The Art Behind Graffiti Art Around the World

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Graffiti has always been the most controversial form of art. Since its humble beginnings 30,000 years ago (remember those hunting scribbles?), defacing public property has come a long way. Formerly associated with gangs and crime, graffiti has evolved into an international art form that encompasses public artistic and political expression. The illegality of spraying your name, artwork or political opinions on public property has produced an array of escapist techniques, explored the most taboo themes and created an international sub-culture of unconventional artists. Graffiti swaps sketchbooks for building fronts, bridges, trains, planes and billboards. The world is now a canvas; all sidewalks are moving, growing, living art galleries.

All graffiti shares one element: the artist’s intent to send a message to the general public.  Whereas American graffiti, in its origins and current expressions, tends to lean towards “tagging”, international graffiti has a more political edge  This isn’t to say that Americans don’t produce political graffiti or vice versa, but, because graffiti often grows from underlying social concerns of the artist, the messages sent through graffiti by Americans ,as opposed to international artists, are markedly different.

American Graffiti

The biggest message Americans send through their graffiti is “I was here”.  Usually, referred to as “throw-ups”, this type of graffiti is mostly a verbal expression that affiliates the artist with a group or is an iteration of the artist’s name on a public surface. Writing your name on something (especially something as public as a wall or billboard) is a way to claim public spaces.  If conceptualized as part of the American Dream, tagging your name on things evokes a feeling of ownership over those things.  The prevalence of this type of graffiti in the United States is well-fitting with the American conception of individuality and a nod to egocentrism.  The mentality of being another unrecognizable cog in our capitalistic system is broken by displaying your name or affiliation publicly; opening your art to countless viewers.  Like a form of illegal advertising, American graffiti has recently propelled many artists onto mainstream, money-making avenues.  We’re sure everyone remembers the tagged-up trucker hats and sneakers that became popular several years ago.  In fact, those graffiti-inspired logos have made Ed Hardy and company millions.  Although not all graffiti artists in the U.S. have, or ever intend, to go mainstream with their art, it is obvious that some have “sold out”.  Consequently, graffiti as an art form has lost some street cred here.  Wearing a graffiti-print t-shirt or hat has made the previously controversial, highly illegal form of public expression into an accepted fashion trend.

OBEY

You may have seen the above image as a sticker or spray-painted logo on various public fixtures for the past several years.  No?  Well you surely remember this image of Obama right after Election Day.  What started out as a study of something called “phenomenology”, an idea that when people are confronted with an inexplicable image, repeatedly, they will make certain assumptions and tie meanings to images that may be meaningless (i.e. the obey guy), has evolved into a full-fledged merchandising mega-machine.  The guys at obeygiant.com are banking on what started out as meaningless graffiti (with the newest addition being posters designed to promote relief for Haiti).  Sure some meaning can be extrapolated from their art, but, in line with most American graffiti, they too have been eaten by Uncle Sam.

So is graffiti dead?

Certainly not.  Although much of American graffiti has been overrun  by capitalism, meaningful, thought-provoking street art still lives on internationally.

It seems that graffiti in countries outside of the United States had different roots and perhaps, for this reason, has somewhat avoided mainstream manipulation.  Sure the defacing of public property element remains the same but the messages sent seem to be more political than “I was here” and although the world is pumping out graffiti inspired merchandise, international political messages remain preserved in the art, by choice.

Banksy

This guy makes you think.  Hailing from London, Banksy has single-handedly popularized graffiti stenciling.  Using stencils is the perfect escapist technique, especially when the messages you’re publicly sending are as controversial as Banksy likes to make them.  Banksy is rarely seen but his messages have been heard worldwide. His art is composed of beautiful, meticulously crafted images that serve as political satire.  Some of which include:

Pissing Guard

This humanizes the stiff and proper demeanors these uniformed guards are famous for by showing the world that they’re just like every other guy needs to piss when there’s no toilet around.

Kissing Policemen

Amongst one of his most famous pieces (perhaps because of its shock value), this depiction carries a strong anti-authoritarian message.  Generally, policemen are seen as testosterone-fueled manly, men’s type of men.  Gay policemen? Well that just goes against everything stereotypically associated with law enforcement.  This shocking image effectively plays on existing stereotypes to breakdown police authority.

Maid

This hints at the figurative “just sweep it under the rug” expression.  When applied to a public wall, this imagery becomes political.  The maid, sweeping all that is on the street under the drawn rug, pokes fun at the way world issues are handled.

You will find merchandise with Banksy’s images all over the internet.  Hell, you can buy a mug with the kissing policemen on ebay right now if you want.  But the fact of the matter is, Banksy remains true to his art.  None of the items available for purchase (and trust us, there are gazaillions of these things) are endorsed or made by Banksy himself.  Instead of wasting time suing everyone in the world for using his intellectual property to make profit, he continues to create graffiti art with a message, his way.  Take a look at banksy.co.uk for what he thinks of his art as merchandise. For this reason, his political messages stay strong and still have clout.

Maybe it’s time to get out there and learn from the writing on the world’s walls.  Lucky for us, several great graffiti tours are available to do just that:

Graffiti Mundo offers a tour of graffiti art in Buenos Aires, Argentina for about $20 bucks. Since this city is covered in meaningful graffiti, you can learn about various political themes and movements through street art in the home of famous revolutionary, Che Guevara.

Berlin Graffiti Art Guide:  You can pick up this book online at Amazon.com.  It features some deeply political street art in Berlin and when you’re compelled to go to Germany to check it out in the flesh, there is a tear out guide that gives you the locations of the 500 most interesting pieces so you can treat yourself to a walking tour.

London Street Art Graffiti Tour:  Wanna see what all the Banksy controversy is about in person?  Take this tour; all you need is $28 bucks, 2 hours of your time, comfy shoes, a camera and an umbrella.

Maybe the message of “I was here” is easier to give up than something more meaningful and political. “I was here” isn’t a novel idea.  Perhaps this is the difference between why American graffiti is for sale by artist and international graffiti is not.  One thing is undeniable, whether we’re shouting “I was here” on lamp posts in Bangkok and Tokyo (as does King BNE) or “Fuck Bush” on walls all over the world (that exact phrase appears in 25 countries to be exact, according to Matadortravel.com), graffiti is a form of global communication through street art that still lives on.

Written By:  Anna Starostinetskaya

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