Spray Cans Make Art

When you see graffiti, what do you see? Art? Vandalism? Whether it’s a tag or a mural, there is no doubt that you will see graffiti almost anywhere you go. The definition of art is very broad and different for all. This means that what one might see as art, another might find utterly distasteful. Graffiti is an art form as it is used to express one’s abilities, spread messages and show imagination.

Art can be pretty much anything. Sometimes in graffiti there is planning involved based on how much space is needed, how much paint, and what they are actually going to paint. These can come out looking incredible, usually with the artists personal style, much like caricatures. “However, larger pieces require planning and imagination and contain artistic elements like color and composition.” (Graffiti As Art). Color and composition are things that do not come naturally to people, therefore has to be learned and can be quite intricate. I like to see the murals that some of these artist make, they can be very interesting and complicated. Graffiti can take preparation and time like other works that are considered art.

I believe that a lot of the problems people have with graffiti is that they personally do not like the style. If Vincent Van Gogh was still alive and in the middle of the night and painted Starry Night on a random building, I am willing to bet people would see it as art. The problem is when people do not like the personal style they do not believe the work is art. The bigger picture is too others, all they see is art. A possible solution could be, “Graffiti artists can create sanctioned murals for private property owners and get paid for it.” I know that there are people out, like me, who like to the style of graffiti and instead of commissioning someone else to paint a mural, they could have an graffiti artist do a mural in their style. No matter where it is, graffiti is still art.

People might say that graffiti ruins property and is a crime. Some sources say that “Graffiti sometimes has a wave effect, in which a heavily vandalized area will experience increases in other sorts of crimes as well.” (Graffiti as Vandalism). I do not believe that graffiti itself increases crime. I just believe that the places where vandalism is common other sorts of crimes happen, just because of the location of graffiti does not mean it is not art.. In the same article it said, “Gang-related crimes and violence are the crimes most commonly associated with graffiti.” The reason I believe this to be flawed is because a lot of these areas that have more crimes there are more places for graffiti. Sometimes there is graffiti on a random wall, people should see the art.

Whether you believe it is art or vandalism, I want to leave one more thought. It’s time that we celebrate the message they are trying to send and the beautiful murals they create. People should change their ideals to realize that graffiti is an art style. Although it has been associated with crime and vandalism, the style is what makes it art. Graffiti is starting to get more appreciation as an artful, as it gets more recognized their could be more contract painting, decreasing what is on the street.

“graffiti, Shoreditch” by duncan cumming is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0.

“There’s an epidemic of Rogue real estate agent gangs roaming the streets spraying graffiti cats and flowers everywhere… Menace to society I tell ya… Work-Shop on Broadway, Sydney.” by JAM Project is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

“Seak LosAngeles Graffiti Art” by anarchosyn is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.