Graffiti As Art

This conversation has been floating around on the city’s arts listserve for a few days now.  At first I didn’t want to join in, but then…

Charles Creso of the Sixth Avenue Art Gallery sent out this photo with a series of questions including “is it art?”  In my understanding of the world, graffiti can be art.  A few months ago I spent several hours in East London photographing pieces in the style of Banksy  – a master of stencils that made headlines a few years ago for hanging his own canvases on the walls of museums in New York and London – without them knowing about it.  There is something unique and alluring to his images.  I’m not going to try and define art.  But, if I’m wandering between markets and alleys looking for a signature graffiti style of a particular person – there’s art in there somewhere. 

Is graffiti art or vandalism?

That word has a lot of negative connotations and it alienates people, so no, I don’t like to use the word ‘art’ at all. – Banksy

In my mind, for art to be good requires a vision and execution that goes beyond mere happenstance.  Just because I have a canvas and paints, doesn’t make me an artist.  Just because somebody graffitis a wall, doesn’t make them an artist.  Where the line falls is, of course, the challenge for us.

Once we start talking about the ownership of the ‘canvas’, things get more complicated.  At that point, the longevity of the piece may be as secure as a sand castle.

A response on the listserve summarized my thoughts pretty succinctly: 

...How would you respond if someone questioned whether what you do is art?

I have seen many different forms of art and have often thought…”What were they thinking?” but, keeping an open mind and trying to understand the art as the artist intended is, I think, what art is all about.

Art is open to interpretation, the greats always buck the line and explore new and radical ideas. I applaud Charles Creso for keeping an open mind, despite the defacement of his building. I wonder about those who, having not been harmed in any way, have automatically condemed and critiqued the graffiti in question.

“There is no excellent beauty that hath not some strangeness in the proportion.”  -Sir Francis Bacon

So when I look at this particular piece… ehh…  I think we could do better before having this discussion…  But that’s just my opinion.