This video is of a famous graffiti artist named Banksy. His Ethos is rather mysterious because, when he does these things. His face is usually blurred out when he does his works and keeps his real identity hidden. What do you think of Graffiti? Have you ever noticed it just walking down the street? What can be the purpose of this art or how is it perceived? If cave art was acceptable thousands of years ago to document history why does this art form just get taken down or covered up?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
23 comments:
Graffiti is a form of expression for artists. I think it is one of the most impressive forms of artwork mainly because it takes a lot of talent, guts, and creativity to create cool looking graffiti. It is usually an art form that is frowned upon, and I never understood why. Bansky's social messages are really strong and his graffiti is amazing to say the least. Many people associate graffiti to gangbangers, hobos, and thugs, but that is not always the case. Covering up graffiti would be the same thing as painting over the Mona Lisa or Van Gogh's Starry Night. I think that the reason why graffiti artists try to cover up their identity is because of laws, but also because they just want to make art; they don't care about being recognized for it. I don't think graffiti is a crime; I think covering it up is.
Yes, I think alot of people as you said do associate it with gangs. Tagging a name doesn't take talent. The political issues that Banksy portrays is our history. I wish his work could never get taken down anywhere.
Firstly, WOW. That is graffiti at it's best.
Moving on to the point... I think what people need to discern is that while some graffiti is vandalism, others are works of art. People who "tag" are just trying validate that they actually exist and their purposes for "tagging" are entirely selfish. Its a shame that some graffiti is put up is an eyesore, and blatantly put there to destroy property. Bansky on the other hand is an artist. He's trying to make a statement to get people to think. His graffiti is original, and, in my opinion, beautiful. However, it's still illegal because those people who paint with spray paint just for the point of painting stray paint, ruin it for everyone. Laws can't bend for graffiti that is art because it is still classified as graffiti. Therefore, it is still associated with a stigma.
Yes its amazing. I like your point others that don't do it as art just do it to say hey i exist. Yes this guys work along with others makes me want to develop something thats original also but thats Illegal lol. Maybe one day.
I personally love graffiti. Can I create graffiti? no way. I come from an art background and having been in a visual and preforming art program in high school, I have a great respect for the art industry. I think that graffiti is just a way of expressing oneself to the public. People who can control a spray paint can in such an amazing way really do have my respect. Graffiti is everywhere but not to be confused with tagging. To me, graffiti is an art form or an extensive picture. Tagging is normally associated with gangs posting their symbols of group names on various property. I feel as though tagging is something that should be unacceptable and considered vandalism. Graffiti though, is an art. If Van Gogh wanted to paint on the side of a building, you wouldn't say no to him.
If anyone's interested in watching a sweet ass documentary about Banksy and his partners in crime, look up - Exit through the gift shop.
Yeah, i watched it this weekend it was amazing but I have no respect for such a con artist as Mr Brainwash.
I absolutely love Banksy. I think his work is genius and puts up such a subtle fight agains society. I went on a day tour in London this summer to seek out Bansky works, and it was one of the best days of the trip. I personally love the theory that says Banksy is an elderly woman. Though this theory MOST likely isn't true, I like to think that it could be. I think graffiti is wonderful when it's done tastefully. This graffiti is much different from the graffiti letters that appear on the side of trains. Banksy's graffiti evokes emotion, involves social issues, and is a form of art all in its own. To me, the purpose of their art is just like that of all art, to express opinions visually, plain and simple. I know for a fact that in America, graffiti has a much lesser value than that abroad. Europe is full of graffiti and it is very much so a part of every day life for many people. I'm not sure how you would sensor something that is already illegal like graffiti, but there are most definitely different degrees of graffiti.
But the thing is, Is Graffiti big in columbus? I have not seen amazing art works. I dont think its just that Europeans find it a norm. Go to Chicago or anywhere in New York. You will see that it is a part of their culture of the city.
I think graffiti is one of the most real forms of art. Some one has got to be pretty darn passionate about something to risk being arrested and write/draw something in a place so public that anyone could see. I think the graffiti in this video in particular is stunning. I have noticed lots of graffiti just on the street. Most of what I have seen from home is random names on the highway overpasses or garages. When I was in Tijuana, one of my friends who lives there told me that gangs mark there territory using graffiti, and the other gangs know not to tread on their land because of the graffiti. I do think that graffiti has a negative connotation in our society, because it is often associated with gang activity as has been said by other posters. However I think often the purpose is to spread a message. For someone to get what they want society to see out there. I have rarely seen graffiti as beautiful and artistic as in this video, but if that guy wants to come graffiti my dorm room he's more than welcome to do so.
Graffiti can be art but most people associate graffiti with gangs, because gangs will “tag” their territory. Artists have turned to graffiti because they will have a much larger audience if they put their art on display on walls of buildings or billboards. While it is necessary for the pieces or graffiti that are tags to be removed, I think that works of art should be kept up for the public to see. The art work adds character to the building and allows people to see something interesting while passing by. I don’t think that it hurts Banksy’s ethos since he keeps his identity a secret because it keeps the mystery alive, and if he went public, he would be faced with people either persecuting him and facing possible fines or people asking him for a piece of his art to call their own. By keeping his identity a secret, he has the ability to paint whatever he wants and wherever he wants.
Brandon, you asked if graffiti was big as an art in Columbus, and I really don't think that it is, at least when you compare it to the likes of Europe. I think graffiti can be really cool to look at, and such an interesting way to bring about awareness of needed changes in society. Unfortunately, as someone mentioned before, tagging has really given graffiti a bad name, besides the fact that it's defacing public property... But I've definitely noticed graffiti walking down the street, and sometimes it's cool to just lok at what people have done over the years; despite the fact that it's not quite up to par with Banksy.
I personally love nice graffiti and respect those who have the talent to create it. (When I say nice graffiti I mean anything that has a meaning, is unique, pretty or funny; not the names of gangs or their symbols.) I have noticed graffiti in a lot of different areas I have been at, including around here in Columbus. After hearing people’s comments on graffiti in Europe and seeing pictures of Banksy’s graffiti, I would love to go exploring in Europe to see it for myself. Even though to some graffiti is considered vandalism, I think it makes the world more interesting and fun. It’s something to look at and admire instead of the same old boring walls of brick or other plain colors in the city or anywhere. My favorite graffiti back home is a gun with pink hearts flowing out of the barrel. It is on the inside of a bridge in the country.
I agree that this is very cool, I do like it better than the "Gang Graffiti" but I think that still has a meaning. Last December I was at a seminar in Chicago and the man that opened's name was David Garibladi. He used to graffiti in subways and now he is a seminarist. He actually throws the paint to make a picture. Check him out.
I usually do not pay much attention to graffiti. I don't mind it though. Some, like the graffiti in this video, is very nice and I actually wouldn't mind seeing more graffiti like this around. I was quite fascinated by the pictures Banksy had created. I liked how a lot were created based off of something that was already there. He was able to make something that looked not so nice into a nice form of art. I would consider a lot of graffiti a type of art and it would be kind of sad for it to be removed. I think someone has to have an extreme passion for something if they're going to risk getting arrested for doing it. Some graffiti is covered up though because it was made by gangs or such so I see why that is covered up but I don't think all graffiti should be.
I have never heard of Banksy before, but I can honestly say he has changed some of my views on graffiti. His work is very sophisticated and it clearly has a message to convey that is not gang-orientated. He also does not look like he is defacing anything but walls on city buildings. What I mean by this last statement is that there was nothing more disheartening then seeing beautiful historical monuments defaced all over Italy. I saw so much meaningless graffiti (meaningless when compared to Banksy) all over places like the Baptistery. This disrespects the history of these buildings, because people who graffiti do not value them. So, Banksy is not defacing monuments like many artists do, so I respect him more. He also has obvious meanings and purposes, so I am a newly declared fan!
I agree with Jennifer. Graffiti doesn't really bother me unless it's something totally inappropriate and uncalled for. Banksy's graffiti is phenomenal, meaningful, and real art. I especially like that Banksy's pieces are so connected to today's society, but instead of getting a permit or creating paintings to sell, he's illegally and secretly sharing his art with the world. To me, that makes his works even more meaningful as we know it's not a selfish act (not to say that other artist's pieces are).
The only graffiti I've ever seen has been the usually nonsensical gang graffiti that covers walls or train cars. Although I admit that Banksy's graffiti is different and could be actually considered art I still don't think that the medium that he uses is acceptable. His type of graffiti may be meaningful and beautiful but he is still defacing property that is not his and if the owner of that building doesn't want paintings on it then they are perfectly in the right to take it down. If Banksy truly wants to have his art remain then he should find a more appropriate medium.
WOW! i really like this. I've only ever seen graffiti where it looks like gibberish and people are just marking their territory, writing immature things, or stuff about who loves who. This type of graffiti was very new to me, but i enjoyed it a lot. His work was absolutely beautiful! Although, a little controversial with the majority of his pieces, I think it strikes a note to humanity. My favorite pieces were that of the orange tree that actually comes out on the side walk, the little girl holding the tv (?) with a here in it, and when the little girl's balloon was floating away and she was reaching out for it. I personally think that his pieces are amazing, if they were on my building, if they were't too controversial I would leave it up. Although owners have the right to do as they please with the pieces on their buildings, it seems as though many companies have left them up for the public to see. I love how he graffiti's in black and grey and then adds hints of color in a lot of his pieces, it really highlights importance in everyone and strikes different tones.
I dont think it is very hard to find graffit on your typical city block. However finding some that actually can be perseved as art is a different story. It is too common for people to "tag" a street corner claiming to "own" it and show a sign to nearby residents. When an artist uses graffiti to express themself then it can look amazing however. It is no longer vandalizism but actually art. The only reason i see it getting taken down now (unlike cave-art) is because people own those buildings, ect. and noone back in the day "owned" the cave.
I think that street art is really beautiful and can liven up public spaces. Even things like tagging are really interesting to look at. I prefer Banksy and similar artists' work though (as I'm sure others will agree) because instead of a stylistic rendition of an artists' signature it's usually commentary on the world around us. Banksy does a lot of politically-charged art, and I know that another famous street artist even did Obama's "Change" poster for the 2008 election. I think that it's unfortunate a lot of this art is painted over, and I wish that street art like this became more popular.
I really appreciated taylor's comment about graffiti being "one of the most impressive forms of artwork". It is difficult for me to form an opinion about graffiti- on one hand it can be seen as disrespect and vandalism. That being said, I also believe that great art pushes the envelope and graffiti certainly does this.
Post a Comment