iPaulina

Graffiti on wall in Philadelphia, USA

Graffiti: Vandalism or an Art form?

Graffiti is a form of visual communication, usually illegal, that involves the unauthorised marking of public space by an individual or group.

Although generally considered to be a contemporary art form (the first ‘modern’ graffiti was said to be written by Darryl McCray), it can be traced to the palaeolithic era, when natural materials would be used to make inscriptions on cave walls. In fact, the word ‘graffiti’ comes from the Italian word ‘graffiato’, meaning scratched. Many graffiti artists use their work to express themselves and their views, creating large scale images that require a lot of talent. However, under British law (and in most countries), graffiti is still considered to be an act of vandalism.

If you visit places like Leake Street Tunnel, every inch of free space is covered. To produce graffiti, you must paint the wall, and then trace over with a pen (you would begin with a smaller version of the painting and try to enlarge it). You start with lighter colours and slowly progress to darker ones, while the finishing touches and fine details are added using permanent markers. This is a difficult task that can take up to a month to complete, or more if you are working alone, just like any other piece of art. ‘Scrawlers’, who usually sign their names and incorporate swear words, are also plentiful; however, most artists do not recognise their work as true graffiti. 

I feel that graffiti is an art form, albeit an illegal one. It is a way of communicating and expressing yourself; arguably, the purpose of art is freedom of expression and commenting on current issues, which graffiti exemplifies. Of course, there are always exceptions to this: some use graffiti inappropriately, making it hard to draw the line between vandalism and art. However, on the whole, I believe it can be considered art.

Charlie (MIV)