True Art, True Not?

I believe graffiti is a form of art, but it can be vandalism if you chose it to be that way. So much planning and effort go into these graffiti pieces just like a painting or drawing, “While tags are probably the most popular forms, graffiti art is much more than that.”(Stowers) So who is to say they aren’t a form of art? Now some chose to vandalize property and leave their tag all over the city but those individuals don’t have the goal of making art, “The artist’s intention is to produce a work of art, and that must be taken into account when considering street art’s legitimacy.”(Stowers). Some individuals have the goal to mark territory or they purely just want to cause havoc on people’s property. These people cloud others’ judgment of actual graffiti art. Even if the artist doesn’t get paid, they can still make art.

The more people vandalize the more others see graffiti as an illegal art form. Graffiti isn’t illegal. Many businesses or individuals pay for graffiti artists, “Graffiti artists can create sanctioned murals for private property owners and get paid for it.”(Dolan). I’ve seen many graffiti murals around Maine. Some of them were probably paid for but many of them were not but they still look beautiful. I do not see art like this as a crime I see all the work, effort, and creativity it took to make the art. To make these murals unpaid and at your own expense is very risky as well but the drive to make art and show the world must be strong. It’s amazing to think about how much an individual will do to be heard and seen in the art community, no matter the form of art.

Now, just because I believe graffiti is a form of art doesn’t mean all forms of graffiti are artwork, “It hardly makes sense to encourage these artists to deface public property, and so commit a crime”(Dolan). Some people go out of their way to vandalize a store or house with a smiley face or a sloppy tag. I do not see this as art. The act isn’t well planned out, and creativity isn’t required. The intention of these people is vandalism and to upset someone or a whole community.

So, at the end of the day graffiti is a true art form in rhythm, color, and composition. There will always be those who will want to tag and make silly paintings at their dispense. They chose to break the law. But those to make pure artistry on walls and sides of abandoned buildings are truly making art, inspirational art ar that. So I wish for graffiti not to be banned and for those specific individuals who need it to be dealt with.

Photo: “Griffiti…” by mahbub kabir is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.