On the walk back from the Abbotsford Convent excursion I took some photos of the graffiti painted along the bike path. The topic of 'street art' or Graffiti, and whether or not it's actually art is a bit sketchy. Some people like it, some think it's vandalism and others are indifferent. I'll admit I've seen better graffiti than these, but I still like them and think they do have artistic merit to them. The artists have put thought into them and composed the lettering and illustrations to create an art piece with text, kind of like typography. Plus they're not harming anyone. I don't like taggers who just draw their dodgy signature in a sharpie on someones fence, but things like this, and the street art along Brunswick St I can enjoy looking at and admire the skill. I know I'd never be able to paint something like these using spray paint.
(I don't think I'd every try this though, even on a canvas. I wouldn't understand what the heck I'm writing)
Feel free to invite these people to install their art on your walls.
ReplyDeleteBut if they want to put them on property owned by the public, they need public consent.
And the broad public is rarely going to consent.
That's partly because many people who want high investment in high-quality public property suspect that having it covered in graffiti will make the public less willing to invest in more of it.
And they may well be right.