Graffiti, the “street art”, is one of the more nonconventional, rebellious forms of art in history, as many have called it vandalism. It has recently evolved into a pop culture. The beginning of graffiti began with an image for solicitation of a prostitute in Ephesus, a city in Greece. The word graffiti is from a Greek word meaning “to write”. Many of the earliest civilizations, such as the Greeks, Mayans, and Romans, practiced different types of graffiti. Graffiti is now more associated with hip-hop culture and was cultivated in New York. Originating in the 1920s and became more established in the 1970s, numerous graffiti designs appeared on trains and building walls. However illegal it may be, graffiti’s impact on art and design has been imperative. Graffiti has always been, as in any art form, a means of self-expression. It has also been used for memorials, political references, and advertising. Leaving behind a signature lets graffiti artists leave memorials. Politics have often been portrayed through graffitist murals. The Berlin Wall was a clear example of this, and became a perfect location for a much needed outlet to expand. Advertising through graffiti, a more modern aspect of this art, allows the ad to be seen by many and still have a creative and authentic feel. Hummer had a mural done of one of its vehicles with a headline that said “street art”; it was a clever play on words. Throughout history, graffiti has survived, thrived, progressed into a reputable art, and has had a direct impact on many artists.
No comments:
Post a Comment