Graffiti: Art or Vandalism?

Every city on the planet has graffiti adorning the walls of its buildings. Many believe it is a sign of urban decay. Others look at it as an unavoidable evil. City politicians have rallied against it and have passed laws banning it. But it hasn't stopped the artist (or vandal, depending on your point of view) from displaying his spray painted form of expression on any wall seen by the general public. The laws have been expanded to fine property owners who do not remove the offending graffiti within a short period of time.

Bringing the building owners into the fold (however negatively) has reduced graffiti proliferation in many cities across North America; at least when the fines are given and the laws enforced. It is a truth (for the most part) that diligent property owners can eliminate most graffiti as these artists are usually poor and the cost of repainting a building that has been cleaned (especially cleaned regularly) is a good deterrent for the cash-strapped spray paint buyer.

But all this begs a question, can you consider graffiti art? And if so, why remove it in the first place? The artist worked hard and spent good money on his craft. So what if he has used other people's property to express himself. Is it such a crime? Most people would answer in the affirmative including the writer of this article.

But I am not as sweeping a critic as many. Many define graffiti as the unwanted defacing (usually with spray paint) of another person's property without his or her expressed consent. This definition is accurate but it does not include all graffiti. What if the permission is given from the building owner? Can it be considered graffiti? The answer must be yes as you can't call the same markings from an artist differently if those markings are on both a consented and non-consented building. It would make no sense.

How I like to categorize graffiti has nothing to do with the law per se. It has more to do with the final outcome of the work. Most graffiti is not art. The main reason for this is the circumstances the graffiti painter finds himself in when conducting his work. He works late at night when few people are around. He puts up his paint as quickly as possible to avoid detection from owners and police. These factors are not conducive to great works of art. But that is the nature of the business.

We may actually be missing the point in a way as the whole reason for many who delve into this clandestine behaviour is the danger of getting caught. It's the action that is the attraction not the aesthetic appeal of the work after its completion. If fact many go to great lengths to put their mark on hard to reach places. The more difficult the space is to get to the more respect the painter gets from his peers.

But what about those graffiti artists who wish to express themselves more fully, those artists who find the action is not what they want? Can they find a place in the urban landscape? Are their places where they can work? Or do they have to be harassed and arrested because they stick around to finish something beautiful?

I believe that there is space for the dedicated graffiti artist. Every city should promote the best of them just as they do other forms of art. Space should be made on public and private building for them to conduct their work. We should be able to view more than billboards from million dollar corporations while traveling on a bus or in our car. Why must we enter the inside of a building in order to see paintings of worth?

Others agree with this writer and have allowed their building to be the canvasses of local artists. But it is rare. There are so many open spaces in the average city that beg for a work in multi-coloured spray paint. Imagine how enjoyable a walk through the city would be if instead of seeing billboards advertising the newest cell phone, you view Aphrodite emerging from the Styx with arms out inviting an embrace; Or a pick up basketball game in what looks like the crater of the moon? The possibilities are endless. It would even bring tourist dollars to the city if it was allowed to spread.

Graffiti Pictures
Graffiti Pictures - Bad Graffiti
Graffiti Pictures - Good Graffiti