it is illicitly done and it is really ugly, I would regard it as
vandalism because you might just prefer clean walls. But if it does make the
walls look beautiful, I would regard it as vandalism.
Conclusion
In summary,
I think graffiti is an art because it can be done beautifully. During my
research, I have come across some beautiful pieces of graffiti. However, there
is also another valid perception that graffiti is used to vandalise public
property. I think that artists need to show a little more consideration into
what they do and where they do it, and channel their talent creatively.
Index
Graffiti –
all pages
Fresco (es)
– 1, 4
Spray paint
– 2
Philosophy
– 2
Style (s) –
1, 2
Modern – 1,
2
Glossary
Philosophy
– The study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence when
considered as academic discipline.
Fresco (es)
– A painting done rapidly in water colour on wet plaster.
Radiators –
Things that emit light, heat or sound.
Resources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graffiti
