Street Art (0)

Tallinn University
Briti ja Ameerika kunst ja kultuur 20.-21. sajandil
GRA6221
Course project:
Street Art
Viktoria Gumennaja
2018

INTRODUCTION

"The city's the best gallery I could imagine."
— JR
I choose the topic for writing an essay - street art. Why did I choose this genre ? Because for me it is something magical and special, not at all similar to those works that are in museums, at exhibitions and so on. Think for yourself, because street art began with the graffiti , and now we can see on the streets of our city just a work of art. I think graffiti, by the way, is also a great and invaluable work. Trends are changing . Now, young artists are moving from an endless unthinking tagging to a more conceptual and rich sense , abstract and volumetric work. Street art has become popular among the general public, because it is more accessible to him both in content and in location: for art, now you do not need to go to a museum or gallery, and the meaning of the work is often clear at a glance. In our environment there are not enough professional critics and theorists who could competently evaluate and describe the work of street artists. This is very bad, because the viewer needs a certain benchmark, according to which he could assess the quality of the works presented.

THEORETICAL PART

Any type of history is a discourse in its own right. What is more, when talking about art history, the discourses seem to flourish immensely from one into another , and so on into many more. In the context of the beginnings, one cannot but firstly reflect upon the artwork of graffiti. Later on, by the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st, street art has evolved into complex interdisciplinary forms of artistic expression. From graffiti, stencils, prints and murals, through large-scale paintings and projects of artistic collaboration, to street installations, as well as performative and video art, it is very much safe to say that street art has found it’s way into the core of contemporary art. And rightly so. (Maric B. The History of Street Art, 2014 [ https://www.widewalls.ch/the-history-of-street-art/ ] 20.12.17)
It is an amorphous beast encompassing art which is found in or inspired by the urban environment. With anti-capitalist and rebellious undertones, it is a democratic form of popular public art probably best understood by seeing it in situ. It is not limited to the gallery nor easily collected or possessed by those who may turn art into a trophy.
Considered by some a nuisance, for others street art is a tool for communicating views of dissent, asking difficult questions and expressing political concerns.
Whether it is regarded as vandalism or public art, street art has caught the interest of the art world and its lovers of beauty. ([ http://artradarjournal.com/2010/01/21/what-is-street-art-vandalism-graffiti-or-public-art-part-i/ ] 14.01.18)

WHERE DID IT COME FROM?

Some of the earliest expressions of street art were certainly the graffiti which started showing up on the sides of train cars and walls. This was the work of gangs in the 1920s and 1930s New York . The impact of this subversive culture was extraordinarily felt in the 1970s and 1980s. This cultural movement was recorded in the book The History of American Graffiti, by Roger Gastman and Caleb Neelon. These decades were a significant turning point in the history of street art – it was a time when young people, by responding to their socio-political environment, started creating a movement, taking the ‘battle for meaning’ into their own hands.
Soon, this subcultural phenomenon gained the attention and respect in the ‘grown-up’ world. From the fingers and cans of teenagers, it had taken a form of true artistic expression. Although still subversive, and in its large part an illegal movement, through art enthusiasts and professionals, street art earned its place in the contemporary art world.
Thus, street art gave birth to artists who create breathtaking murals, and those who have incorporated video art and other performative aspects to creative work ‘on the streets’. To understand the history of street art, one must immerse oneself into the energy of this sublime cultural phenomenon, as an admirer, but perhaps as a creator as well. (Maric B. The History of Street Art, 2014 [ https://www.widewalls.ch/the-history-of-street-art/ ] 20.12.17)
NYC subway

GRAFFITI AND STREET ART ARE NOT THE SAME THING

While graffiti artists only work with spray paint and pride themselves on knowing their way around a can of the stuff, street artists use other media to create their pieces.
“Graffiti artists really pride themselves on what we call can control,” says Cameron Moberg, 33, a graffiti artist and Street Art Throwdown contestant from San Francisco, California. “We take pride in not needing a stencil and really working on our can skills , that’s where the divide originally came from. But with good content coming out, there’s some more respect. You even see some collaboration between street artists and graffiti artists.” [ http://mentalfloss.com/article/61441/12-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-street-art ] 14.01.18)

Hip-hop culture in the US and in Europe

Hip Hop Culture who was already very popular in the United States started developing in Europe in the early 80's. Africa Bambaataa’s “planet rock” made an international hit, New York graffiti writers were invited to show their work in european art galleries and break dancers like the Rock Steady Crew started touring. Hip Hop and aerosol art were promoted through television and media. Graffiti appeared regularly in popular video clips, music and books. Films such as " Style Wars" by Tony Silver and Henry Chalfant, “Wild Style” by Charlie Ahearn described and promoted aerosol culture and young artists like Zephyr, Dondi White, Lee and Seen were now considered like rock stars by the emerging Hip Hop european scene.
Henry Chalfant and Martha Cooper book "Subway Art" quickly became the bible of graffiti art for the young writers and b-boys from Los Angeles to Amsterdam. By 1987, Chalfant second book “Spraycan art” documented the movement on walls across the world. By the late 80’s, the European scene was long established and in full force. Writers from both continents were now meeting up regularly and exchanging information through black books and photos of their work on trains and walls. The biggest artistic movement of all times was now born and kids from all around are still painting aerosol art today. (About Graffiti and Street Art [ http://www.speerstra.net/en/about-graffiti-and-street-art ] 14.01.18)

Spray painting

By 1973, writing moved from the streets to the subway cars and quickly became competitive. At this point writing consists of mostly “ getting (your name) up”. Writers would hit as many cars as possible, tagging inside the trains while it rides station to station. It wasn't long before they discover that many more subway cars could be done inside the train yard with more time to paint and less chance of getting caught. The concept and method of bombing are now established. Every line has its King . A king is a writer whose pieces are the most visible, biggest and most beautiful. Kings are respected by other writers who sometimes ask them to help paint pieces at night.
In 1975 all the standards has been set. A new school was about to reap the benefits of the artistic foundations established by prior generations in a city in the midst of a financial crisis. New York City was broke, therefore the transit system was poorly maintained. This led to the heaviest bombing in history.
Writers began to increase the thickness of the letters and would also outline them with an additional colour. Caps from other aerosol products could provide a larger width of spray, leading to the development of the masterpiece. It is difficult to say who did the first masterpiece, it is commonly credited to Super Kool 223 of the Bronx and Wap of Brooklyn. The thicker letters provides the opportunity to enhance further the name. Writers decorate the interior of the letters with what are termed "designs." First with simple dots, later with crosshatches, stars, checkerboards. Designs are limited only by an artist's imagination. Many different styles could be seen on the subways cars: illustrations and cartoon characters were used to illustrate the letters. Every style has its name: top-to-bottom, block letters, block busters, panel pieces, leaning letters, window down, whole car, throw ups… For example the Bubble style was invented by Phase II. A more complex development of the letter design turns the piece totally unreadable to the average commuter. Writers call it “wildstyle”.
Subway trains were not easy to paint in the yards were they would park at night. The artists had to face many risks, from the electrified third rail to being chased by the Transit Police 's Vandal Squad. All of this would not stop the most hardcore writers from expressing themselves and risk their live every time they would go out painting. Respect is due to all early and late graffiti writers form NY and the rest of the world for continuing to spray the ongoing history of graffiti. (About Graffiti and Street Art [ http://www.speerstra.net/en/about-graffiti-and-street-art ] 14.01.18)

FORMS OF STREET ART

Traditional

Painting on the surfaces of public or private property that is visible to the public, commonly with a can of spray paint or roll-on paint. It may be comprised of just simple words (commonly the writer’s name) or be more artful and elaborate, covering a surface with a mural image .

Stencil

Painting with the use of a homemade stencil, usually a paper or cardboard cutout, to create an image that can be easily reproduced. The desired design is cut out of a selected medium , and the image is transferred to a surface through the use of spray paint or roll-on paint.

Sticker

Propagatesan image or message in public spaces using homemade stickers. These stickers commonly promote a political agenda, comment on a policy or issue , or comprise an avantgarde art campaign. Sticker art is considered a subcategory of postmodern art.

Mosaic

Mosaic is the art of creating images with an assemblage of smaller parts or pieces, to resemble a single giant piece of art.

Video Projection

Digitally projecting a computer-manipulated image onto a surface via a light and projection system.

Street installation

Street installations are a growing trend within the ‘street art’ movement. Whereas conventional street art and graffiti is done on surfaces or walls, ‘street installations’ use 3D objects and space to interfere with the urban environment. Like graffiti, it is non-permission based and once the object or sculpture is installed it is left there by the artist.

Wood blocking

Artwork painted on a small portion of plywood or similar inexpensive material and attached to street signs with bolts. Often the bolts are bent at the back to prevent removal. It has become a form of graffiti used to cover a sign, poster, or any piece of advertisement that stands or hangs.

Flash mobbing

A large group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place, perform an unusual action for a brief time, then quickly disperse. The term flash mob is generally applied only to gatherings organized via telecommunications, social networking, and viral emails. The term is generally not applied to events organized by public relations firms or as publicity stunts. This can also be considered mass public performance art.

Yarn bombing

Yarn Bombing is a type of street art that employs colourful displays of knitted or crocheted cloth rather than paint or chalk. The practice is believed to have originated in the U.S. with Texas knitters trying to find a creative way to use their leftover and unfinished knitting projects, but has since spread worldwide. While other forms of graffiti may be expressive, decorative, territorial, socio-political commentary, advertising or vandalism, yarn bombing is almost exclusively about beautification and creativity. ([ http://artradarjournal.com/2010/01/21/what-is-street-art-vandalism-graffiti-or-public-art-part-i/ ] 14.01.18)
The Influences of Street Art

ANALYTICAL PART

Banksy - perhaps, the best in the world master of street art, this is it. Banksy does not just draw , he expresses his opinion about the next social injustice or political situation with his whole drawing. Until recently, almost nothing was known about his personality. Objects of his works are included in all the tourist routes of London guides and have long gone beyond the framework of ordinary street art, urging everyone to reflect on the meaning of our stay in this world.
Banksy's artwork is characterized by striking images, often combined with slogans. His work often engages political themes, satirically critiquing war, capitalism, hypocrisy and greed. Common subjects include rats, apes, policemen, members of the royal family, and children . In addition to his two-dimensional work, Banksy is known for his installation artwork.
Other pieces have drawn attention for their edgy themes or the boldness of their execution. Banksy's work on the West Bank barrier, between Israel and Palestine, received significant media attention in 2005. He is also known for his use of copyrighted material and subversion of classic images. An example of this is Banksy's version of Monet's famous series of water lilies paintings, adapted by Banksy to include drifting trash and debris.
Banksy's worldwide fame has transformed his artwork from acts of vandalism to sought-after high art pieces. Journalist Max Foster has referred to the rising prices of graffiti as street art as "the Banksy effect ."
Banksy's identity remains unknown, despite intense speculation. (A&E Television Networks, Banksy Biography .com 2014, [ https://www.biography.com/people/banksy-20883111 ] 20.12.17)
In my opinion, Banksy is one of the brightest graffiti artists of our time, who keeps his identity in secret.
I believe that graffiti is one of the most honest arts . It does not have either elitism or swindle, paintings are exhibited on the best walls of the city, and the price of entry does not scare anyone.
The wall has always been the best place for the presentation of the work. People who rule our cities do not understand graffiti, because they are convinced that the only right to exist is that which benefits. That is why their opinion is worthless.
Banksy work is very simple and intelligible, they always have humor (irony at least ) and there is always a social overtones. And then everything depends on whether you like it or not.
“People say graffiti is ugly, irresponsible and childish. But that's only if it's done properly.”
—Banksy

CONCLUSION

I believe that people should recognize street art as an art. I would like to see more of such drawings on my streets than advertising. It seems to me that there are a lot of inappropriate advertising in the world and even in our city.
Advertising privatises our public spaces. Ads are placed out in the public strategically. They are built to coerce, and manipulate. They affect us, whether we want them to or not. But this is not reciprocated.
Not all graffiti or street art are vandalism.

REFERENCES

About Graffiti and Street Art. http://www.speerstra.net/en/about-graffiti-and-street-art 14.01.18
Banksy 2014. https://www.biography.com/people/banksy-20883111 20.12.17
Bojan Maric 2014. https://www.widewalls.ch/urban-art-the-tale-of-inspiration/ 20.12.17
Bryant K. 2015. http://mentalfloss.com/article/61441/12-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-street-art 14.01.18
GRAFFITI AND STREET ART 2018. https://www.artsy.net/gene/graffiti-and-street-art 14.01.18
Kramar M. 2011. https://theoryandpractice.ru/posts/1251-ulichnoe-iskusstvo-vyroslo--ono-bolshe-chem-graffit i 01.01.18
http://artoblaka.ru/blog/strit---art-iskusstvo-gorodskogo-preobrazheni/ 20.12.17
Top 10 Street Artists of the World 2016 . http://afisha.bigmir.net/exhibition/articles/229764-10-luchshih-ulichnyh-hudozhnikov-mira 20.12.17
Pobyvanec A. 2016. https://wylsa.com/british-scientists/ 02.01.17
Miller L. 2015. https://theconversation.com/not-all-graffiti-is-vandalism-lets-rethink-the-public-space-debate-38972 02.01.17
What is Street Art? 2010. http://artradarjournal.com/2010/01/21/what-is-street-art-vandalism-graffiti-or-public-art-part-i/ 14.01.18